A legendary clip from one of the most controversial boxing matches in history recently went viral on social media – the 1965 rematch between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston. The brief bout ended in a quick and bizarre first round knockout, fueling longstanding suspicions that Liston took a dive.
The backstory was Ali had shockingly dethroned Liston as heavyweight champion in their first fight in 1964. A rematch was quickly arranged for the following year in Lewiston, Maine. However, Liston’s bizarre behavior from the opening bell raised eyebrows. He came out sluggishly, barely throwing punches as Ali scored almost at will.
Then in the first round, a quick Ali combination ended with what became known as the “Phantom Punch” – a relatively light blow that somehow caused Liston to stumble and fall to the canvas. Stranger still, after trying to get up, Liston then went back down in a delayed reaction before the bout was waved off.
The fight’s comical anti-climax immediately sparked allegations of a fix. Liston had ties to organized crime, and rumors swirled that he had been threatened or paid off to take a dive for gambling interests. His listless performance and comical collapse certainly appeared to back up those theories.
Others argued Liston was simply past his prime and Ali’s skill and psychological games had gotten into his head. But the “Phantom Punch” and Liston’s delayed reaction still don’t add up for many.
In the decades since, the fight has become emblematic of boxing’s shady underbelly of fixes and mob influence. While we’ll likely never know for sure, the Liston vs. Ali rematch remains one of the most notorious bouts in history with suspicions of wrongdoing lingering over its bizarre conclusion.
