The fighter known as The Greatest returned to Lewiston 30 years after the infamous Liston fight and WMTW was there
You remember the 'phantom punch,' but what about when Ali came back to Maine?
The fighter known as The Greatest returned to Lewiston 30 years after the infamous Liston fight and WMTW was there
Before the bells. Boxing legend, Muhammad Ali makes his way to *** ringside seat, local and national media watching his every move slower these days because of his own ongoing fight with Parkinson's syndrome. But 30 years earlier in the same civic center, Ali became an overnight sensation with one punch. Skeptics called it the phantom punch. It came from out of nowhere. The man who became known as the greatest knocked out Sonny Liston in the first round and Muhammad Ali's career took off. Former governor John Reed was there that night and remembers the fight as if it were yesterday. What do you remember? I remember the fight was over quick, but I remember afterwards, I predicted the time that alley would go down as one of the greatest of all time history has proved me right. And I bet you wouldn't miss this for the war. No, no. I'm delighted to be here for the anniversary of it. Rita Cribben was there too, just *** 14 year old kid. But that fight is as vivid today as it was back on May 25th, 1965. I turn around and to talk to my father, Bingo the fight was over and that was it earlier in the day. There was concern that not enough tickets had been sold to cover the cost of bringing Muhammad Ali and ESPN to town for the big event. The owner of the Civic Center said they needed to sell between 6500 tickets just to break even. He says judging by the size of the crowd tonight, that shouldn't be *** problem anymore. Young fighters take to the ring up and comers duking it out all in front of the cameras and all in front of *** legend, Muhammad Ali in Lewiston, Jim Keithly Channel eight News. No.
You remember the 'phantom punch,' but what about when Ali came back to Maine?
The fighter known as The Greatest returned to Lewiston 30 years after the infamous Liston fight and WMTW was there
In May 1965, Muhammad Ali, or Cassius Clay as he was then known, took down Sonny Liston in a fight at the building that is now the Lewiston Colisee. The picture of Ali standing over Liston following what has been known as "the phantom punch" following the first-round knockout is one of the most iconic pictures in sports history.Did you know that Ali returned to Lewiston 30 years later to celebrate the fight?We dug into the WMTW archives and found video of Ali back in Maine.On Sept. 22, 1995, massive crowds filled the same arena in Lewiston, then known as the Central Maine Civic Center, for a new round of fights, with Ali himself in the stands, slowed by Parkinson's Disease.Former Gov. John Reed was there for both the fight in 1965 and the anniversary in 1995."I remember the fight was over quick," Reed said in 1995. "But I remember afterwards, I predicted at the time that Ali would go down as one of the greatest of all time. History has proven me right."Retiring with a professional record of 56 wins, including 37 by knockout, and just 5 losses, Ali earned the nickname of "The Greatest." Ali held the Ring Magazine heavyweight title from 1964 to 1970, was the undisputed champion from 1974 to 1978 and the WBA and Ring heavyweight champion from 1978 to 1979.As an amateur, he won Olympic gold in the light-heavyweight division at the 1960 games in Rome and won the U.S. National Championships in 1959 and 1960.Ali died in 2016 at the age of 74.
LEWISTON, Maine —
In May 1965, Muhammad Ali, or Cassius Clay as he was then known, took down Sonny Liston in a fight at the building that is now the Lewiston Colisee.
The picture of Ali standing over Liston following what has been known as "the phantom punch" following the first-round knockout is one of the most iconic pictures in sports history.
Did you know that Ali returned to Lewiston 30 years later to celebrate the fight?
We dug into the WMTW archives and found video of Ali back in Maine.
On Sept. 22, 1995, massive crowds filled the same arena in Lewiston, then known as the Central Maine Civic Center, for a new round of fights, with Ali himself in the stands, slowed by Parkinson's Disease.
Former Gov. John Reed was there for both the fight in 1965 and the anniversary in 1995.
"I remember the fight was over quick," Reed said in 1995. "But I remember afterwards, I predicted at the time that Ali would go down as one of the greatest of all time. History has proven me right."
Retiring with a professional record of 56 wins, including 37 by knockout, and just 5 losses, Ali earned the nickname of "The Greatest." Ali held the Ring Magazine heavyweight title from 1964 to 1970, was the undisputed champion from 1974 to 1978 and the WBA and Ring heavyweight champion from 1978 to 1979.
As an amateur, he won Olympic gold in the light-heavyweight division at the 1960 games in Rome and won the U.S. National Championships in 1959 and 1960.
Ali died in 2016 at the age of 74.
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Woman's wallet found after 47 years, unlocking memories
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Woman's wallet found after 47 years, unlocking memories
I haven't thought of it in years now. This wallet. Yeah, it's crazy. Is all Darlene Abel can think of. That's amazing. You know, the last time she saw it was in 1977 when it was stolen from the salon where she worked. I suppose it was just *** little too much temptation for somebody. Darlene never filed *** police report. She didn't want anyone to get into trouble. It wasn't that big *** deal because I didn't have that much money in it or anything. I don't think maybe they got 10 $12 if they were lucky. Now, Darlene is the lucky one. It is amazing. After 47 years, her lost wallet was found *** plumbing crew, found it in the ceiling of the building where Darlene worked in 1977. There's *** lot of, uh, memories and they were able to track her down because Darlene still lives at the same address listed on her 1977 driver's license. I remember the shirt even that I wore. I mean, I wore it free. Yours was *** great shirt. Minus *** few dollars in cash. Darlene is pretty sure all the wallet's contents are still intact. My library card obviously expired. There are coupon, coupon for seven cents loyalty cards. You got enough stamps. You got $5 free of bread and credit cards. We had an Exxon card and *** Texaco card business and this is my business card appointment. Reminders. I had an appointment with Doctor mcdonald here in town. Even *** check. She never got to cash. It was for $9.58. But of all the items in this wallet turned time capsule stretch and seal. I don't know if we still have that. Darlene says these photos. That's my mom and my niece and nephew, the most valuable they were important to me. Photos of nieces of nephews of Darlene's parents and her daughter. Her name was Jessica. Jessica passed away just months before Darlene's wallet was taken just like walking through history, you know, looking at my wallet and my pictures and my old cards and yeah, it's, it's *** lot of fun, an unexpected surprise and *** trip down memory lane. Red all stamps. That's got Darlene smiling like it's 1977.
Woman's wallet found after 47 years, unlocking memories
A North Dakota woman has been reunited with her wallet, stolen in 1977, after it was found by a plumbing crew."I haven't thought of it in years," Darlene Abel, the wallet's owner, said. "Yeah, it's crazy."The wallet is now all she can think about. The last time she saw it was in 1977 when it was stolen from the salon where she worked."I suppose it was just a little too much temptation for somebody," Abel said.Abel never filed a police report. She didn't want anyone to get into trouble."It wasn't that big a deal because I didn't have that much money in it or anything. I don't think maybe they got $10, $12 if they were lucky," Abel said.Now Abel is the lucky one. "It's amazing," she said.After 47 years, her lost wallet was found. A plumbing crew found it in the ceiling of the building where Darlene worked in 1977.Watch the video in the player above for more on this story.
A North Dakota woman has been reunited with her wallet, stolen in 1977, after it was found by a plumbing crew.
"I haven't thought of it in years," Darlene Abel, the wallet's owner, said. "Yeah, it's crazy."
The wallet is now all she can think about. The last time she saw it was in 1977 when it was stolen from the salon where she worked.
"I suppose it was just a little too much temptation for somebody," Abel said.
Abel never filed a police report. She didn't want anyone to get into trouble.
"It wasn't that big a deal because I didn't have that much money in it or anything. I don't think maybe they got $10, $12 if they were lucky," Abel said.
Now Abel is the lucky one. "It's amazing," she said.
After 47 years, her lost wallet was found. A plumbing crew found it in the ceiling of the building where Darlene worked in 1977.
