
The image of Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston was taken by Neil Leifer, he titled it “Ali – Liston.” The visual text is a photograph of Muhammad Ali knocking out Sonny Liston in the first round of a heavyweight title boxing match. The photo shows the uncultured fighting style that Ali made famous in the sport of boxing. Ali was always discriminated against by the public and most of his peers due to his race and fighting style. Most critics would say Ali was the greatest boxer to ever live because of the discrimination he faced. This photograph is used a motivation to all athletes trying to become the best because Muhammad Ali is considered to be the greatest of all time. One can see the dominance of Ali through the color, framing, and intensity captured in this photo showing his triumphant performance.

First, Ali’s dominance is captured in the photograph by certain colors shown throughout the whole picture. Within the picture, the first color I noticed is the red boxing gloves Ali and Liston are wearing. The color red contrasts with every other color in this photograph. The red gloves are surrounded by either shades of white or shades of black, but no other colors are prevalent. The red gloves might represent violence, given that the color of blood is red and the boxers can only use their hands to punish their opponent. In contrast to that, next thing I noticed was the very vibrant white shorts Ali is wearing. There is no blood on his white shorts. His shorts look as if they are brand new and he hasn’t dropped an ounce of sweat. This shows the dominance of Ali in his triumphant victory over Liston because Liston never got a chance to dirty up Muhammad Ali due to being knocked out 2 minutes into the fight. The color is bright around the two figures in the ring and dark everywhere outside the it, showing that the importance of the picture is between the two fighters. Furthermore, the color of the crowd and the two boxers deal with the framing of the photograph just as well. 

Second, the photograph of Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston has perfect framing. Neil Leifer, the author of this visual text, describes how he had the best seat in the house when he captured this photo through his quote, “If I were directing a movie and I could tell Ali where to knock him down and Sonny where to fall, they’re exactly where I would put them,” (Bednall 1). The framing of this picture includes contrast and symmetry. First, the contrast makes it very evident that the focus is on the two boxers in the middle of the ring. Inside the ring there is more contrast. The angle the picture is taken at gives the contrast inside the ring a sense of Ali’s dominance; Ali is standing over Liston, taunting him to get back up. Outside the ring, the contrast is dull and the crowd is all one color, except for the photographers sitting ring side. Second, the photograph shows asymmetrical symmetry and symmetrical symmetry. The picture is focused around the ring and the boxers inside of it. Inside of the ring, the symmetry is asymmetrical due to the boxers and their actions. Outside of the ring, the symmetry is symmetrical due to the whole crowd being focused on the action inside the ring. The action inside the ring gives rise to an intense setting captured perfectly by Neil Leifer.

Third, Neil Leifer captures the intensity of moment showing Ali’s dominance over Liston in his triumphant win. When one first glances at the picture it is hard not to notice the intensity set by every character inside of it. The way Muhammad Ali is positioned, taunting Liston to get back up, shows how intense the moment inside the ring is. Muhammad Ali is flexing his muscles and screaming into Liston’s motionless body, and showing the world he is the best in boxing. In the near crowd, most of the photographers seem unprepared and struggling to quickly capture the climatic seen. All of the reporters look on in awe at the ring to see Sonny Liston lay on the mat. The crowd seems to be in shock due to the knock out only 2 minutes into the fight. The crowd member, in between Ali’s legs and behind the photographer, is a perfect example of the shock and awe of the moment. His mouth is spread wide open as he looks on and sees Ali standing over Liston. The intensity between the two figures in the ring give the whole crowd an intensified reaction of surprise, shock, and awe.

In conclusion, the visual text marks Ali’s triumphant victory through the qualities of color, framing, and intensity. This photograph captured by Neil Leifer is considered to be one of the greatest pictures in sport’s history. How Leifer managed to capture this photo is very ironic. Leifer was put in this position by demand from his superior photographer. It is ironic because his superior photographer is pictured between the legs of Ali, staring at Ali’s back. The senior photographer wanted the side next to the judges table because it gave him more room to work with, but little did he know that the person he pushed to the crowded side of the ring would get the best shot of the fight. The photograph taken and published by Neil Leifer not only shows the dominance of Muhammad Ali, but the swagger by which Ali dominated.
