Has there ever been a more controversial first round KO in heavyweight history than the KO – or the supposed KO, the faked KO, the “Phantom Punch” KO – that went down in Lewiston, Maine on this day back in 1965?
Folley Would Die Mysteriously Five Years Later
Muhammad Ali liked Zora Folley. Indeed, the brash, controversial fighter who had adopted the Muslim faith and was willing to go to jail to defend the honour of his religious beliefs, had a tough time getting himself angry enough to punch his 34 year old challenger – so much of a nice guy was Zora.
55 years ago today (February 6, 1967) the world saw Muhammad Ali at both his dazzling best and his most cruel and punishing.
Muhammad Ali, who would today have been celebrating his 80th birthday had he not passed away after an excruciatingly long and, typically of the great man, brave battle with Parkinson’s disease in June of 2016, is as big as ever here in 2022; his name as instantly recognizable as ever.
Who is the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time? What is the best era for heavyweight boxing? Two polarizing questions with no certain answer.
In 1977, the heavyweight division was in a state of change. There were just two world title fights that year; both of them seeing an aging, past his best Muhammad Ali struggle mightily to hold onto the crown.
If only the one and only Muhammad Ali had gone out when he should have, if only he’d hung up the gloves when he should have.
213 pounds of ripped boxing perfection. This was the incomparable Muhammad Ali against a past his best but still dangerous Cleveland Williams on this day 55 years ago.
Today marks the 47th anniversary of one of the most amazing, one of the biggest, one of the most unforgettable world heavyweight title fights of all-time: Muhammad Ali Vs.
Who among passionate boxing fans can resist a ‘Greatest-Ever’ list? Be it the greatest fights ever, the greatest rounds ever, the greatest KO’s ever, or – the toughest-to-answer question – the greatest fighters ever.