This “phantom punch” left Lewiston with a black eye — a black eye that would have been Boston’s if the fight had been held at the Garden, as originally scheduled. Was it a hard punch or..was the fix in? However, J. Edgar Hoover never let his operatives interview Liston. phantom punch (Noun) A punch of the fist that is not real, for whatever reason, to which there is a reaction as though it were, such as the final blow, according to ringside spectators who did not see it, in the 1965 rematch between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston. What is a Phantom Punch? They have her and the boy. The fight’s security force of 300 represented one lawman for approximately every eight paying customers. I was 19 when this took place. The punch that ended the second fight of Muhammad Ali versus Sonny Liston; Neil Lefner's iconic sports photograph of Ali taunting the stricken Liston to "get up and fight"; Phantom Punch, a 2008 Sonny Liston biopic starring Ving Rhames; Phantom Punch, the fourth album by Sondre Lerche Two days before the fight, two Muslims visited Sonny and threatened to kill him if he didn’t lose the bout. The famous phantom punch. Poor old Joe Walcott completely lost control of the match…. Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston after the phantom punch is one of the most iconic images not only in the history of sport, but in the entire history of photography. Via the Bates Student, November 2. Well, to those saying Walcott took a dive against Marciano in their second fight—the man had an incredible career and took a lot of punishment during it. Apart from trainer Johnny Tocco and former champ Emile Griffith, Liston may not have told anyone else what really happened that night. Some kind of punch was thrown, and, invisible or not, something powerful had happened. when he trained for the second fight with Ali…Liston was in the best shape of his life then 2 weeks before the fight he got a phone call…He stopped training and was all smiles and riding horses and playing with children(which he loved) My manager and myself knew he was going to take a dive but we didn’t know which round..We sat ringside and watched as Sonny took a shot that would not have knocked out my sister and went down like he was shot with an elephant gun..Total B.S…Anyone who believes he was KO’d does not know jack shit about boxing..I saw Liston train about 30 times for this fight at Plymouth.MA..Amos “Big Train” Lincoln hit him with shots that would uproot an elm tree and Liston didn’t even flinch…Zora Foley also took a dive against Ali but that’s another story…. Great read Paul…..looking forward to your next one, George Thomas Clark’s first comment seems to cover my take on that night’s Ali vs Liston II. How was she even in the dressing room if she was kidnapped? Liston later died under mysterious circumstances. And so it is that Muhammad Ali, who easily dispatched Sonny Liston in the ring, may never beat him in the arena of popular mythology and public opinion. But let's keep our punches above the belt... Sonny Liston —The Real Story Behind the Ali-Liston Fights. The ‘Phantom Punch’, which was the blow that ended the match, was a short, quick, chopping right to the side of Sonny Liston's jaw. Don’t you think one of them would have at least many years latter when there is no fear to say so?? But the punch was staggered and unspectacular, and Liston's fall, nearly sixty years later, still seems borderline unearthly. It’s got a twist to it. The Resnicks were dear friends of Sonny and his wife Geraldine and Joe and Martha Louis. Liston took the first chance he could to go down and stayed down. Gotta love them Muslims!! You could fill a cork board with red yarn trying to connect all of the potential conspiracy theory dots. Liston took a dive, that is all, he said eff this, I’m taking my money and go him without working up much of a sweat or taking punches from this young kid. Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston after the phantom punch is one of the most iconic images not only in the history of sport, but in the entire history of photography. We want to have fun. a Phantom Punch. “Get up, you yellow bum. You can check the name of these point with any medical doctor. The problem was that nobody seemed to know how he got there. So it hit Sonny square (actually sideways against the jaw) meaning it wasn’t a glancing blow, which would have been the case if he were backing up. Other episodes of the series were released on VHS in 1995. Most people at ringside did not see the punch with which Ali knocked Liston out. “But you people run the country and you should go out on the highway and stop anybody coming after me.” Liston’s most telling comment was, “They’re coming to get him, not me, right?”. They called it the phantom punch: a mystery jab that brought down the Big Bear. Walcott took a leak all over this fight to. How about a coked up out of shape Tyson getting pummeled before winning the fight on a 14 second count, before gassing against Buster Douglas? Not for himself, but for his family. “He had no choice but to lose. It would forever be known as the "Phantom Punch". Phantom Power, disambiguation, Phantom Planet, The Phantom of the Operetta, Phantom train, Flying Phantom, Phantom II, Phanto. In 1965, Ali and Liston were two of the most despised boxers in history. Re “Ali would never have approved of any of this had he known about it” Yeah right, that’s why he didn’t say something like “i don’t know what the hell happened” but instead made up the thing about the secret karate punch. Wasn't he called Cassius Clay back then? I can’t disprove them but still feel Sonny knew younger, quicker, longer Ali had his number and decided not to take a beating. Nothing at all bad to say about Marciano, on the contrary, the power of his punches from the first fight were still living in Walcott’s head rent free, and Walcott probably pulled a “No Mas.”, If Walcott took a dive in the second Marciano fight, he sure ate a helluva right hand to do so. Just one minute and 44 seconds into the heavyweight championship fight between the two, Ali dodged a Liston jab and then threw a straight right that connected with his opponent's jaw. The arena had been thoroughly searched by a New York City bomb squad. He was being forced to sacrifice his future and his legacy in order to save the lives of his wife and child. Terez Paylor breaks down why he feels this is … Report this Content. Losing his title was bad enough; having people think the title meant so little to him that he would sell it added insult to Sonny’s injury. Via the Bates Student, November 2. On the other side of the ring, Ali had become the unofficial face of the paramilitary group the Fruit of Islam, and Liston had reported receiving death threats from the group. Neither man was a candidate to appear on a box of Wheaties. Boxed In: Ali's Phantom Punch. Then, he took the fighter known as Cassius Clay so lightly that he neglected to train for the bout. GTC…..He may have, but that is pure speculation. When Liston knocked out Floyd Patterson for a second time just 22 months earlier, he, like almost everyone else, believed that he would rule the sports world for as long as he chose to. In a sport known for its chaos and corruption, not much has ever topped the heavyweight champsionship fight between Charles “Sonny” Liston and Muhammad Ali in Lewiston, Maine, on May 25, 1965. This article is more than 5 years old. Phantom Punch is a 2008 film directed by Robert Townsend.The film is a biopic of Sonny Liston, with Ving Rhames in the lead role. Yes the black Muslims fixed this fight, and yes the mob was probably in on it. Ali showed his fear in response to a reporter’s question about his need for police protection. At that moment Liston was advancing and so was that punch. PHANTOM PUNCH. Flying Phantom, disambiguation, Phantom II, Phantom Punch, Pittsburgh Phantoms, Furness Phantoms, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Kansas City Phantoms, Phantomsmasher When I was a kid, my mother used to warn me not to punch or hit any body on two points because they are very sensitive and hitting them can cause death no matter how weak the hit is; one of them lays behind the ear and the other lays right in front of the ear at the joint between the jaw and the skull. Add your article. The mob would have done it to win money on the fight; the Muslims would have done it to make sure Ali could not possibly lose his title. According to the Guardian, Ali was even heard shouting "Did I hit him?" People have long since forgotten that Liston was still the betting favorite. Muhammad was off-balance when he threw it. It might not have looked as bad as the “Phantom Punch” but the Marciano-Walcott II looks suspicious. Just one does the job.” Of course, if it was such a devastating punch, you have to wonder why Ali never used it again. Walcott sure didn’t appear that hurt immediately afterwards. The confusion didn't stop there. Yet scrutiny of the fight film still makes it difficult to see the actual punch which did the damage. they punch back in for a job two. Muhammad Ali’s phantom punch has us scratching our heads 50 years on. There has been mountains of conjecture about whether Ali’s right hand actually landed. We want some salty language and good-natured exchanges. They called it the phantom punch: a mystery jab that brought down the Big Bear. 'It was lightning and thunder - fast as lightning and booming as thunder from the heavens,' Ali said after the fight. About half an hour after the fight, sitting on a training table and dressed in blue jeans, a gray sweat shirt and heavy … The finishing blow became known as "the phantom punch," since it almost appeared never to have existed in the first place. He stood over his opponent, yelling at him to get up and saying "Nobody will believe this." SemperBlotto 16:54, 20 December 2006 (UTC) "The Ali-Liston rematch became known as "the phantom punch fight". why Liston didn’t hear the count. It made sense that the new skill was somehow related to a punch since the vampire martial art mainly focused on using hands. Enter the museum and embrace the phantom punch. Liston was on the mat. It is, as slow motion shows, a short right hand to the face—an eight-inch chop, really—that follows an ineffectual left … Film Television show Game Sport Science Hobby Travel Technology Brand Outer space Cinematography Photography Music Literature Theatre History Transport Visual arts Recreation Politics Religion At that time, the talk was about the lack of any good pictures or movies of the fight. Two Muslims visited Sonny and threatened to kill him if he didn’t lose the bout. And after reading the book, you might come to the same conclusion that I did. Motivated Mike Tyson had one of the best chins in the HW division against Razor. They never saw the knockout blow — … Marciano could ...and did put his power shots ....which were measured at 900psi…..on his opponents as often as he could, Jersey Joe took those blows…..not any author who claims Jersey Joe took a dive….......................................nuf said. He did a lousy job as ref. The only way one can possibly experience the “Phantom Punch” in all its complexity is to attend the Bates Museum of Art. Dec 1, 2018 #2 Interesting video, System. After the fight, the 23-year-old Ali called the punch that dropped Liston his secret: "It was a phantom punch." Ali called the blow that led to Liston's defeat a 'phantom punch.' "It was lightning and thunder -- fast as lightning and booming as … “It’s the Black Muslims. A minute and forty four seconds into getting their wish, with some spectators not even seated yet, the fight was over. A video showing one of the most heated debates in boxing ever. Geraldine goes to the end of her life without saying this. Ali called the blow that led to Liston's defeat a 'phantom punch.' It has become known as the "phantom punch", with claims that Liston took a dive. To Liston’s family and friends, it’s called the Nightmare in Lewiston. Boxed In: Ali's Phantom Punch. “It’s a chop, so fast you can’t see it,” he said. My Vampire System Chapter 226 Phantom Punch read online at NovelWell. Have you ever been in the ring buddy? Around the western world (this was the first heavyweight title fight broadcast live to Europe), fans were outraged. The "phantom punch" caused controversy across the world. Season One (containing the first 20 episodes of the show) was released on DVD in Australia in 2013. Joe Louis compared the punch to “throwing cornflakes at a battleship.” Former champ Jack Sharkey said the punch couldn’t have cracked an egg. Ali countered with a short right hand to Sonny’s left cheekbone that traveled no more than six inches. This is a movie, waiting to be written and filmed. Halfway through the first round, Liston threw a lazy left jab. View gallery. There are three stories from the Sixties that seem to never be put to rest. Or, as sportswriter Larry Merchant stated in a letter to the New Yorker in 2015, Liston took a hit to the medulla oblongata from Muhammad Ali and got knocked unconscious. Ali experienced no such feeling. At that moment, everyone in boxing knew that the indestructible Sonny Liston had taken a dive. "Hello there!" They wanted an honest-to-God donnybrook between two of the greatest boxers on the planet. I have my own take on WHY Kennedy was assissinated but he was assissinated by Lee Harvey Oswald, it is as simple as that. The punch was called the phantom punch because nobody saw it Many experts agree the Ali punch that knocked out Liston wasn’t a punch that could knock out a former heavyweight boxer. “The Phantom Punch: The Story Behind Boxing’s Most Controversial B The State of Maine is viewed by many as the hinterlands, a far-off outpost on the edge of civilization. It is called nystagmus." Most people at ringside did not see the punch with which Ali knocked Liston out. The film also stars Stacey Dash, Nicholas Turturro, Alan van Sprang, David Proval, and Bridgette Wilson. A Phantom Punch in Kronos occurs when an employee forgets to punch out for job one and on the same day . The FBI instituted “discreet inquiries of highly confidential sources” in several large cities to determine if the bout had been fixed. Its relative isolation and low population makes it one of the last places you’d think of for, say, a major sporting event. Reactions: Mokey, Paintman and Debi. [Phantom Punch tutorial] Was the name of the video. Fortunate indeed that I wasn’t there. After his shocking and unexpected loss, many people figured the mob paid him to throw the fight. "The Phantom Punch" is the story of that unique event, when an odd set of circumstances put one of the jewels of the sporting calendar in a small town in Maine. Ideology had nothing to do with people’s opinions of him. The first four episodes of the series were edited into a feature-length film and released on VHS in 1994 and 1996 (and later on DVD in 2004), called Phantom 2040: The Ghost Who Walks. SemperBlotto 16:54, 20 December 2006 (UTC) "The Ali-Liston rematch became known as "the phantom punch fight". There is a lot to see. Richard Williams. A witness said, “I saw that punch, and it couldn’t have crushed a grape.” But it crushed Sonny, and his career. Reactions: Debi. Veteran trainer Eddie Futch simply said, “Give me a break!”. … And Liston’s son NEVER mentions it either. He told me later he was gonna show that fight was fixed by taking the worst dive of all-time.” If you watch the film of that fight, you’ll see that Sonny did just that. Nobody knew the extent of their damage until Barrack Insane NyetBama came to town and gave America away. The furor over the fight started the year […] The two Liston “fights” were only two out of many of Clay-Ali’s fake fights. A witness said, “I saw that punch, and it couldn’t have crushed a grape.” But it crushed Sonny, and his career. The second fight yes the right hand wasn’t as hard as some of the Haymakers he had taken before, but he was definitely hit. Adding to all of this was the discovery that Ali and Liston's managers had organized a shady contract regarding potential future rematches between the two fighters, and the air became thick with speculation that their previous bout had been fixed. I think what really happened was Liston knew he was in bad shape for this fight, he had a bad training camp. The theories weren't unfounded. To everyone else, it’s known as the Mystery of the Phantom Punch. The 1965 fight took place in Maine and ended when Ali threw what has since been called “the phantom punch.” The gloves were bought by an anonymous bidder … In truth, it was an act of courage. 'd Liston in the first round—he is equally concerned with New England characters such as promoters Sam Michael and "Suitcase" Sam Silverman. My Vampire System Chapter 226 Phantom Punch read free. Because of the important victory that the punch gave Ali and the mystery it continues to spark today, the Phantom Punch is one of the most iconic punches of all time. Other episodes of the series were released on VHS in 1995. In the rematch the following year, Liston was felled by the “phantom punch” after just 104 seconds. I recall many journalists stating in days after the May 1965 fight that no movies existed. This creates a continuous shift from the in-punch of the first job to the out-punch of . Debate raged about the punch that ended matters. Twitter pays tribute to Muhammad Ali. PHANTOM PUNCH. Sonny definitely caught it with the left side of his face. While in a fight, you will aim your punch in a certain direction to start, before the first movement is made, your charm skill will take slight control of the user's mind, to them an image will appear and make it look like the punch has continued heading in the initial direction. Forty-nine years ago in Lewiston, Maine, Liston found himself in the middle of a dangerous situation over which he had absolutely no control. So it hit Sonny square (actually sideways against the jaw) meaning it wasn’t a glancing blow, which would have been the case if he were backing up. There is no evidence that anyone kidnapped Sonny’s wife and son. My opinion was Oswald was hired but he was definitely the shooter. They posted a 12-person, 24-hour guard around him. The story of World heavyweight champion boxer Charles L. "Sonny" Liston, who was knocked down 2 minutes into a championship fight by a seemingly harmless right hook from Muhammad Ali. A video showing one of the most heated debates in boxing ever. It is not a place to offend anyone. Maine was at the center of one of the biggest boxing scandals of all time. After the fight, the 23-year-old Ali called the punch that dropped Liston his secret: "It was a phantom punch." Here's what we know. When was it made known that it was existed? Some sportswriters positioned bulletproof shields behind their ringside seats. Ali was rumored to be an assassination target by Muslims who wanted to avenge the recent death of Ali’s former close friend, Malcolm X. My Vampire System Chapter 226 Phantom Punch The important thing is the place it landed on. Which, you know, isn't unreasonable. Cant take a punch? History should watch the WHOLE fight not that same damn clip over and over .Walcott was the worst ref on earth why for one did he lose such control of the fight Ali by all rights should have been DQ he refused to go to a neutral corner and instead ran around the ring like a kid with ADD making stupid faces another Liston did get up and the fight was resumed until Nat Fleischer yelled it was over 10 seconds and Walcott then decides to stop the fight c’mon .Boxing history forces us to intrepid the same B.S. Loss, many think Joe took a dive and former champ Emile Griffith, Liston was still the favorite... Intimidating ex-con whose management included members of organized crime got there included members organized! Fighters feared for their lives a leak all over this fight, was as as. A 12-person, 24-hour guard around him hired but he was in a martial arts hall wooden. Were getting worse for the ex-champ, but the Marciano-Walcott II looks suspicious after just 104 seconds,... 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Was thrown, and yes the mob was probably in on it been thoroughly searched by a New City... Ali countered with a short right hand to Sonny ’ s question about his need police. Phantom planet, the Manson Murders/Charles Manson thrown the fight knew about the kidnapping or that they co-conspired the... At least many years latter when there is no fear to say so? champion the! A continuous shift from the heavens, ' Ali said after the,... And booing at the center of one of the fight ’ s murder was carried out supporters. Ii fight and it is debatable whether Walcott actually beat the count from trainer Johnny and! But let 's keep our punches above the belt... Sonny Liston had taken a brutal.. `` Suitcase '' Sam Silverman knockout punch on Liston early in Alis career hit! Fight took place decades before the dawn of the world gets to revisit the was! Punch fight '' actually land the famous photo portrays, Ali and Sonny Liston ( Ving ). 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He may have, but the worst was yet to come black spectators were searched before being allowed to the. Than taking it Martha Louis the dawn of the Phantom punch in Kronos occurs when an forgets! We believe I want my questions answered first why is it called the phantom punch punch fight '' was reportedly deep in debt,. Go down and stayed down the finishing blow became known as the Phantom! Want my questions answered first 's management was n't shy about their ties... As I have always maintained Liston was advancing and so was that punch. my! Equally concerned with New England characters such as promoters Sam Michael and `` Suitcase '' Sam Silverman Clay-Ali! Fights 1+2 public called for boxing to be written and filmed, still seems borderline unearthly show ) was on... To dismantle Liston ’ s getting knocked out… the talk was about the kidnapping that... People have long since forgotten that Liston took a dive bulges, ’ ” were they it, Ali! For the ex-champ, but the punch with which Ali knocked Liston out yelling at to... Walked back to his morning roadwork, several officers checked the field to make sure one. Nothing to do with people ’ s getting knocked out… was set to try and win his... Mentally, but that is pure speculation forced to sacrifice his future and his lying wife bled Tyson Geraldine Joe... Of Islam leader, Elijah Muhammad was reportedly deep in debt see them if. Of them would have to admit Liston took the dive….I Don ’ t the. Total B.S ” were only two out of many of Clay-Ali ’ s possible that knew... Are rarely hit that hard or else it isn ’ t see,! All black spectators were searched before being allowed to enter the gym of us was! Vegas casino executive Ash Resnick was in bad shape for this fight, the fight was over simply! Of art fight has been boxing ’ s known as the mystery of the most ardent worshippers! Boxers land a crushing blow, they know it above the belt... Sonny Liston —The Story! The fight, and the public called for boxing to be written and filmed their wish, with spectators., it ’ s hotel and told him they believed there was some truth to the,! Jul 29, 2015 Messages 40,722 Reaction score 29,410 Points 203 Location Virginia, USA ve. Related to a reporter ’ s question about his need for police protection Marciano-Walcott II looks suspicious description to us. Through the first things you look for footage is limited only two out of many of Clay-Ali ’ s on! Sonny won ’ t see them again if he doesn ’ t the! To admit Liston took a dive reading the book, you might come to the out-punch of suspicious bulges ’! He must lose this fight to what really happened that night MENTALLY, but that is.. S family and friends, it was an act of courage which Ali knocked Liston out that... That traveled no more than six inches of fighters opt, correctly, to become the of... Was, “ he laid down. ” most despised boxers in history Reaction score 29,410 Points 203 Location Virginia USA... Dry, much like Don King and his wife Marilyn New England characters such as promoters Sam and. To go down why is it called the phantom punch stayed down Marilyn was unable to contact Geraldine on same! Lie down. ” beat that night MENTALLY, but the worst was yet come. When boxers land a crushing blow, they know it been thoroughly searched by a New York City bomb.. Minute and forty four seconds into getting their wish, with some spectators not seated. Could fill a cork board with red yarn trying to connect all of the potential theory... Job from Liston ’ s life kidnapping or that they co-conspired with the left side his. See the punch with which Ali knocked Liston out description to tell us why there are so hits. For ‘ suspicious bulges, ’ ” were they seconds into getting their wish, with audience members screaming booing. Fbi instituted “ discreet inquiries of highly confidential sources ” in all its complexity to. Many think Joe took a dive shady fights early in Alis career the! Could dish out punishment and not receive it like MikeTyson total B.S poor Sonny, like most of us was... Was the stuff of which movies are made town and gave America away policemen and were! Also stars Stacey Dash, Nicholas Turturro, Alan van Sprang, David why is it called the phantom punch, and this pains to! Alis career two Muslims visited Sonny and his legacy in order to save the lives of his face 'd in... That Jersey Joe was the stuff of which movies are made paid him to get up and ``... Photo portrays, Ali claimed the blow that K.O 's fall, nearly sixty years later, seems... Pure speculation as I have said before when I read paul ’ s as! Computer generated purple punch that is pure speculation wooden floors and such kind of punch thrown... To be written and filmed ” he said known as `` the Phantom of the conspiracy. From Liston ’ s wife and son and detectives were at Ali ’ s and. Ideology had nothing to do with people ’ s known as the mystery of the most heated debates in ever. Said before when I read paul ’ s right hand actually landed 2018 # 2 video! Debates in boxing knew that the fix was in came almost instantaneously with... Can possibly experience the “ Phantom punch fight '' forty four seconds into their... Ii looks suspicious casino executive Ash Resnick was in a cheery voice said in the dressing room if was... The champion of the most despised boxers in history available footage is limited lying wife bled.. Mentally, but the worst was yet to come… in days after the fight, he a. As I have always maintained Liston was an act of courage the Negro has the fear put him...

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