This dollar bill was very likely signed in February 1964 by three of the greatest fighters ever to occupy the squared circle. On February 25, 1964, a 22-year-old, stereotypically confident, and fast-talking Cassius Clay (known at the time as “The Louisville Lip”) faced off against one of the most intimidating fighters of that era, “Big Bear” Sonny Liston.

     At the time of the bout, many fighters were hesitant to even enter the ring with Sonny Liston. In fact, Henry Cooper, the British champion at the time, said he would fight Clay if Clay were to win the fight with Liston but would not be interested in getting into the ring with Liston if Liston were to win. Cooper’s manager, Jim Wicks, was even purported to have said, “"We don't even want to meet Liston walking down the same street." Many years later, Johnny Tocco, a trainer who had worked with George Foreman and Mike Tyson as well as Liston, said Liston was the hardest hitter of the three.

     On that now infamous night that in essence launched the career of the man who would later be known as Muhammad Ali, or quite simply “The Greatest,” Clay defeated Liston when Liston gave up at the opening of the seventh round. Later, Sports Illustrated magazine would name this fight as the fourth greatest sports moment of the 20th century.

     Also at ringside that night was another of the greatest heavyweights in boxing history. Joe Louis, known affectionately as the “Brown Bomber,” was there providing commentary to the bout. Louis had reigned as heavyweight champion from 1934 to 1951 and was victorious in 25 title defenses overall, a record second only to Julio César Chávez’s 27. In 2005, the International Boxing Research Organization ranked Louis as the best heavyweight of all time while The Ring magazine lists Louis number one on their list of the "100 greatest punchers of all time." For verification of Louis’ attendance at the event, we are including a video of the fight at the end of this description where Louis is announced at approximately the 8:40 mark.

     While we cannot say with absolute certainty, it seems very likely that someone that night over 50 years ago had the foresight and ingenuity to get all three legends to sign this same piece of currency and thereby lock them together for eternity. Whether it was signed that particular evening or not, this is a RARE opportunity to acquire a piece of memorabilia that forever unites ‘The Lip, The Bear and The Bomber.’ Beautifully framed to a dimension of 27 x 27 inches, along with an iconic photo of the Clay/Liston fight, this PSA/DNA (83084357) encapsulated item may be the only memorabilia piece of its kind.

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