Which fight was the one where Ali knocked a man out while backing up and which fight was the "phantom punch"?

Question

I've heard a couple of people say that Ali was the only boxer to knock a man out while backing up. Which fight was that? I also heard a reference to a "phantom punch" that I believe referred to Ali. Which fight was that one?

Answer 1

It was the second Liston/Ali fight.

Ali was on his toes backing up, Joe Louis said you could not break an egg with that punch.

Liston did not appear to be hurt and should have beaten the count, but lost his balance and went down again.

This increased the claim the fight was rigged.  

Answer 2

Watch the replay, Ali was not backing up, and his punch had enough ooph on it to lift Sonny's front leg off the ground.

Answer 3

Ali did not have great punching power.  So for him to knock a guy out while backing up would be another phantom punch.   Ray Robinson knocked a few guys out while backing up.

Answer 4

I'm wanting to say it was against Liston in the second fight. I think Ali called it an anchor punch.

Answer 5

yep, it was against charles "sonny" liston in their second fight, and former champ jersey joe walcott was the ref who lost control of the fight that night.