Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston II: Most Iconic KO Happened 51 Years Ago

Possibly the most iconic moment in sports happened 51 years ago.

We’ve all seen the epic photo above. Muhammad Ali’s intense bicep thrust after knocking out Sonny Liston to retain his heavyweight crown. For some reason the internet is exploding over the fact this event happened (not 50) but 51 years ago, May 25, 1965.

Here’s a fantastic shot from the newspaper following the fight.

Daily News front page May 26, 1965, Headline: BIG-MOUTH CLAY EATS UP SONNY – Retains Crown by KO in 1st – This is No Time To Take A Nap, Sonny. Heavyweight champion Cassius Clay gestures to challenger Sonny Liston to get up and fight, but Sonny’s off to dreamland after taking a short right to the jaw in first round of title bout in Lewiston, Maine, last night. (Photo By: /NY Daily News via Getty Images)

Ali actually beat Liston for the heavyweight title in 1964, but a rematch was demanded. It was this second time around that cemented Ali’s legacy.

Here’s another great shot from another angle of the moment Liston went down.

Sonny Liston lies out for the count after being KO’d in the first round of his return title fight by world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, Lewiston, Maine, May 25, 1965. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The famous knockout happened just 132 seconds into the fight and was so controversial that, to this day, many believe Liston threw the fight.

The full fight is below, with the knockout coming around the 7:20 mark.

And just for good measure, here’s another epic picture (IN COLOR!) of Ali leaving the ring following the most famous KO in boxing history. Just look at those cameras! I wonder what happened to Sports Vision Inc.?

LEWISTON, ME – MAY 25: Muhammad Ali talks with the media after defeating Sonny Liston to retain the WBC Heavyweight tittle on May 25, 1965 at the Central Maine Youth Center in Lewiston, Maine. Ali won the fight by KO. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Muhammad Ali

Josh Helmuth is the editor of Crave Sports. Follow him on Twitter or like the channel on Facebook here.

Photo: Getty

Cover Photo: Screen shot via Reddit

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Josh has enjoyed dipping his toes into a variety of careers since graduating from the University of Alabama, the most rewarding thus far having served as a youth director in southern California for four years, and his broadcasting career which has garnered two Emmy awards and three Edward R. Murrow Awards.

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