ALI, MUHAMMAD-SONNY LISTON II SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (11-64)

On May 25, 1965 World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali defended his title for the first time against the man he had won it from a little over a year earlier, Sonny Liston, in one of the great upsets in boxing history. This fight was originally slated for Boston, but delayed due to an injury and moved to the unlikely setting of Lewiston, Maine. The fight ended in the first round. Ali landed what many observers coined a phantom punch to put Liston away while a confused referee Jersey Joe Walcoot lost track of the count. Many people insisted the fight was thrown by Liston, long known to have mob ties, but Ali defended the punch that ended it. That controversy lives on to this day. Presented here is a November 16, 1964 issue of Sports Illustrated, previewing this bout.
This November 16, 1964 issue of Sports Illustrated is 8 1/4" x 11" and pictures both fighters on the cover. Clean inside and out. There is a mailing label in the lower left corner of the front cover. There are small creases along the edges and in the corners. No rips or tears. 98 pages.