The History of the Heavyweight Championship

It was the first year since 1959 that neither Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier or George Foreman had stepped into the professional boxing ring. Officially, Ali was still the WBA heavyweight champion in January of the year – he had won that piece of jewellery when he performed his last act of boxing magic to bamboozled Leon Spinks and get revenge the previous September. Ali had the belt, one of the two available, but nobody expected to see him back in a ring – any ring – anytime soon. His boxing life had drained him. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1978 the heavyweight boxing landscape changed forever. The old, the young, the obscure, the fatal dreamers and the relentless schemers all came together to make it unforgettable. The rumours from 1977 were true: Muhammad Ali would defend his world heavyweight championship against Leon Spinks: a man who had won just six of his seven fights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1977 was a year of more demons, epiphanies, more decay, more denial, so many crazy fights and nights. Muhammad Ali was still the champion, he made two defences but men in high boxing places were plotting his end: scheming to put in place a multi-title future that would forever dilute the heavyweight championship of the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When 1976 started, there had been murmurs of discontent about Muhammad Ali. People were talking about him quitting, men and women in the Ali business and onlookers had the same opinion: the end was surely getting closer. Ali would have to soon leave the sport he owned. Or that was the thinking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a year: Muhammad Ali was the world heavyweight champion and he made four defences. Every time he got in the ring there was a story: some mayhem, something funny, something absurd, something heartbreaking… always some drama. And there was a fight known then (and now) as The Thrilla in Manila. One that nobody will ever forget. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a year of quite ridiculous extremes in fights for the heavyweight championship of the world – there were exotic stops in Venezuela and Zaire – and the world watched a very special fight in late October, one that nobody will ever forget: the Rumble in the Jungle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was called the Sunshine Showdown and it took place in January 1973 at the National Stadium in Independence Park in Kingston, Jamaica. 36,000 people came out for the massacre – nobody in the fight game could believe what they saw in the ring. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Frazier had vanished. In 1971, he had beaten Muhammad Ali in the Fight of the Century: dropping the former champion in the 15th and final round to confirm the win. It was a truly great night, a magical fight in Madison Square Garden in front of a sold-out crowd of 20,000 and a watching world. But where was he now? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Frazier was the unbeaten World Heavyweight Champion and Muhammad Ali was the unbeaten former World Heavyweight Champion. It was a unique fight, the world of sport demanded it – the boxing world needed it. The two boxers would make a guarantee of $2.5 million each. Never had a purse in the old game been anywhere near that excessive total. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the start of 1970 Muhammad Ali was still in boxing exile, Joe Frazier was heavyweight champion of the world and he shared that title with a nice guy named Jimmy Ellis. The Heavyweight Championship of the World was in turmoil: the King was gone, the two champions were getting mixed reviews, and both needed a big fight or two. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Bunce's all-encompassing look back at the decade that shaped heavyweight boxing reaches its conclusion. Its 1969 and the politics and skirmishes continue in and out of the ring, all building towards a new era for boxing and the "fight of the century" between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's 1968, and as Muhammad Ali continues his time in exile, Steve Bunce moves his attention to those still allowed in the ring as Joe Frazier faces off with Buster Mathis. But even with his gloves off, it is Ali who continues to dominate the headlines.For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to 1967: the must-see fight of the year is between Muhammad Ali and the United States Army. Steve Bunce continues his tour through the best decade in the history of the heavyweight championship, painting a picture few could believe to be true.For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Bunce's journey through the decade that made the heavyweight championship continues in 1966, as politics and sport begin to trade blows. With American soldiers deployed to Vietnam at an ever-increasing rate, Muhammad Ali turns his back on the US military draft and becomes a conscientious objector. The decision will have serious consequences for Ali's boxing career, and sparks a global debate on civil rights.For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're halfway through the decade that defined the heavyweight championship. Welcome to 1965: the year Cassius Clay matures from boy to man. Join Steve Bunce as he describes the rematch between Clay and Sonny Liston. The fight is surrounded by furore, including racism, death threats and intrigue.For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Bunce talks us through what must be the biggest year in the biggest decade in heavyweight championship history: 1964. Casius Clay is unbeaten in 19 fights, but at the tender age of 22 even the bookies agree he is the underdog going into his fight with Sonny Liston. The Beatle's John Lennon chooses to back Liston (despite being rudely booted out of his gym earlier in the day), telling reporters Clay will not even last a round. Find out what happened in the match – and the year – that changed boxing history.For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's 1963, and Steve Bunce is continuing our tour through the best decade in the history of the heavyweight championship. It's all here: every fighter and fight that matters. Sonny Liston is the heavyweight champion but still searching for respect from the industry. Casius Clay pubicly taunts Liston into a fight, but will the money be right? "I'll get locked up for murder if I fight him," Liston says.For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to 1962: Steve Bunce continues his tour through the best decade in the history of the heavyweight championship. Floyd Patterson finally gives Charles Sonny Liston a shot at the title. The fight is expected to be the most profitable in the history of the sport, and will lead to the famous quote: "There is a big difference between having fear in you, and being a coward. [He] had fear in him, but he wasn't no coward."For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The year is 1961: We pick up our tour through the best decade in the heavyweight championship in Miami, where heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson is preparing for his third fight with Sweden's Johannson. Can Ingo land a bingo? It's a fantastic year for boxing journalists who capture "the paradise of fools" and their fights, politics and theatrics. Liston continues to stalk Patterson, and Casius Clay will have eight fights this year: one on his 19th birthday.For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The year is 1960: the boxing world is still pining for a champion like Rocky Marciano, a European holds the title for the first time but Floyd Patterson is about to dominate the ring. Sonny Liston is shamefully ignored, and a young Casius Clay is about to change it all. Join Steve Bunce as he unpacks the best decade in Heavyweight Championship history – one decade at a time.For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Steve Bunce from September 13th as he unpacks the most exciting decade in heavyweight boxing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.