Ali “100% Ready” for Liston Rematch

May 18, 1965 - Muhammad Ali was declared today “100% ready” for his title fight next Tuesday night against Sonny Liston, the challenger. (Pictured below, Ali signs autographs for Edward Wedas and his sons Allan and Gary.)

Dr. Leo Lemieux of Casco, Maine, made the announcement after having examined the champion on behalf of the Maine Boxing Commission. Dr. Lemieux examined Ali in the champion’s dressing room at his headquarters in the Schine Inn in Chicopee, Mass.

“He’s 100% ready for Liston or, for that matter, Jack Dempsey or anyone else,” the physician said. “I find no defects whatsoever.”

He paid particular attention to the scar left by Ali’s hernia operation and said it had completely healed. Ali underwent emergency surgery last November, three days before his scheduled rematch with Liston in the Boston Garden.

Dr. Lemieux made the 250-mile trip to Chicopee from Lewiston with Duncan MacDonald, one of the three members of the Maine Commission. They were accompanied by Sam Michael of Lewiston, a co-promoter of the fight.

The commission’s decision to examine Ali, formerly Cassius Clay, in Chicopee rather than have him go to Maine was explained by MacDonald as follows:“Clay didn’t want to break up his training routine, so we decided to accommodate him.”

MacDonald reported that 5,900 seats for the fight at the Central Maine Youth Center had been sold. Some standing-room tickets will go on sale, he added.

Liston is to take his physical examination tomorrow at Poland Spring, Maine, where he is training. He moved his camp there from Dedham, Mass., last Saturday.

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