Two controversial fights took place
between these two boxers, with Muhammad Ali being victorious each time.
This fight, in 1965, was a rematch of the fight that
had taken place in 1964. Liston was one of the
most feared boxers in the world and Ali beat him in
six rounds in that first fight. When the bell
rang for the seventh, Liston would not get up from
his stool. He became the heavyweight champion
and a rematch was to take place in 1965.
Muhammad Ali knocked Sonny Liston out in the first
round of the fight and this poster reflects the
moment. There are many that believe it was a
"phantom punch" that never actually connected.