- Boys, been at this boxing thing a long time now from inception of internet forums, so forgive me in advance over my frustration at not understanding how growed men cannot understand the video evidence.
One of my hobbies was knocking around my canvas heavy bag under my big backyard oak daily where I eventually moved to bare fists for more snap, snap in punching being what Ali possessed in abundance that gave him so much TKO Cut stoppages. My HS buddy was a credentialed ama, so we talked boxing and agreed in watching Ali that he possessed a unique snapping twist that did the damage.
Liston II backdrop was NOI civil war of sorts, Malcolm assassinated, the WBA stripped Ali quiet as a church mouse with the rematch having to move to Podunk, Maine for security where black Muslim groups would better stand out for security purpose.
Bout started like the first with Liston chasing swinging long left hooks for the fences with Ali doing his scalded cat impersonation again. At the point of controversy, Sonny swung hisself off balance and was stooped parallel to the ring floor exposed as Ali jumped back off balance to fire a quick counter right with some snap that caught Sonny on the left temple, a sneaky quicksilver but legit shot that lucked into landing on a critical spot. Seriously hurt or not, Liston was going down no matter.
I practiced the shot incessantly, pushing the bag way out to jump back to deliver the same shot on the bag, and it's next to zero force.
I believe it was Cosell who organized a 4 person panel that included Jack Dempsey and Rocky Marciano who viewed several replays. Dempsey was critical saying it wasn't a KO blow, and I concur. Rocky buddies with Ali now more supportive, so as a kid seeing two of my heroes going over what I was seeing was pure ecstasy. However, I wasn't astute enough then to understand Howie was asking leading questions. Walcott's role was discussed maybe, and maybe Nat too, but not clearly and those two are responsible for making a hash out of that fight, shyte officiating being the absolute bane of boxing historically.
Walcott near 50 yrs old was having to muscle a bigger prime age fighter to the corner, and I understand body language. Ali was trying to kick Sonny in the noggin.
Clear DQ for Ali, but worse, boxing managed to double up with Nat calling over Walcott before he could get back to Liston where the time elapsed was well already beyond 10 sec, so the Maine officials could've just called a No Contest, pick one or the other but all the same, Ali already been stripped of one belt deserved to be stripped for the other and serve a suspension. He was poisonous enough in the states with his NOI roots that he fled overseas for a while for defenses and $$$, but then Judge Hofheinz after having built the Astrodome made Ali a couple of defense offers vs local, the gut shot Cleveland Williams with half his intestines missing, and then WBA champ Ernie Terrell. NOI would've been dead meat had they tried something in Texas.
So then Ali ends up publicly ducking Wilt on Cosell's sport segment designed for their public signing for his 3rd Astrodome fight to opt for the 35 yr old Zorra Folley in MSG who put him through his paces before the Vietnam Fiasco and the rest of his too often controversial career, easily the most controversial fighter in history I'd say. It was his magical immature kid personality that bailed him out with the public after all the Vietnam War protesters adopted him as that war was ending.
I would say,
The End, but there are no shortage of Ali fans ignoring the bad and the ugly of his epic time in boxing
