ALI, MUHAMMAD-SONNY LISTON II CLOSED CIRCUIT POSTER (1965)

On February 25, 1964 Cassius Clay upset the boxing world stopping champion Sonny Liston to win the heavyweight title. A rematch was guaranteed. The fight was set for November 16, 1964, at the Boston Garden. Liston was immediately established as a 13-5 favorite, making Ali a greater betting underdog than Floyd Patterson in his two fights against Liston. This time, Liston trained hard, preparing himself for a 15-round bout. In fact, Time magazine said that Liston had worked himself into the best shape of his career.[38] Ali, for his part, continued to taunt Liston, dragging a bear trap to the pre-fight physical and announcing that he might begin manufacturing the "Sonny Liston Sit-Down Stool." However, the Boston fight would never occur. Three days before the scheduled bout (Friday the 13th), Ali needed emergency surgery for a strangulated hernia. The bout would need to be delayed by six months. The new date was set for May 25, 1965. But as it approached, Liston was involved in yet another arrest and there were fears that the promoters were tied to organized crime. Massachusetts officials, most notably Suffolk County District Attorney Garrett Byrne, began to have second thoughts. Byrne sought an injunction blocking the fight in Boston because Inter-Continental Promotions was promoting the fight without a Massachusetts license. Inter-Continental said local veteran Sam Silverman was the promoter. On May 7, backers of the rematch ended the court battle by pulling the fight out of Boston. The fight was moved quickly to Lewiston, Maine. On May 25th Ali again stopped Liston, this time in the first round. Many observers thought Liston threw the fight and that controversy lives on to this day. Offered here is an original, closed circuit poster for the originally scheduled fight in Boston on May 25th.
This is an original, paper, closed circuit which includes action photo from their first meeting. The poster uses Ali's birth name, Clay. Professionally linen backed. Bold color and print. Bold, clear image. Some restoration at the edges and folds, not affecting the image. Not creased. Clean. Murray Poster Printing Co. logo at lower right. 29 1/4" x 37." Scarce poster featuring one of Ali's most famous and controversial fights.