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Ali and Liston Sign Contracts for Rematch

July 27, 1964 - Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston (pictured Feb. 25) signed contracts today for a fall title fight.

Ali put his signature on the agreement in Louisville, Ky., writing: “Muhammad Ali, aka Cassius M. Clay, Jr.”

“He had to use Cassius M. Clay Jr. on the contract because his boxing license and other papers are in that name,” explained Gordon Davidson.

Davidson is attorney for the Louisville Sponsoring Group which is behind the 22-year-old champion. Ali signed the rematch contracts in Davidson’s office today. He was given the name “Muhammad Ali” by Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Black Muslim sect.

Liston signed the fight papers in Philadelphia today.

The bout is scheduled for sometime between September 15 and October 31.

“Our target date actually is Monday, September 28,” said Bill Faversham, who acts as Ali’s manager for the sponsoring group. “We hope to hold the bout before the World Series, which begins the first week in October, and the Olympics, which start October 10.”

No site has been chosen.

Jack Nilon, who was present in Louisville as Liston’s adviser, said that three cities are in the running: Las Vegas, Baltimore, and Louisville. There will be no live television of the bout, but it will be carried on radio.

Ali, a bit hefty at 226 pounds, flew into Louisville from his Miami training site for the signing. He plans to return to Miami within a day or two, “but I can’t say that’s where I’ll do all my training for the fight.” Ali explained:

“I may train some in Egypt or Algeria or Ghana. I got offers from all those places to train there.”

Ali said he plans to scale down to 215 pounds for the fight. He weighed 210½ when he beat Liston, who failed to come out for the seventh round because of what he described as a shoulder injury.

“But I may weigh 210½ again,” said Ali. “I’m gonna make this the greatest fight in history. I have great surprises for the next fight — surprises on my prediction, surprises on my strategy, and surprises on some trainers I’m bringing in. Hey Jack, what does Liston weigh now?”

“He’s 222 now,” said Nilon. “He was 218 for the Miami fight, but he hopes to come in at 214 for this one.”

Liston, added Nilon, “has been running a great deal. If he is four pounds lighter for this fight, it will make a difference — a big one, as far as his legs are concerned. It’s no secret that he wasn’t in shape for the last fight.”


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