"Phantom Punch" is the life story of boxer Sonny Liston (Ving Rhames) The movie covers his life and pays focus to the relationship he had with his manager (Nick Turturro), his wife (Stacy Dash) and his mistress (Bridegtte Wilson-Sampras.) After going to a prison in Missouri, Liston is discovered by a priest and climbs his way to the top of the boxing world when he gets out. The climb to the top included mafia connections and boxers who took dives for pay. Lifted out of poverty Liston’s fall is covered well while portraying his fights with Cassius Clay in the 1960’s and the loss of the Heavyweight Championship. In 1971 Liston's death was labeled suspicious by the authorities.