Social Media Post of Muhammad Ali’s Lewiston Photo Goes Viral

One of the most famous sports photos—not just in Maine, but of all time—has resurfaced online thanks to a recent social media post.

One of the most famous fights in combat sports history is Muhammad Ali’s rematch with Sonny Liston, remembered for Ali’s ‘phantom punch’ that knocked out Liston in the first round.

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On October 14th, media personality Coley Mick posted on X, joking that discovering this fight took place in Lewiston—and that one of the judges was also named Coley—was enough learning for him for the day.

User BigCountryPhil replied by pointing out the humor in how one of the most iconic sports photos ever was taken at a ‘minor league hockey arena’ in what he called Maine’s ‘fifth-biggest city.’

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BigCountryPhil was a little off, since Lewiston is actually Maine’s second biggest city by population, not the fifth.

But he was right that Muhammad Ali’s famous rematch with Sonny Liston on May 25, 1965, took place at the Central Maine Youth Center (now The Colisée), a venue that has long been home to several minor league hockey teams.

Sports Illustrated photographer Neil Leifer captured what Time magazine once called ‘perhaps the greatest sports photo of the century’ during Ali’s fight in Lewiston.

In 2025, the city unveiled a 10-foot bronze statue by Philadelphia artist Zenos Frudakis, the first full-body bronze of Ali in the nation, to honor that iconic moment.

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And there you have it! If you didn’t know that the iconic photo of Muhammad Ali was taken here in Maine, we’re glad we could catch you up to speed.

What are your thoughts on this legendary shot making the rounds again? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to join the conversation by messaging us on the app.

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