On this day

1962: Sonny Liston (pictured in action against Muhammad Ali) knocked out Floyd Patterson in the first round of their world heavyweight title fight at Comiskey Park, Chicago. Patterson, conceding almost 12 kilograms in weight to the challenger, was the first man to lose the heavyweight title in the first round.

1969: Former South Africa cricket captain Hansie Cronje was born. Cronje led the Proteas in 53 Tests and 138 one-day internationals, but his career ended in disgrace with a life ban for match-fixing. He died in a plane crash on June 1, 2002.

2005: Spain's Fernando Alonso became the youngest Formula One world champion at the age of 24 after finishing third in the Brazilian Grand Prix.

2009: Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni signed a new two-year contract to take him through to 2012.

2011: Britain's Mark Cavendish won the men's road race at the cycling World Championships in Copenhagen.

2013: Snooker player Stephen Lee was banned for 12 years after being found guilty of seven charges of match-fixing. 

2016: Golfer Arnold Palmer, a seven-time major winner, died at the age of 87.