The Fight That Shook Up the World! Sonny Liston vs. Cassius Clay, Jr.
Toronto Globe and Mail Newspaper Clipping, February 19, 1964
The Beatles paid a visit to Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay, Jr.) at the Fifth Street Gym, prompting a session of photographs and pretend fighting. The photograph's caption reads:
"Cassius Clay performs Tarzan style while quartet of English Beatles clown in artistic fashion at gym where Clay trains for title fight with Liston."
Donated by Heidi Carlton on behalf of her mother, Nanette Hommerding, in 2023.
The Training
When Muhammad Ali trained at the Fifth Street Gym--or any gym--the sessions were always free and open to the public. He was often observed training while simultaneously engaging in conversations with reporters and fans who happened to wander in. On several occasions, he was visited by surprise celebrity guests, like when the Beatles showed up on February 18, 1964. The four musicians and the boxer reportedly had many compliments to pay one another, as well as jokes to share. The article shown here reads:
"Clay admitted that someone other than himself is great, for the first time, and he predicted that he will flatten Liston in three rounds, even though the brash 22-year-old contender is a 6-1 underdog at the moment."
