Ali-Liston commemorative section

[EditorJP]

The Sun Journal in Lewiston, Maine, home of Ali-Liston II (the 'phantom punch' fight), has ut together a 10-page in-print special section commemorating the fight on its 50th anniversary. The accompanying digital package at the paper's website is also solid, with complete audio from pre-fight to post-fight analysis, first-hand stories and memories, and a great recap of all of the events that year.

Here is the link to the site: sunjournal.com/phantompunch50

WARNING: This site does have a paywall subscription, but only after you read 10 stories. If it asks before that, just click 'no thanks' in the lower right corner of the pop-up.

[fastjabs2015]

50 years this week. Retrospectively Ali handled Liston with ease (in both fights) - which is amazing given how young he was and how frightening Liston was perceived to be.

I just got in from the barbershop and they have a poster of Ali standing over Sonny on the wall.

[NChristo]

Jack Dempsey and Rocky Marciano talking about the second fight.

[The Old LefHook]

Jack Dempsey and Rocky Marciano talking about the first fight.

There is not much to celebrate in one of the biggest disappointments in boxing history. It was a huge letdown for every fan.

Let us celebrate the ineptitude of Jersey Joe as referee for such a bigtime contest. The Three Stooges were in the ring that night and Jersey Joe got most of the laughs. Liston's irregular pratfalls were funny too.

Outside the ring, the fourth Stooge stold the show when he got it stopped. Nat Fleischer distracted Jersey Joe from his duties as ref, called him to the side for a little unofficial conference, while the boxers fought on unattended. It was something out of a wrestling match.

Informed by a fan (Nat Fleschier) that the fight would be over by his reckoning, Jersey Joe now rushes back to the action to stop it.

But the Phantom Punch even has its own name, so why not use it to sell some fresh lobster and hotdogs and boost the local economy?

The place where I live does the same thing with a destructive tidal wave from decades ago. They can't get over it. It is their claim to fame.

[Anthony342]

Ah good old fashioned tobacco commercials.

[NChristo]

Ah good old fashioned tobacco commercials.

Aha forgot to cut that Ad out but kinda glad I didn't.

[Anthony342]

I'm glad too. It puts the video in the proper historical context. Probably still had cigarette machines and maybe even cigarette girls at bars back then.