1960s Timeline

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Mar 1

Cassius Clay Visits Harlem

Mar. 1, 1964 - Cassius Marcellus Clay, heavyweight champion of the world, paid a surprise visit to Harlem this afternoon. After...

Dec 25, 2023

Sonny Liston’s Merry Christmas

Dec. 25, 1963 - Heavyweight champion Sonny Liston celebrated what he called “the nicest Christmas I ever had” today at his Denver home....

Dec 22, 2023

Boxing To Disappear from Television Screens in 1964

Dec. 22, 1963 - Boxing, the sport that played a major role in popularizing television 16 years ago, will disappear from the national...

Dec 21, 2023

Hurricane Carter KO’s Emile Griffith in Non-Title Fight

Dec. 21, 1963 - Rubin (Hurricane) Carter twice smashed welterweight champion Emile Griffith to the canvas last night and scored a...

Dec 7, 2023

Joey Giardello Takes Middleweight Title from Dick Tiger

Dec. 7, 1963 - Joey Giardello, the scarred 33-year-old veteran from Philadelphia, took the middleweight title from Dick Tiger of Nigeria...

Nov 8, 2023

Cassius Clay Ordered to Report for Selective Service Exam

Nov. 8, 1963 - Cassius Clay, who is signed for a heavyweight title fight with Sonny Liston, has been ordered to report for a selective...

Nov 6, 2023

Most Predict Liston Victory over Clay — But Not Jack Sharkey

Nov. 6, 1963 - The proposed Cassius Clay-Sonny Liston heavyweight title fight was called a dangerous mismatch today by a California...

Nov 5, 2023

Clay and Liston Sign for Title Fight at Hilarious Press Conference

Nov. 5, 1963 - In Denver today, heavyweight champion Sonny Liston and challenger Cassius Clay signed at a packed, hilarious news...

Oct 31, 2023

Liston and Clay To Fight in February, Multiple Sites Being Considered

Oct. 31, 1963 - Sonny Liston and Cassius Clay (pictured with neighbors in Louisville) will sign Wednesday at Denver for their heavyweight...

Oct 25, 2023

Joey Archer Wins Split Decision Over Rubin (Hurricane) Carter at the Garden

Oct. 25, 1963 - Joey Archer (right), a classic boxer from the Bronx, took the best punches of the slugging Rubin (Hurricane) Carter...

Oct 15, 2023

Willie Pep Elected to Boxing Hall of Fame

Oct. 15, 1963 - Willie Pep (left with Pat Marcune in 1953), the former featherweight champion who compiled one of the most amazing...

Oct 14, 2023

Liston to Fight Clay “Some Time in February”

Oct. 14, 1963 - The press representative of heavyweight champion Sonny Liston (pictured in Finland in August) said today that Liston...

Oct 11, 2023

Clay Dodges Chuvalo Fight, Has Eyes on Liston

Oct. 11, 1963 - Cassius Clay was rapped on the knuckles today for refusing to meet George Chuvalo, a Toronto heavyweight, after signing a...

Sep 21, 2023

Former Boxing Champion Jimmy Braddock Is a Longshoreman Again

Sept. 21, 1963 - They once called Jim Braddock the “Cinderella Man” because, after working as a longshoreman, he won the heavyweight...

Sep 12, 2023

Sonny Liston Does Scotland

Sept. 12, 1963 - Sonny Liston became a firm favorite with Scottish boxing fans today after wearing a kilt, playing bagpipes, and kissing...

Aug 10, 2023

Dick Tiger Batters Gene Fullmer in Heavyweight Rubber Match

Aug. 10, 1963 - Dick Tiger put on a brilliant display before his fellow Nigerians tonight, battered Gene Fullmer into a bleeding,...

Aug 10, 2023

Joe Louis Ranks Cassius Clay Behind Floyd Patterson and Doug Jones

Aug. 10, 1963 - Joe Louis (right with Sonny Liston) has put Cassius Clay in his place — third place among the heavyweight contenders. The...

Aug 6, 2023

Liston Postpones Fight Against Clay — Clay Calls Sonny “Scared”

Aug. 6, 1963 - Heavyweight champion Sonny Liston has postponed until “sometime next year” his proposed September Philadelphia title...

Jul 31, 2023

Cassius Clay Recording L.P. Album

July 31, 1963 - The self-proclaimed greatest, prettiest, and most colorful fighter in the world, Cassius Clay, will cut his first...

Jul 27, 2023

Liston Receiving Spiritual Counseling

July 27, 1963 - Heavyweight champion Sonny Liston has accepted the Rev. Edward P. Murphy (left) as his spiritual guide. Liston is not a...