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Ali v.s. Liston

     The year is 1965. Muhammad Ali is back in the ring to defend his position as the heavy weight champion of the world. Having taken title in a controversial fight against Sonny Liston the year prior, the hype around the event was at an all time high. Two minutes into the first round of the fight, Ali throws his famous "Phantom Punch", knocking Liston out. 

     With the fight taking place amid the civil rights movement, there was a lot more to it than just boxing. In 1964, Ali had changed his name from Cassius Clay, a name commonly linked to slavery, to Muhammad Ali as a representation of his devotion to Islam. This change was not taken well by the press as  almost all of the newspapers promoting the fight refused to use his new name. 

     Winning the fight that night in Maine was not only a demonstration of his under appreciated skill as a boxer, but also as a voice for all African American Muslims, showing that they too are strong and equal members of society.

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