This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/29/2020
World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali defended his title for the first time agains Sonny Liston on May 25, 1965. Liston had lost the belt to Ali just one year prior in one of the greatest boxing upsets of all time. Due to Ali's name change controversey, the fight had to be moved to Lewiston, Maine from the original venue in Boston. The fight ended in the first round when Ali landed the, now inamous "phantom punch" that sent Liston to the ground.
Due to mob ties with Liston, many have speculated that he threw the fight but Ali had always insisted that he landed the punch that ended the fight. Referee Jersey Joe Walcott lost track of the count as Ali danced around the ring taunting Liston. After Walcott double checked with the time keeper, he finally waved his arms and declared a knockout.
Featured in this lot is a full Ticket to this bout with illustrations of each fighter on orange colored ticket paper. The Ticket is in NM-MT condition and the stub is fully in tact. PSA has slabbed this specimen in a NM-MT 8 holder. All printed text, the orange color, surface, corners and edges are immaculate. It's hard to say why this beautiful piece didn't recieve the top grade of 10.