The Phantom Punch: What Really Happened in Liston vs. Ali II

Published on November 4th, 2025 8:17 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


The rematch between Sonny Liston and Muhammad Ali took place on May 25, 1965, in Lewiston, Maine. It lasted less than two minutes. The ending became one of the most debated moments in boxing history.

Liston, the former heavyweight champion, was fighting to reclaim the title he'd lost to Ali the year before. Ali had dominated him in their first meeting, when Liston quit on his stool after the sixth round. The rematch was supposed to prove whether Liston still had anything left.

Instead, the fight ended in chaos. Midway through the first round, Ali threw a short right hand - a quick, snapping punch that barely seemed to land. Liston fell to the canvas. Referee Jersey Joe Walcott appeared unsure whether to start the count. Ringside confusion followed as photographers swarmed the ring before the fight was officially stopped.

The official result: Ali by knockout in 1 minute, 56 seconds of Round 1. Many spectators didn't believe what they saw. Fans called it the "phantom punch."

Liston claimed afterward that he never saw the punch coming. Ali insisted it was real - a "anchor punch" that caught Liston perfectly. But film replays did little to convince skeptics. Even boxing insiders questioned the fall.

The FBI investigated the fight after reports surfaced that Liston might have been pressured to lose. Declassified FBI files later revealed suspicions that Liston had ties to organized crime figures who may have influenced the bout. Agents believed Liston was under financial strain and heavily involved with gamblers.

According to one report, federal agents thought Liston might have thrown the fight to clear gambling debts or to protect himself from mob retribution. The Bureau found no proof, but the rumors stuck.

The result damaged Liston's legacy. Fans viewed the knockout as staged. Promoters called it embarrassing. The fight still ranks among boxing's most controversial finishes - a moment frozen in time, with Ali standing over Liston and the world asking whether they'd just seen a punch or a payoff.