16. Sonny 2: March, 1965
When the first bout between the two ended without a knockout or going the distance, many people started to think that maybe there it was “fixed”. Especially when they realized that there was a rematch clause, granting Sonny another shot at Ali. Ali had all the controversy around his name though, and Liston had recently had some trouble with the law (speeding, reckless driving, and carrying a concealed weapon). This bout may have been a win for Ali, but it was not without its controversy as well.
It was halfway through the first round that Liston was hit by Ali and went down, got up, went down to a knee and then went down on his back again. Many fans in attendance did not even see the punch, leading to the nickname of the “phantom punch.”
The match was over in the first round, and featured the iconic photo of Ali yelling, “Get up and fight, sucker!”
The match was one of the shortest heavyweight bouts of all time, and while it left many furious, others like Tex Maule who worked for Sports Illiustrated stated, “The blow had so much force it lifted Liston’s left foot, upon which most of his weight was resting, well off the canvas.”
The fight helped further push Ali towards the spotlight, and left Liston’s reputation as low as it could possibly go.
15. His Refusal To Join The Military: 1967
Muhammad Ali’s legacy would not have been the same if not for the war at Vietnam. Back in 1967, when he was still the champion, Ali refused to be conscripted into the U.S. Military, stating that he had religious beliefs and was openly opposed to the American involvement in Vietnam.
Ali was arrested on draft evasion charges, lost his title, and did not box again for four years. While this could be considered a low, he eventually had his conviction overturned, which allowed Ali to be an inspirational icon for the counterculture generation that was emerging during the Vietnam era.
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