logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2020
46m 45s

The Phantom Punch Pt. 2

SPOTIFY STUDIOS
About this episode
In his 1965 rematch with Muhammed Ali, heavyweight boxing champion Sonny Liston went down a little too easily. The suspicious defeat followed him until his mysterious death in 1971, which only fueled the rumors of foul play.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 
Up next
Aug 20
Australia’s Area 51
First, they said Pine Gap was for space research. Then, it was a weather station. It’s now called a defense base, but Australians often refer to it as their country’s Area 51. Some suspect the facility is housing alien life and giant UFOs that have crash landed on earth. Others s ... Show More
39m 15s
Aug 13
Was the “Pirate King” also the King’s Spy?
In 1695, “The Pirate King” Henry Every pulled off a heist, evaded a global manhunt, and vanished with his newfound treasure. He was never found…or was he? A new theory suggests the King of England not only knew what happened to Henry – he hired the “missing” pirate as a spy. Keep ... Show More
43m 16s
Aug 6
Japan’s Evaporated People
Imagine you wake up tomorrow and the person you depend upon most in this world is gone. No trace, no goodbyes, just vanished. Then, you find out they planned their disappearance — and have no intention of returning. In Japan, this phenomenon has a name: Johatsu, or “evaporated pe ... Show More
44m 36s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2022
Liston beats Patterson
Liston vs Patterson is a boxing match to remember. It's an easy win for Liston and his 14 inch fists and he's extraordinary to watch. So why are the crowd so upset when it's over? It's because they think it's a fix, that the mob's somehow involves. Because everyone hates Sonny Li ... Show More
48m 14s
Dec 2019
E176: “The Death of The Big Bear” Pt. 1: Sonny Liston
Former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston had a drive and motivation that was infectious. So when Geraldine Liston hadn’t heard from her husband for a few days, she didn’t think much of it. Then she returned home from a trip and found him at the foot of their bed...dead. Learn mor ... Show More
47m 23s
Feb 2012
Jack Johnson and the Fight of the Century
During Jack Johnson's time, the heavyweight championship was unofficially a whites-only title. Despite discrimination, he fought title-holder Tommy Burns in 1908. Johnson became the first black heavyweight champion, but some questioned his legitimacy. Learn more about your ad-cho ... Show More
28m 57s
Aug 2019
The Super Fight: When Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano Had A Fight That Never Happened
Radio executive Murray Woroner had a dream -- a fantasy radio boxing tournament matching 16 fighters from different eras. In a move that pushed the boundaries of 1960s technology, his team programmed a computer with that boxers' strengths, weaknesses and various fight scenarios t ... Show More
34m 27s
Apr 2023
Muhammad Ali
From the day he burst onto the scene, Muhammad Ali changed boxing history. But he also influenced the American civil rights movement, the perception of Islam, the view of the war in Vietnam, and the self-branding of athletes themselves. So how did his beliefs affect his career? W ... Show More
54m 7s
Jul 2020
The Mysterious Death of Bobby Fuller
In 1966, Lorraine Fuller found her son, the eponymous frontman of The Bobby Fuller Four, dead under mysterious circumstances. His bandmates and family suspected foul play—and the list of suspects runs the gamut from the LA mafia to notorious cult leader Charles Manson. Learn more ... Show More
49m 45s
Sep 2021
Muhammad Ali and the Making of a New World
Heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali was perhaps the most famous man on Earth, and not only for his epic skill in the ring. In this episode, Doc Rivers is joined by legendary sportscaster Al Michaels and longtime sports journalist Michael Wilbon to discuss Ali’s powerful and revolut ... Show More
22m 27s