Muhammad Ali fought some of the best big men to ever grace the ring, but one stood out above the rest.The Louisville technician reigned supreme over the glamour division during a golden age of heavyweight boxing in the 1970s.GettyAli is widely considered to be the greatest heavyweight of all time[/caption]Over the course of an illustrious 61-fight (56-5) career, Ali scored 40 wins over top-10 rated opposition – a remarkable feat that has rightfully earned him the No.1 spot in most publications’ all-time heavyweight rankings.Some of his most famous nights include ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ against George Foreman in 1974 and ‘The Thrilla in Manila’ with Joe Frazier in 1975.However, the fight that announced the brash American on the world stage happened a decade prior when he dethroned undisputed champion Sonny Liston at the Convention Center in Miami, Florida.That night, Ali famously retired Liston on his stool at the end of the sixth round after mystifying the rugged veteran with his superior speed and movement.The fresh-faced 22-year-old made it look easy, but years later, during a ‘Best I Faced’ segment with Ring Magazine, Ali admitted it was actually the toughest fight of his career.“The toughest would be my fight with Sonny Liston, when I won the title in 1964,” he said.“I was young and a great admirer of Liston’s talent. He could do just about everything except dance. “But outside of myself, there’s never really been a dancin’ heavyweight. Liston had a tremendous jab, could punch with either hand, was smart in the ring and as strong as any heavyweight I’d ever seen.“He was ugly, too. In and out of the ring. Being a big underdog and acting crazy at the weigh-in made everybody think that I was scared half to death.“Sonny came out at the bell looking to take me apart. I moved and stuck, knowing that I was gaining control in the second round. But the ‘Bear’ was always dangerous. Stalking, glaring, mean.Ali fought Foreman, Liston, and Frazier (pictured)Getty“About the fourth round, my eyes started burning. Finally, when I came back to my corner, I couldn’t see at all. “I figured Liston had something on his gloves and asked Angelo (Dundee) to cut my gloves off. “He didn’t, but gave my eyes a good wash, checked Liston’s corner, talked to the referee and tried to stall for more time.“The bell rang, but my eyes were still burning and watering. Angelo gave me a good pat on the rear end and said, ‘keep moving’.“Half-blinded, only seeing a blurred hulk coming at me, I got on my bicycle. “Luckily, I had enough instinct, speed and, yes, fear, to keep from getting tagged by the chasing Liston until my eyes started to clear.Ali beat Liston twice, but the ‘Greatest’ admits he was his toughest foegetty images“I think he used up a lot chasing me and missing those big punches. He was tired, and I knew I had regained control.“Like a wounded animal, with eyes swollen and cut, Sonny came out with a surge in the sixth round and connected with a good right hand, but he couldn’t keep it going, and I ended the round feeling like I was the new champ.“But I was still very relieved to see big Sonny remain on his stool when the bell rang for the seventh.“I still respect him as one of the truly great heavyweights of all time.”Ali and Liston rematched in 1965 in one of the most controversial fights in boxing history.Midway through the opening stanza, Ali knocked out Liston with a looping right hand that came to be known as “the phantom punch” because few saw it land.Liston was one of the most intimidating fighters to ever grace the ringGETTYSlow-motion footage later revealed that the shot did, in fact, connect with Liston’s chin.However, there was considerable debate as to whether the blow was heavy enough to knock out ‘The Night Train’.Sportswriter Jimmy Cannon, who was ringside that night, said of the finishing shot: “I saw that punch and it couldn’t have crushed a grape.”There are multiple theories as to what happened that night with one suggestion that Liston took a dive because he owed money to the Mafia.However, the mystery remains unsolved to this day.