Ali screamed at Liston to get up. "They'll never believe this" he also yelled. He wouldn't have done this if it had been a real knockout. Furthermore, Ali was no one punch KO artist. To think such a KO would come against a guy with a solid chin like Liston's is highly unlikely.
I've been saying for years that when a boxer lands a ko blow, he knows and Ali knew he hadn't. Ali tapped Liston with an arm punch, nothing more
possibly liston knew he couldn't beat clay after the first fight, and cashed out by betting against himself (he was still fav).
Yep, it was a terrible acting job. Kind of sad, actually. Sonny supposedly had tears in his eyes when Patterson visited him shortly after the fight. It is absolutely amazing to me that some actually think it was a legitimate knockout punch. Lewiston was one of the lowest points in boxing history as far as I'm concerned.
It was a genuine punch which caught Liston coming in thus increasing the impact. Not hard enough to score a ko but Muhammad had Sonny's mind all over the place. The great intimidator was intimidated - Pure and simple.
Yet the fight ended with both guys on their feet. It is likely Liston took a dive. He was clearly acting on the mat, and waiting for an incompetent Walcott to get count correctly. Ali screamed at him to get up because nobody will believe it. The fight smelled like a wh0re house at low tide weeks before it happened and had to be moved to a high school gym in the state of Maine.
And it appears to have caused you all manner of stress ever since Bill. If someone took the time to go through all of your postings, i am pretty sure a high percentage will be Ali bashing of some kind. TIme to let go mate or you will take it to your grave, just like Joe Frazier did.