The pullcounter is so amazing back in the day they called it the Phantom punch

[bojangles1987]

sonny liston took a dive tbh

I think he was legitimately knocked down, I mean the punch did land good, but whether he could continue or why he didn't when he went down? I don't know.

[Fix]

i just got that dvd Phantom Punch starring Ving Rhymes (the dude from Pulp Fiction)... didnt see it yet thought but its Listons life story..

[Fix]

I think he was legitimately knocked down, I mean the punch did land good, but whether he could continue or why he didn't when he went down? I don't know.

yeah i saw a decent quality slow motion on youtube.. you can see Liston's back muscles react to the impact of Ali's shot.. After seeing that vid, the shot was legit..

[kiDynamite92]

Liston imo gave up, he knew he was gonna be in for a looooooooong night with Ali. It was just gonna be the same as the first bout, his heart wasn't in it. He gave up.

[BennyST]

What the hell are you talking about Larry? They aren't calling the punch the phantom punch because it was amazing or because they hadn't seen it before. It's a common counter shot and has been forever.

They called it that because hardly anyone saw it land and they didn't think it was even a real, or hard enough, KO punch landed, hence the term the 'phantom punch' ie people didn't think it was a real punch landed and though the whole thing was a fake or it was a set up. They weren't talking about the actual boxing move. It probably wasn't enough to really hurt him like that (ten count KO), he just wasn't in it anymore and knew he had no chance, especially getting knocked down in the first, because while it might not have been a KO punch, it was definitely a hard, flush shot enough to hurt and drop him. I just don't think he had it in him to go knowing what was in store for him.

[fabie]

I see you stole my gif. Great shot by Ali but they called it the phantom punch because nobody saw the punch land clearly, had nothing to do with the fact that it was a right hand counter over the jab.

This.

We also have to consider that there's no viable means of technology to have INSTANT REPLAYs back then, therefore if someone missed this fraction-of-a-second punch that landed Liston - thus the "phantom punch" banter.

We all have the luxury NOW to see it. That overhand right by ALI is a powerful and well-timed punch that rocked Liston's head as we can see the impact...

[Larry the boss]

Still just called a counter punch or counter right hand (over a lazy jab, etc.)

Boxers have always tried changing the name of a punch or combo, but when announcers play into this they look like jackasses.

Remember the "colt 45" by Delahoya?

45=half hook half uppercut

[kadyo's]

Cassius Clay missed the left hook in the choreography. LOL

[bose]

i just got that dvd Phantom Punch starring Ving Rhymes (the dude from Pulp Fiction)... didnt see it yet thought but its Listons life story..

Good movie. Ving did a good job in this movie.

[DLT]

never heard of that movie. Ill check it out