Ali's Anchor Punch - Question.

I don't think there's any big mystery to that - within a couple of years Ali himself had admitted there was no such thing.

https://news.google.com/newspapers?...AIBAJ&sjid=DUcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3052,2022917&hl=en

 

The punch landed solid. I've no doubt it hurt Liston.

But after years if debating and watching it my focus shifted from the mechanics of the punch to mechanics of the reaction.

Yes it was a solid punch, but no way was Liston knocked out.

Even if he was dropped and was down for 12 or whatever, no count was applied so there's no reason for the result to stand. Liston breaks his fall, gets up out of shame, then covers on the ropes whilst he finds a way out.

Of course it's all circumstantial and that's why no charges were brought forward, but I can't see it as legit.

First fight I think Liston was older, lazier and complacent and Ali deserved the win. The rematch is a blotch on history.

 

Because Ali was being serious when talking about the phantom punch.

 

Havent you heard the story about when he chopped down the cherry tree?

 

Jesus man. Did he have *** with your girlfriend in the 70's or something?

 

Yeah definitely. The debate shouldnt centre around the punch landing or not, the hd footage proves it did. The debate should be about whether Liston was genuinely dropped and of he was, whether he was legitimately in no position to continue.

 

This I agree with. The stoppage was the biggest travesty of that night.

 

Yeah I'm not convinced on the legitimacy of the knockdown but there'll be plenty of knockdowns in boxing where the opponent could have stayed on his feet had he really wanted to.

What bothers me is the way he rolls around, the way he breaks his fall, the way Walcott conducts the none count, the way the time keeper intervenes.even assuming there's no fix (which I know you dont)there is still too much wrong to give Ali overt credit.

 

Liston said he fell back down because Ali was running towards him like a madman. Which makes sense.

 

I'd put it more down to the incredulity that it was the first round. Liston was a monster. Ali was an untested gob ****e.

Liston was favourite for the rematch and seemed to train very hard and take it seriously. For a monster to go down and stay down from a sharp counter punch was incredulous. I don't buy into talk of a conspiracy involving Ali and Jersey.

I remember a few years ago we had this same debate going down the lines of conspiracy talk. Liston might well have dived, not sure to what end but given his connections that isn't a big leap. The way he was shunned from the rankings for 5 years suggests those in the know think he tanked it as well. I just don't see Ali and Jersey being involved.