Starting May 25, 1965, heavyweight champion Cassius Clay (who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali) would become a house hold name after his knockout victory against Sonny Liston. With the help of Neil Leifer, the infamous photograph is remarked as The Greatest Sports Photo of the Century. The twenty-three-year-old showing emotion towering over Liston with the audience in the background proved boxing was beginning a new era.
The picture taken at the right moment shows the unmeasurable amount of emotion Muhammad was feeling. Muhammad stood over his opponent with his right arm flexed and bent over his left shoulder showing to prove to Liston he was in charge. With the fight lasting only a minute and forty-four seconds Muhammad Ali was electrified seeing his opponent on his back. As Sonny laid in the ring, Mohammad has his face hunched over Sonny, his mouth open taunting him. In the heat of the battle, Muhammed yelled, “Get up and fight, sucker.” Proving Muhammad was in feeling unstoppable in the heat of the battle. –In need of another point- Muhammad’s enthusiasm is shown greatly through Leifer’s captured moment while thousands of others crammed in the arena.…show more content… In 1965, public smoking was allowed almost everywhere. Spectators’ second hand smoke filled the arena. Above the ring, the light cloud of smoke is seen over the boxers. The building’s lights mixed with the smoke added to the scene in creating the greatest sports picture of the century. The audience professionally dressed showed the prestige of the event. Spectators and camera men with blank expressions on their face shocked as to how the fight ended, almost to as if they were bored. Even with 1960’s camera technology the picture is crystal clear and in color capturing Muhammad’s all-time peak moment which would set up a new generation of
