LEWISTON — May 25, 1965, was an exciting time to be in Lewiston and Auburn.

It was the day of the rematch between Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, and Sonny Liston for the world heavyweight boxing title.

Fight promoter Sam Michael had gotten the match moved to what is now The Colisée in Lewiston after a booking at the Boston Garden fell through. Tickets reportedly ran $100 and the arena was packed.

That night, Lewiston was the center of attention around the world, and it remains the only heavyweight title fight ever held in the state of Maine.

Tom Platz’s father took him to the match. It was over some two minutes into the first round. “It was quick, it was very quick and actually, to make sure nobody got too upset, they had a couple of bouts after that,” said Platz, whose work decades later will make sure Ali’s fight in Lewiston will be remembered for a long time.

Platz, a developer and principal at Platz Associates, commissioned sculptor Zenos Frudakis of Pennsylvania and Lewiston-born artist Charlie Hewitt to immortalize Ali’s victory in a 10-foot-high, bronze statue of the boxer.

The formal unveiling will take place Saturday at 2 p.m. at Bates Mill No. 5 in Lewiston.

“I’ve always been a fan,” Frudakis told the Sun Journal in January. “When someone calls you and says, ‘There’s an opportunity here to have a statue made and you can make it,’ you jump in the ring.”

It took 10 years to bring the statue to life after Hewitt threw out the idea and they just went with it, Platz said. He believes that Muhammad Ali’s story is reflective of the Lewiston and Auburn community.

“It’s a hardworking community, a diverse community,” Platz said. “And I’m not even talking just about new Americans. I mean, we’ve been a diverse community since I grew up, whether it’s Irish, French Canadian … I think this represents all of that — the diversity, the grit and determination.”

Hewitt agreed. Ali is perfect to be a part of the Lewiston narrative, he said.

He was involved with producing a PBS film called “Raising Ali: A Lewiston Story” on the 50th anniversary of the fight. It includes interviews with many people who went to the event, some of whom have since died while their stories remain.

He is working on a remake of the film, to include the statue’s creation and installation, which is expected to be released this summer.

“Ali didn’t win every round but he got up and fought every round, and because of that spirit he became arguably the best athlete of the 20th century,” he wrote in an emailed statement. “I think that’s a befitting narrative of the people of Lewiston. They get up every day and commit to their families to their community, and despite setbacks move forward with dignity and determination.”

PUBLIC ART

Fundraising for the statue fell to Platz, who says he just picked up the phone and started calling people he knew. “There’s an amazing amount of people who are just fanatic about Ali,” he added, “real kind of followers.”

The cost of creating the statue exceed the previously reported figure of $285,000 and is not all inclusive but will remain private at the request of the artists and organizers of the project.

It took about a year to raise the funds with a few final expenses to cover, like the crane needed from Cote Crane & Rigging to lift the 1-ton statue into place in front of Bates Mill No. 5 on Main Street by Hewitt’s “Hopeful” sign. The city of Lewiston paid for site preparation and the concrete pad for the statue.

Platz said there are about 20 corporate and private donors that made the Ali statue a reality. He points out that the Ali-Liston fight put the Twin Cities on the map, and the building where it all happened is also still standing, even if the facade was changed.

“It’s something no other city can have,” he said

Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline acknowledged the effort and dedication Platz has demonstrated through the years for the community.

“I appreciate Tom Platz’s commitment to public art in Lewiston,” Sheline said. “Public art is for everyone and is a key driver of tourism and economic development. Our Ali statue will be the most striking piece of public art in Maine if not all of northern New England.”

Platz also has a vision for creating an art walk downtown along the river involving both communities, with three art installations already in place on the Auburn side of the the Longley Bridge, at the railroad bridge and outside Bates Mill. The developer said more are planned at the new Maine Museum of Innovation, Learning and Labor, which is under construction.

In addition to being art, Platz sees the sculpture walk, including the Ali statue, as an economic driver.

“If you can have the right artwork shown, you can bring people from quite a distance,” he said. “I believe this Ali sculpture is going to attract a lot of people.”