MUHAMMAD ALI VS. SONNY LISTON II
Date / Location: May 25, 1965 / Lewiston, Maine
Result of first fight: Ali (Cassius Clay) TKO 6
Result of rematch: Ali KO 1
Background: Ali, then Cassius Clay, “shook up the world” in February 1964 when he forced the seemingly unbeatable Liston to retire on his stool in their first fight. The rematch would be less competitive but live on as a source of conspiracy theories. The spectators at the Central Maine Civic Center had barely settled into their seats when Liston suddenly went down from what became known as a “phantom punch.” In fact, replays show a right hand to the jaw was responsible for the knockdown. Liston got up and continued fighting amid confusion over the count but officials quickly ended matters. The fight lasted only 2 minutes, 12 seconds. Did Liston, under the thumb of mobsters, take a dive? Or was it a legitimate knockout? We still don’t know for sure.