49 years ago today...

[LacedUp]

The greatest strikes again!



Notice Larry Merchant between his legs

[I.R.I.E]

Nice! Possibly the best boxing pic ever!

[LacedUp]

Nice! Possibly the best boxing pic ever!

The most iconic for sure.

To think it was Larry Merchant that stood there and got himself in between Ali's legs. That's a coincidence.

[Ray Corso]

The best heavyweight body of all time! Weight to height to reach and conditioning. Perfect proportions with outstanding athletic ability for any sport!
Possibly the greatest athlete in any weight class, definitely the greatest in the heavy division. Tremendous physical attributes!
Ray.

[LacedUp]

The best heavyweight body of all time! Weight to height to reach and conditioning. Perfect proportions with outstanding athletic ability for any sport!
Possibly the greatest athlete in any weight class, definitely the greatest in the heavy division. Tremendous physical attributes!
Ray.

I was looking at his fight with Folley, Williams and the rest at that time a couple of days ago, and Clay/Ali really was the perfect combination of power, speed, movement - everything that embodies the perfect heavyweight.

I often find myself wishing we had someone like him today.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

Epic Picture,, and larry being in between the legs makes it even more magical...

the world works in mysterious ways

[LacedUp]

Epic Picture,, and larry being in between the legs makes it even more magical...

the world works in mysterious ways

I loved the 1-2 Ali gave Liston right at the beginning of the second fight - a tactic made to make Liston remember the first fight.

It was pure magic.

[- Ram Raid -]

Although it's become an iconic picture it certainly wasn't one of boxing's iconic moments. Ali screaming at Liston to get up as the crowd start booing that the fix is in.
Despite it's undoubted aesthetic appeal, I've always disliked viewing this picture as it opens up the question as to why Liston took a dive?

[LacedUp]

Although it's become an iconic picture it certainly wasn't one of boxing's iconic moments. Ali screaming at Liston to get up as the crowd start booing that the fix is in.
Despite it's undoubted aesthetic appeal, I've always disliked viewing this picture as it opens up the question as to why Liston took a dive?

It was an iconic moment for sure. It was the definite passing of the torch - people thought Ali was crazy for trying his luck a 2nd time vs Liston and he was a heavy underdog.

However, you are right that it may have opened up some questions. And Liston took a dive because he wanted nothing to do with that "mob" - supposedly referring to the nation of islam. Or so at least it was reported.

[- Ram Raid -]

It was an iconic moment for sure. It was the definite passing of the torch - people thought Ali was crazy for trying his luck a 2nd time vs Liston and he was a heavy underdog.

However, you are right that it may have opened up some questions. And Liston took a dive because he wanted nothing to do with that "mob" - supposedly referring to the nation of islam. Or so at least it was reported.

He was certainly weary of the N.O.I and with Frankie Carbo serving a long sentence it's possible that he was intimidated into taking a dive or paid off on the promise of a portion of Ali's future earnings. I think it's more likely that his 'backers' got a future percentage and he did as he was told.

Before the first fight in Miami Inter-Continental Promotions of whom Sonny was a partner paid the Louisville Group $50,000 for the promotional rights to Clay's next fight after he fought Liston. Which is odd considering the consensus was that Clay would be annihilated and fade into obscurity with his lip firmly buttoned.

Bernie Glickman who had handled Liston at one point, phoned his son before the fight and told him not to put any money on Sonny. His body guard Lowell Powell had already put money on it when Sonny told him not to bet any more. He reckons after the fight he said to Sonny "You could've at least pulled my coat" and he replied "With your big mouth, we'd both be wearing concrete suits."

I'm pretty sure that I have read somewhere about the cut of Ali's future fights that Liston's managers had writ into the contract, though I can't remember where. That in itself doesn't prove a fix though as it wasn't uncommon practice at the time.