“The Phantom Punch: The Story Behind Boxing’s Most Controversial Bout,” by Rob Sneddon

In “The Phantom Punch,” journalist and sports historian Rob Sneddon takes a fresh look at the infamous Muhammad Ali-Sonny Liston fight, which ended in chaos at a high school hockey rink in Lewiston. Sneddon digs deep into the fight’s background and comes up with fascinating new takes on boxing promotion in the 1960s; on Ali’s rapid rise and Liston’s sudden fall; on how the bout ended up in Lewiston and, of course, on Ali’s phantom punch. That single lightning-quick blow, which dropped Liston in the first round and which many spectators didn’t see, triggered a complex chain reaction of events that few people understood, either then or now. Even if you’ve seen films of the fight and think you know what happened, this book will change your perspective on boxing’s greatest controversy.

“Diligent historical research allows Sneddon to convincingly evoke the surreal marriage of a heavyweight title bout with an economically struggling city,” — Publishers Weekly

“The Phantom Punch” is now on sale.

About the author:

Rob Sneddon is a contributing editor at Down East magazine and a sports historian. His work has appeared in a variety of publications, including the Boston Globe. In addition to the four major sports, he has written about everything from candlepin bowling to the Daytona 500. He has ridden across America on a bicycle and flown around the world on a record-setting flight aboard the Concorde. He lives with his wife and son in New Hampshire.