Presented is a Muhammad Ali autograph on a 16 x 20 inch color photograph of the three-time Heavyweight Boxing Champion over Sonny Liston. Ali has signed to the right of his image in silver marker. He is seen standing over the prone form of former heavyweight champ Sonny Liston, during their second, and final, match in Lewiston, Maine. Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, had defeated Liston in their first match-up, in Miami Beach on February 25, 1964, wresting the Heavyweight Boxing Championship from the heavily-favored Liston.

     A rematch was bandied about almost from that night, with it finally becoming reality on ay 25, 1965. The ending of the second Ali-Liston fight remains one of the most controversial in boxing history. Midway through the first round, Liston threw a left jab and Ali went over it with a fast right, knocking the former champion down. Liston went down on his back. He rolled over, got to his right knee and then fell on his back again. Many in attendance did not see Ali deliver the punch. The fight quickly descended into chaos. Referee Jersey Joe Walcott, a former World Heavyweight Champion himself, had a hard time getting Ali to go to a neutral corner. Ali initially stood over his fallen opponent, gesturing and yelling at him, "Get up and fight, sucker!" The moment was captured by ringside photographer Neil Leifer in what became one of the most iconic images in sport (this item). This item is accompanied by a LOA from JSA (B65939).

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