The battle began at 0310 GMT at Miami Beach's Convention Hall, and Liston was largely predicted to retain his championship in the third round. Liston, dubbed the "black destroyer," had pinned Clay to the ropes in round two, but in round three, the champion was forced to escape, his left eye gushing with blood. Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., the future world boxing champion, was born in Louisville, Kentucky in January 1942. Clay is shown here as a child (left) with his younger brother.