 "Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, was an 8:1 underdog. However, he won in a major upset, when the champion gave up at the opening of the seventh round. Illustration: Santan")
History was scripted on February 25, 1964, when boxer Muhammad Ali became world heavyweight champion after defeating reigning champion Sonny Liston in six rounds.
If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers’ ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.
In 1836, Samuel Colt received a US patent for his revolver which later came to be known as 9430X. Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth I was excommunicated by Pope Pius V on this day in 1570.
Here is all that happened on this day.
Muhammad Ali becomes world heavyweight champion
It was on this in 1964 that Muhammad Ali , then known as Cassius Clay was crowned the world heavyweight champion after his fight with Sonny Liston. The match took place at Miami’s Fifth Street Gym. Liston was a seasoned boxer who had recently defeated Floyd Patterson twice in a row with a knockout in the first round.
Wearing white trunks with red stripes, Ali demonstrated his skill by landing a jab on Liston’s face, resulting in a cut below his eye. This continued for the next few rounds, making Ali last longer against Liston than any of his previous opponents in the past three and a half years.
Critics had dismissed Ali’s boxing style as ineffective against Liston’s formidable power, but Ali’s speed and agility proved to be the decisive factor. At the age of 22, Ali delivered a stunning upset, forcing Liston to retire before the seventh round and capturing the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight championships. After winning the match, Ali famously declared “I am the greatest!”
Samuel Colt patented the first revolver
American inventor Samuel Colt patented the first practical revolver on this day in 1836. The Colt Paterson, a revolutionary firearm of its time, was initially produced at Colt’s Patent Arms Company in Paterson, New Jersey.
Colt’s design introduced a rotating cylinder that allowed multiple shots to be fired without reloading, greatly improving efficiency in combat and self-defense. The innovative design caught the attention of the military and became a favourite among the Texas Rangers, playing a pivotal role in the establishment of the Colt legacy.
A crucial meeting between Texas Ranger Samuel Walker and Samuel Colt in New York led to substantial refinements in the revolver’s design and a significant order of one thousand units. This collaboration resulted in the creation of the six-shot Colt Walker, a firearm celebrated as the most powerful black powder repeating handgun ever manufactured.
Despite early marketing difficulties, Colt’s revolver achieved prominence during the Mexican-American War, where the US military, especially the Texas Rangers, recognised its value. This led to the establishment of his company in 1847 and later became a leading firearm manufacturer.
Excommunication of Queen Elizabeth I
In 1570, a massive event took place when Pope Pius V issued the papal bull “Regnans in Excelsis,” which formally excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I of England. This act was a dramatic culmination of religious and political tensions simmering since Elizabeth’s accession in 1558.
Elizabeth I had re-established the Church of England’s independence from Rome, undoing her Catholic predecessor Mary I’s work. The “Act of Supremacy” reaffirmed the monarch as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England , a direct challenge to papal authority. This religious shift, coupled with Elizabeth’s refusal to acknowledge papal supremacy, led to escalating friction with the Catholic Church.
“Regnans in Excelsis” declared Elizabeth a heretic, stripped her of her legitimacy as queen, and absolved her Catholic subjects of any allegiance. This was intended to incite rebellion and potentially lead to her overthrow. The bull arrived during a period of heightened religious conflict across Europe and it deepened the divide between Catholic and Protestant nations.
While the excommunication did not immediately trigger a Catholic uprising, it solidified Elizabeth’s image as a Protestant champion and contributed to the narrative of England as a defender of Protestantism against Catholic aggression.
This Day, That Year
On this day in 1986, Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos fled his country after a fraudulent electoral victory.
In 1948, the communists seized control of the government of Czechoslovakia.
The Sixteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, permitting a federal income tax, came into effect in 1913.