This Day in History: Young br Muhammad Ali Knocks out br Sonny Liston for First World Title.br February 25, 1964.br Cassius Clay was just 22-years-old br when he beat the world champion br in a seven round TKO. Liston had br been favored to win eight to one.br Before the match, Clay had br boasted he would knock Liston br in eight rounds, as he would br “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”.br This proved to be accurate, br as Liston couldn't land his punches, br leading to a shoulder injury and br ultimately ending the match.br Two days after celebrating the br win with Nation of Islam leader br Malcolm X, Clay would become Muhammad Ali.br The world heavyweight title br would launch Ali's epic career.