‘Raising Ali’ film coming to Franco Center Oct. 22

You’ll want to be at the Franco Center at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, for the viewing of the documentary Raising Ali. Doors and cash bar open at 6 p.m. Admission is free but RSVPs are required and the link will be available soon. Title: Raising Ali: A Lewiston Story Format: Documentary Short (Runtime: 27 minutes) Director/Creator: Directed by Portland filmmaker Gary Robinov, with Lewiston-born artist Charlie Hewitt serving as executive producer. The Core Hook: The film explores the bizarre, controversial 1965 world heavyweight championship rematch between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston held right in Lewiston—but uses the match as a metaphor to tell a larger story about memory, working-class resilience, and the civic identity of Lewiston over time. The Quickest Match: The May 25, 1965, match ended in a highly controversial first-round knockout by Ali’s famous “phantom punch,” lasting barely two minutes. Why Lewiston? The fight was originally scheduled for Boston, but was kicked out due to fears of organized crime and rumored death threats against Ali. Lewiston fight promoter and pawnbroker Sam Michael stepped up to bring the match to the Central Maine Youth Center. A Historical Record: It went down in history as the smallest-attended world heavyweight title fight, held in the smallest city to ever host one. The Legend’s Blessing: When the film originally premiered for the fight’s 50th anniversary, Muhammad Ali himself sent a letter to the residents of Lewiston saying, “Believe it or not, in my book you are the Greatest!” Discover the story behind the most controversial match in boxing history and how it shaped our city’s identity. Join us at the Franco Center on Thursday, Oct. 22 for a special screening of Raising Ali: A Lewiston Story, a 27-minute documentary short directed by Gary Robinov. Part sports history, part love letter to Lewiston’s resilience, it’s a hometown story you won’t want to miss! Thank you to film sponsor Tom Platz of Platz Associates.