‘He Had Him Point Blank’: Arch Rival Fires Blank Shots at Muhammad Ali in Public, Rare Clip Draws Wild Reactions

Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston are among the most celebrated boxers in the sport of boxing. The two squared off inside the ring twice throughout their careers, and fans still reminisce about those fights to relive the spectacle. Ali and Liston were known for punishing their opponents inside the ring. However, there was an incident that took place years ago, and it still sends chills down people’s spines. 

Sonny Liston was the most feared boxer at the time. He was more seasoned and senior than Ali. The fight between Liston and a young Ali was planned to take place in the ring. The ‘Louisville Lip’ was notorious for insulting his opponents prior to matches or during press conferences.

As a result, he became immensely popular among fans. Ali decided to do the same with Liston, but he was oblivious to what was in store for him.

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According to talkSPORT reports, Liston was playing blackjack when Ali approached him in a Las Vegas casino. The footage depicted Ali verbally attacking Liston, after which the latter promptly reached for a gun and fired shots at Ali. Ali didn’t waste much time getting away from the situation to protect his life. Fortunately, no one was injured at the time because the weapon was loaded with blanks. But the situation still appeared to be perilous.

Fans react to Sonny Liston firing shots at Muhammad Ali 

‘The Greatest’ defeated Liston inside the ring in 1964, and he became the world heavyweight champion. However, outside the ring, Ali had to literally run away from Liston to save his life. Take a look at how fans reacted to it. 

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Thus, social media users shared their thoughts about the resurfaced video.

Muhammad Ali: The gruesome encounter with Sonny Liston

The rematch between Ali and Liston is one of the most well-known contests in boxing history. In their initial encounter, the former defeated Liston in the sixth round. However, in their second battle, the dangerous Liston was knocked out by Ali in the first round itself. A photograph was captured at the time, showing Ali standing and Liston lying on the ground after the knockdown.

The image went on to become one of the most iconic ones in the history of the sport.

Meanwhile, what do you think about this incident? Let us know in the comments below.