Former champion Floyd Patterson held the number one rank, and was preparing for a rematch with Sonny Liston.

Clay was given 3-1 odds of defeating Jones, and confidently predicted he would score a knockout victory in the fourth round.

The final rounds picked up in speed and intensity, with Clay ultimately prevailing in a series of fierce exchanges, and went on to win the bout on points through a close but unanimous decision.

[2][3][4][5][6][7] The fight was Madison Square Garden's first boxing sellout in 13 years,[8] grossing a live gate of $304,943 ($3,034,846 inflation adjusted).

[9] The fight had a closed-circuit theatre television broadcast, which drew 150,000 pay-per-view buys,[10] including 9,000 in Texas[11] and 1,500 at Syria Mosque.