Phantom Punch..

I think the punch itself was legitimate, enough to stun Liston. What made it suspicious was Liston's terrible acting job on the canvas. With Ali manically circling the ring and refusing to go to a neutral corner, Liston not getting a count and then Walcott stopping the fight on the say so of Nat Fleischer when both men were on their feet and fighting, the bout should realistically have been ruled a no contest. Thats exaclty what I thought, the strange rolling around looked so suspicious, just looked completely fake! Iv'e heard some reasonable answer's that he was waiting for the count, and I can believe it, he just should off quickly got up!

I think the punch itself was legitimate, enough to stun Liston. What made it suspicious was Liston's terrible acting job on the canvas. Thats exaclty what I thought, the strange rolling around looked so suspicious, just looked completely fake! Iv'e heard some reasonable answer's that he was waiting for the count, and I can believe it, he just should off quickly got up!

I think the punch itself was legitimate, enough to stun Liston. What made it suspicious was Liston's terrible acting job on the canvas. Thats exactly what I thought, he was rolling around the canvas in such a strange way, it looked so fake!

he took a dive thats clear .for what reason well never know.

Liston has said some conflicting things about that fight, he's said that the knockdown was legit but he was OK and was just waiting for the count from Walcott who botched it, he's also said that he fixed the fight because he didn't want to deal with the Nation of Islam. So it's hard to say, the punch was legit though IMO, Liston never saw it coming.

I think the punch itself was legitimate, enough to stun Liston. What made it suspicious was Liston's terrible acting job on the canvas. With Ali manically circling the ring and refusing to go to a neutral corner, Liston not getting a count and then Walcott stopping the fight on the say so of Nat Fleischer when both men were on their feet and fighting, the bout should realistically have been ruled a no contest.

Has to be one of the biggest mysteries in boxing.. Same as when Jess Willard KO'd Jack Johnson, who lay on the canvas while shielding his eyes from the sun... I've just read Listons side of it from ThunderWolf.. Well, I remember an interview where Ali gave his side.. His explains that it was a punch he'd been working on & perfected, while shadow boxing under water! This, at one time, was part of his training routine.. But, was he clowning again? Only Ali knows that... My opinion is that Liston was being out speeded, outboxed & humiliated.. I'd say he took a dive, not because of the mob.. But because, he couldn't handle it mentally...

I watched a DVD interview years after the fight, and Liston denied it, saying that he and Ali were about to slug it out again when the referee stopped it. Liston claims he was waiting for the referee to count which did not happen, so it exceeded the count. That if he threw the fight he should not have stood up at all. I see, thanks for the information!

Im new to Boxingscene, iv'e looked back quite a few pages in this forum discussion and cant find anything on it, so im going to put it out their and ask your views, sorry if it's already been done! Ali vs Liston Fixed? Alot of experts have said that Liston threw that fight. Many people believe the Mob was behind it, and that the punch just couldn't put Liston out etc etc. Iv'e watched the punch various times and im just not sure! Not taking nothing away from Ali, he is obviously one of the greatest of all time if not the greatest. Looking forward to your views, thanks! I watched a DVD interview years after the fight, and Liston denied it, saying that he and Ali were about to slug it out again when the referee stopped it. Liston claims he was waiting for the referee to count which did not happen, so it exceeded the count. That if he threw the fight he should not have stood up at all.

Liston had a strong chin, the punch Ali threw looked weak. I can't imagine him actually being hurt by it.