meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
History Daily

Cassius Clay Becomes Heavyweight Champion of the World

History Daily

History Daily

History

4.42.5K Ratings

🗓️ 25 February 2025

⏱️ 20 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

February 25, 1964. A young Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston to become Heavyweight champion of the world. This episode originally aired in 2022.


  • Support the show! Join Into History for ad-free listening and more.


History Daily is a co-production of Airship and Noiser.

Go to HistoryDaily.com for more history, daily.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad-free.

0:04.1

Listen with Wondry Plus in the Wondry app.

0:06.0

As a member of NoisorPlus at noisor.com or in Apple Podcasts,

0:10.6

or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at IntoHistory.com.

0:28.9

Thank you. It's February 6, 1967 in Houston, Texas.

0:36.0

A record-breaking crowd has filled the Houston Astrodome to watch two powerhouse black athletes go head-to-head.

0:38.9

As he waits for the eighth round to start,

0:45.5

Muhammad Ali glars across the ring at his opponent, Ernie Terrell, a six-foot-six giant from Chicago's south side. Torell has something that belongs to Ali, the World Boxing Association's

0:51.9

title of heavyweight champion of the world. Ali never lost it to Tural or anyone else in his 27 previous matches.

0:59.0

But last year, the World Boxing Association stripped Ali of his title

1:03.0

after he had joined a controversial religious and political organization called the Nation of Islam.

1:08.0

Today, Ali intends to take the title back. As the eighth round starts,

1:15.8

Ali gets aggressive. He throws a jab, then another, and another, and each time he punctuates

1:21.9

his punches with the words, what's my name. As he punishes Terrell with his fists, he yells over and over again,

1:28.9

What's My Name? Ali is in total control of the fight, but Terrell refuses to go down.

1:35.3

So for seven more rounds, Ali will make him suffer.

1:40.6

At the pre-fight press conference, Ernie Terrell called Ali by his given name, Cassius Clay.

1:47.2

Ali renounced Cassius Clay as a slave name when he joined the nation of Islam.

1:52.0

Many view the nation as an extremist anti-white cult, but for Ali, the nation is unapologetically pro-black,

1:59.1

at a time when black people are still fighting for

2:01.7

basic freedoms in the United States. Before the fight, Ali asked Terrell, why do you call me Clay? You know

2:08.5

my right name is Muhammad Ali. Torel replied, I met you as Cassius Clay. I'll leave you as

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from History Daily, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of History Daily and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.