Duke Basketball Report · Sep 22, 2022
YouTube Gold: A Panel Discussion Of Muhammad Ali’s Phantom Punch
Muhammad Ali looms over Sonny Liston after knocking him downWhen Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, first fought champion Sonny Liston, it resulted in a great upset as Clay knocked off one of the most feared boxers in history. Liston failed to come out for the bell after the sixth round.
It was immensely controversial with many people believing that the fight was fixed. After the fight, Ali publicly embraced Islam and Elijah Muhammad, which, in 1964, was hugely controversial.
The rematch was first to be in Boston but for various reasons, it was moved to Lewiston, Maine, a town of about 40,000.