Author Talk with Rob Sneddon

On Thursday evening, March 31st at 6:00 p.m. we will be hosting author Rob Sneddon to talk about his most recent book, The Phantom Punch: the story behind boxing’s most controversial bout.” His presentation will be followed by a Q&A, book sale and book signing.

The two championship bouts between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston are widely considered the most controversial fights in heavyweight boxing. Cassius Clay won the first bout in Miami Beach in February 1964, when Liston refused to come out for the seventh round. The second match took place in Lewiston, Maine in May 1965–a first round knockout by Ali from a lightning right which many spectators never saw. The punch was quickly dubbed ‘the phantom punch’ and rumors began to swirl that Liston had thrown the fight.

In his new book, journalist Rob Sneddon takes a fresh look at the infamous fight which ended in chaos at a high school hockey rink (now known as the Colisee) right here 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.

Rob Sneddon is a contributing editor at Down East magazine and a sports historian. 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.

Copies of the book will be available for sale at the event and a book signing will follow the talk. For more information, contact the LPL Adult & Teen Services desk at 513-3135 or LPLReference@Gmail.com