On This Date 5/25/1965


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In a rematch of their fight from 15 months earlier, Muhammad Ali defends his heavyweight championship with a first-round knockout of Sonny Liston. The fight in Lewiston, Maine, is especially controversial as it appeared Liston took a dive on a phantom punch 2:12 into the first round. The match would forever tarnish the image of Sonny Liston, who was believed to have taken a dive to pay off gambling debts.