One of the most heatedly discussed fights in boxing history was witnessed by the smallest crowd ever to see a modern-day world heavyweight championship fight. Only 2434 people witnessed Ali vs. Liston II in Lewiston, Maine on May 25, 1965.
The day after his previous victory over Liston, Cassius Clay announced that his name would now be Muhammad Ali. And Muhammad Ali was ready to meet one of his most ferocious opponents in Sonny Liston.
For the people in attendance, the memory may last a lifetime, but the fight itself didn’t last very long at all.
Sonny Liston was knocked out just one minute and 42 seconds into the first round after spending 17 seconds on the canvas.
This huge poster (36” x 24”), one of the best known images in sporting history, records the inspiring moment.
