Gotta admit, the whole Ali vs. Liston rematch, yeah, it’s a wild one. Happened way back on May 25, 1965, and yet, boxing buffs still can’t shut up about it. Remember, this wasn’t just any ol’ fight; it was Ali, or Cassius Clay as he was known before he flipped to Ali – yeah, he’d shocked the universe by teaching big bad Liston a lesson back in February ’64.
So, here’s Ali again, post-hernia and all, taking on Sonny. Weird, right? Liston’s defeat and Ali’s name change – it felt like way more than a regular boxing saga. Some folks with their conspiracy theories were like, “Did Liston throw the fight for the mob’s payday?” I mean, maybe Liston’s gloves were used for some eye-blinding trick on Ali? Who knows. People love to ponder over this stuff.
But hey, if you thought the rematch might paint a clear picture, nah, wasn’t gonna happen. Turns out it was even more tangled. Liston, he’d gotten in wicked shape back in November ‘64, primed up only to find out Ali’s hernia pushed the date back. Must’ve been a bummer. And Liston wasn’t a spring chicken anymore – folks figured he might’ve been over 50, not the 32 he claimed. Who can tell?
Ali, just zooming around like lightning, landed this right hand that seemed barely there—bam, Liston’s on the mat rolling like no tomorrow. Ref was Jersey Joe Walcott, and man, he lost command with Ali all over, yelling for Liston to “get up, nobody will believe this!” But did Liston really take a dive, or what? When Nat Fleischer – yeah, the Ring Magazine dude – told Walcott to call it, he did just that.
Real talk? The truth’s still buried deep, maybe in Gallender’s writings. Was Liston forced to go down to save his own flesh and blood? Maybe, maybe not, but what a picture of him sprawled out, Ali towering over him, huh? Liston was a beast of a fighter, no doubt about it. This match, though, just dodges clarity like nothing else I’ve seen. It’s like a drama thriller on rewind.
All said and done, what truly took place that fine day in Lewiston, Maine, with a mere couple thousand fans as witnesses? Hey, your guess is as good as mine.
