Ali-Liston Weigh-In Televised

May 25, 1965 - The weigh-in for tonight’s heavyweight championship fight between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston in Lewiston, Me., was taped today by SportsVision for inclusion in closed-circuit telecasts of the bout. More than 500 persons, the majority local residents on their lunch hours, watched from the permanent hockey seats around the rectangular St. Dominic’s Arena. Few of them expected to attend the fight.

It was a Liston crowd. The challenger, enwrapped in a white and gold silk robe, was accompanied to the ring by two Androscoggin County officers, his trainers — Willie Reddish and Teddy King — and Irving “Ash” Resnick, who has been credited with helping to organize gambling in Las Vegas.

The crowd began to boo as Ali walked in, wearing a white terrycloth robe with his name written in red across the back. His entourage included Angelo Dundee, his manager, and Drew (Bundini) Brown, his trainer. 

Three members of the Maine Boxing Commission bumped into two doctors, who pushed their way among clutches of hangers-on, mostly Liston’s. Sam Margolis, the Philadelphia vending-machine operator and friend of underworld figures, sweated profusely under the glaring T.V. lights. While the Lewiston residents yelled at Ali, the champion pummeled the air. Liston was without expression.

“Hey Muhammad, your camel’s double-parked,” yelled a youth.

Liston’s weight was first announced as 219½. Clay pinched his own lean flanks, pointed at Liston, and said: “Fat.” Eventually, a plywood board was brought to balance the wobbly floor under the scale, and Liston came off more than four pounds lighter. Ali leaned over Liston as he got off the scale, and Liston shoved him away with a bent right wrist to the chest.

Ali was then weighed. The crowd booed when the champion flexed his muscles at them. Then he turned to Liston, yelling: “You’re in trouble.”

According to Margolis, Liston replied: “You shut that big mouth. I’ll take care of you tonight.”

Teddy King yelled at Ali, “You won’t be as lucky as you were in Miami.”

Ali said to King: “I’ll take care of him in six.”

“Don’t bull me,” said Liston.

When George Russo, the commission chairman, called the champion over, the young heavyweight snarled, “Don’t call me no Clay.”

A moment later, Clay was posing with Liston, the older man’s right cocked for a haymaker, the younger’s left and right flicking in and out.

“Hit him, Liston!” yelled the crowd, and Sonny smiled for the first and last time.

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