HISTORY: On May 25, 1965 World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali defended his title for the first time against the man he had won it from a little over a year earlier, Sonny Liston, in one of the great upsets in boxing history. This fight was originally slated for Boston, but delayed due to an injury and moved to the unlikely setting of Lewiston, Maine. The fight ended in the first round. Ali landed what many observers coined a phantom punch to put Liston away while a confused referee Jersey Joe Walcott lost track of the count. Many people insisted the fight was thrown by Liston, long known to have mob ties, but Ali defended the punch that ended it. That controversy lives on to this day. Offered here is an original and very rare souvenir pennant from this fight.
FULL DESCRIPTION: This is an original, souvenir, felt pennant which includes the original four end tassels. Slight background color fade, but lettering is bold. States, "WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MUHAMMAD ALI VS. SONNY LISTON LEWISTON, MAINE MAY 25, 1965 I WAS THERE." No tack holes. Generally clean. Minor surface wear. Some fraying at far right end tip. Mild creasing. 28 1/2" long excluding the tassels. Extremely rare, only the second example we have offered for sale. Note photo showing a similar pennant behind Muhammad Ali.
