Ali's Knockout Punch: How a Photograph Stunned the Boxing World

by Michael Burgan

Its one of the most famous sports images of all time. Former heavyweight boxing champion Sonny Liston is sprawled on his back in the boxing rim. Muhammad Ali stands over Liston, holding his right hand as if ready to throw another punch. The reigning world champion had just thrown a short, right-handed punch to the side of Listons head. In a flash, Liston had gone down. The photo of the angry Ali standing over the fallen challenger was taken in an instant by photojournalist John Rooney, but the controversy over the 1965 fight lingers to this day.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports

64 pages, Library Binding

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seemed very short but super concise and as much a biography of Muhammad Ali's life as about the image itself. And maybe there wasn't much more to add to it because it did discuss Liston in great detail as well as affiliations with mobsters in boxing and then discussions around white owners using boxing with African American men during slavery as it related to the sport itself and exploitation which moved in to Ali's rise to stardom as well as his theatrics with boxing.

Now I have a little more context for the photo and then the niggling commentary that sometimes the greatest shot, the most memorable shot is a lucky one.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much as I dearly love a good story, I also love to hear the stories behind those stories. In a new series entitled "Captured History: Sports," readers like me will have the chance to learn what happened at the moment a certain important moment in sports was occurring. In this case, the photograph in question shows Heavyweight Champion of the World Muhammad Ali defending his title against former champ Sonny Liston in 1965. Liston lies almost helpless on the mat as Ali lurks over him, fist cocked as though ready to pummel him again. Attesting to Ali's physical splendor, prowess, and strength, the photograph in question was taken by John Rooney. The book describes Ali's formative years and his involvement with boxing as well as the political trouble he faces after the fight as he refuses to go to war in Vietnam and becomes even more deeply involved in the Nation of Islam. A timeline traces the important moments in Ali's life, including his lighting the torch at the Olympics in 1996, his struggle with Parkinson's disease, and his death last year. The book contains several black and white photographs in addition to the one on the cover. Sports fans and fans of boxing will consider this book a don't miss title because it captures the essence of the man who declared himself "The Greatest!" And perhaps he was!