The Ring magazine ranks Liston as the tenth greatest heavyweight of all time,[4] while boxing writer Herb Goldman ranked him second and Richard O'Brien, Senior Editor of Sports Illustrated, placed him third. Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. Midwest Gymnasium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Pittsburgh Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. New Masonic Temple, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. Motor City Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Sources vary on his reach, with some listing it as 80in, Reputations: Sonny Liston: The Champion Nobody Wanted (2001), 50 min, BBC Documentary, Mailer: A Biography By Mary V. Dearborn, page 186. "He said: 'Look what they did!' Liston won 14 consecutive bouts, 13 by knockout, before fighting third-ranked Leotis Martin, previously beaten by Clark, in December 1969. It was 1965, not 1955. At the IBHOF, the casts of Listons hands were bigger than Lennox Lewis' which were also gigantic. Tocco left the house before the police did. Also, scar tissue, possibly from needle marks, was found in the bend of Liston's left elbow. On May 5, 1956, a policeman confronted Liston and a friend about a cab parked near Liston's home. He was hardly leading a life of health and fitness. "[35] However, in 1963 in the aftermath of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, Liston broke off a European boxing exhibition tour to return home and was quoted as saying he was "ashamed to be in America. Sonny Liston shot a gun at Muhammad Ali. Sonny Liston, once the heavyweight champ, died at the age of who-knows-what some days before Dec. 30, 1970. Thom Jones titled his 2000 collection of short stories Sonny Liston Was a Friend of Mine. But a Senate subcommittee hearing turned up no evidence of any match-fixing, and doctors confirmed his explanation that hed taken such damage to his shoulder that he couldnt feel his arm. THE PREFIGHT MOODS OF SONNY LISTON. He sunk to the canvas, and as he was down, Ali stood over him, taunting and demanding his stunned opponent get back up. Charles L. "Sonny" Liston (c. 1930 - December 30, 1970) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1953 to 1970. Sonny Liston had a controversial boxing career, winning 54 of 58 bouts from 1953 to 1970. For his part, Liston said that the referees inability to keep track of time doomed him, as he didnt know when to get up from the mat. Audiences at home were confused and outraged. Liston was depicted as a bad guy by the media, a handbreaker for the mafia. [49], Clay later said that in round five he could only see a faint shadow of Liston during most of the round, but by circling and moving frantically he managed to avoid Liston and somehow survive. [92] He had been suffering from hardening of the heart muscle and lung disease before his death. On April 21, 1955, he defeated Marshall in a rematch, dropping him four times en route to a sixth-round knockout. Authorities theorized that he was undressing for bed when he fell over backward with such force that he broke the rail of the bench. . He allegedly later told an assistant that he took a dive because he was afraid of the consequences of beating Ali he thought it would put a target on his own back. [30], Liston became the No. [94], Liston was buried at Paradise Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mike DeJohn was the highest paid boxer at $15,000 while James Dickey received $20,000. "He was scared of the police. [87], Liston was found dead by his wife, Geraldine, in their Las Vegas home on January 5, 1971. He also took his gun. In The Devil and Sonny Liston by Nick Tosches, published in 2000, when many of Liston's former acquaintances were still alive, Tosches posits that Liston's idol Joe Louis introduced him to heroin, and that he ultimately overdosed. Sonny Liston was a bad, bad guy who was also a victim, and I dont know that anyone can point to when a victim becomes a perpetrator and how much sympathy he deserves, but I also think any holistic take is fair this far in history. In his 1965 rematch with Ali, Liston suffered an unexpected first-round knockout that led to unresolved suspicions of a fix. I was down but not hurt, but I looked up and saw Ali standing over me. Only Massachusetts was willing to host the fight, though it was delayed from November 1964 to May 1965 so that Ali could recover from hernia surgery. Liston had never been knocked out before, and most people didnt even see the punch happen. He then left the fighters to go over to McDonough. The match had more storylines than a soap opera. I dont have to be what you want me to be, Clay told agitated reporters. He had a whiplash, so they took him to the hospital," said boxing trainer Johnny Tocco. Odds makers gave Liston 71 to win. After two rounds, Wilson had taken enough. And, while Patterson was growing as a fighter, Sonny was taking on mostly journeyman and starting to age. Knopfler, 55, said inspiration for the Liston song has been growing for a long time. Controversy followed with claims that Liston had been drinking heavily the night before the fight and had entered the bout with a lame shoulder. A stoic Liston finished the fight, but lost in an eight-round split decision. I want to prove to the world there's dirty work afoot.' Sports Illustrated predicted a Patterson victory in 15 rounds, stating: "Sonny has neither Floyd's speed nor the versatility of his attack. He rounded out the year by stopping Nino Valdez and Willi Besmanoff. When caught in January 1950, Liston gave his age as 20, while the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported that he was 22. Time magazine said Liston had worked himself into the best shape of his career. [105], Singer/Songwriter Rod Picott wrote and recorded a song titled "Sonny Liston" for his 2022 album "Paper Hearts and Broken Arrows. Liston did eventually rise from the mat, but soon after, the referee broke up the two boxers once again the former champion had been down for more than 10 seconds, ending the fight. Gallender claimed, "A lot of officers knew Sonny was dead before Geraldine returned home on January 5, but they chose to let him rot. [citation needed] At this time, the head coach of the St. Louis Golden Gloves team, Tony Anderson, stated that Liston was the strongest fighter he had seen. Stevens organized a sparring session with a professional heavyweight named Thurman Wilson to showcase Liston's potential. Liston kept running into trouble with the law and Ali had a target on his back after the assassination of Malcolm X, whom he had disavowed after Elijah Muhammad forced him out of the Nation of Islam. BOXING Correction: July 15, 2005, Friday A sports picture caption on Wednesday with an article about Mark Knopfler's ballad for the boxer Sonny Liston referred incorrectly in some copies to the year in which Muhammad Ali knocked out Liston in Lewiston, Me. But as it approached, there were fears that the promoters were tied to organized crime and Massachusetts officials, most notably Suffolk County District Attorney Garrett H. Byrne, began to have second thoughts. The most iconic photo in boxing history documents the knockout that almost nobody saw happen. His eyes swept the whole scene. He said he could not hear McDonough, who did not have a microphone. At one point, Liston had Clay against the ropes and landed a hard left hook. I don't think there was any way for him to beat Clay at that time, but if he entered the ring in a different mindset, to box and not try and get him like Patterson and others, he could of went the distance. The grave's marker-plate bears the dedication: "A Man. "He said, 'Cut the gloves off. said Liston's Philadelphia dentist, Dr. Nick Ragni. He died circa December 30,. Hall of Fame announcer Don Dunphy said, "Here was a guy who was in prison and the guards used to beat him over the head with clubs and couldn't knock him down." Because of the shirt he wore during robberies, the St. Louis police called Liston the "Yellow Shirt Bandit." And it was probably for the best ticket-buyers didnt exactly get their moneys worth. Although the opening round saw Clay largely on the defensive, it was soon established that Clay could reverse roles quickly and take to the offensive with a remarkably fast series of combinations delivered to Liston's head. The FBI was on the hunt for evidence for match-fixing, given Listons mob ties mobsters still owned much of his fight promotion contract and the sports shady business model. "[59], Liston is ranked second in the ESPN.com list of "The Hardest Hitters in Heavyweight History. The second round saw Liston continue to pursue Clay. For confetti we can use torn-up arrest warrants." . One mile up on a mountain 13 miles west of Denver is the Shrine of Mother Cabrini. As the years passed and Liston's financial situation worsened, he got angry and told the mob he would go public with the story unless they gave him the money. Sonny Liston in his prime . He was scared of the black-power movement. Shaun Assael wrote "The Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas, Heroin, and Heavyweights", published in 2016. The rumors swirling nearly canceled the fight the night prior, and when a reporter that morning broke tradition and asked if Clay was a member of the Black Muslims, as the group was often called, the boxer confirmed his new religion. Very rare interview of Sonny Liston talking about how he got started in boxing, his fights with Williams and Patterson and his training routine. "I'm doing a portrait of a life, really, in a way, so you are trying to get the whole thing into just a few verses. Liston believed his date of birth to be May 8, 1932, and used this for official purposes[11] but by the time he won the world title an aged appearance added credence to rumors that he was actually several years older. There was something caustic in both eyes." The fight quickly descended into chaos. In the months ahead of the fight, Muhammad Ali went all sorts of routes to get into Sonny Liston's head. [22], Early in his career, Liston faced capable opponents. Sports Illustrated writer Gilbert Rogin wrote that "that final left hook crashed into Patterson's cheek like a diesel rig going downhill, no brakes." #1 December 1963 extended Interview with Champion Sonny Liston - discusses Ali defense, his contenders, even the JFK Assassination 12-02-2022, 12:32 PM Pretty cool interview. [71] Credence to the latter theory is provided by the fact that Liston, immediately after his fight with Chuck Wepner, seemed more concerned about supporting the proposed Ali-Frazier bout and Ali's claims to be champion than promoting his own career. [29] Machen's taunting and his spoiling tactics of dodging and grapplingat one point almost heaving Liston over the ropesso alienated the audience that Liston received unaccustomed support from the crowd. That would prove to be an understatement. Sad how they portrayed sonny in such a negative light he seems like a genuinely kind person. that startles everyone in a 100 foot radius. Lennox is a conqueror? When you can kill almost anybody in the world with your bare hands, you don't really have to go around proclaiming it to everyone. "[35], U.S. President John F. Kennedy also did not want Patterson to fight Liston. A few years before Tocco died, he allegedly told one of his good friends, Tony Davi, that he went to Liston's house and found the door locked and his car in the driveway. Liston appears as a character in James Ellroy's novel The Cold Six Thousand. [59], Liston trained hard for the rematch, which was scheduled to take place November 13, 1964, in Boston. But then again, he took a pretty good beating in the fight. Clay countered in verse, "If you want to lose your money, then bet on Sonny! Liston was supremely confident of easily beating Clay, trained minimally for the fight and went ahead with it despite an injury to his left shoulder.[44]. [73] The bout was stopped after the ninth round due to cuts over both of Wepner's eyes. Even before the first punch was thrown, the May 25, 1965 bout between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston . Sonny Liston became world heavyweight champion in 1962 and fought Muhammad Ali twice In January 1971, former heavyweight champion of the world Sonny Liston was found dead at his Las Vegas. Please read the rules before posting/commenting. Press J to jump to the feed. [74], Writer Gilbert Rogin assessed Liston's style and physique after his win over Zora Folley. Less than 10 days later, he was Muhammad Ali, a name given him to Elijah Muhammad, the head of the Nation of Islam. Shaun Assael. "[18], After Liston was released from prison on October 31, 1952, he had a brief amateur career that spanned less than a year. In The Greatest, the 1977 film about the life of boxer Muhammad Ali in which Ali played himself, Liston was portrayed by Roger E. Mosley. After Ali's win against Sonny Liston, he wouldn't . I know!" Rode with the muggers in the dark and dread and all them sluggers went down like lead. I didn't think it was a powerful punch when I saw the fight from ringside," he said. Rocky Marciano, the former heavyweight champion, said that he appreciated the punchs strength upon re-examination. During the fourth round Liston appeared dominant as Clay coasted, keeping his distance. Writer Jack McKinney said, "I watched Sonny. He is a relatively elementary, one-track fighter." It was the first time in his career that Liston had been cut. Paul R Gallender, 2012. His defense was described as "the gate-crossing of arms la Archie Moore. He would not close in until the accumulated inside damage and Liston's own frustration had sapped the challenger's strength and will." "He would do everything to avoid taking shots." His wife said he was a kind & gentle hearted person who cared deeply for children & that no one ever saw that side of him except those closest to him, I believe theres a documentary somewhere on YouTube Id recommend watching it. Philadelphia wanted nothing to do with him. No, I'm Alexanderhe's no Alexander. The photo captures the champions exhortations, with all the fire and passion and dynamic physicality that made him such a phenomenon. Be respectful and come chat with us. Liston's story, Knopfler said, "is great for a writer for many reasons. [8], Liston turned to crime and led a gang of thugs who committed muggings and armed robberies. The official time of the stoppage was announced as 1:00 into the first round, which was wrong. The following year, Sonnydetermined to reunite with his mother and siblingsthrashed the pecans from his brother-in-law's tree and sold them in Forrest City, Arkansas. Liston tried going to school but quickly left after jeers about his illiteracy; the only employment he could obtain was sporadic and exploitative. "The only thing my old man ever gave me was a beating," Liston said. His wife said he was a kind & gentle hearted person who cared deeply for children & that no one ever saw that side of him except those closest to him I believe there's a documentary somewhere on YouTube I'd recommend watching it MatterUpbeat8803 19 days ago He also had a reputation for bullying people such as porters and waitresses. "There was nothing Sonny feared more than a needle. One memo, dated 24 May 1966, outlined an interview with Houston gambler Barnett Magids, who believed Liston would win. When he tried to muscle in for a bigger share, Conrad thinks his employers got him very drunk, took him home and stuck him with a needle. The ending of the fight remains one of the most controversial in boxing history. He won eight fights that year, six by knockout. [27][28], Liston's streak of nine straight knockout victories ended when he won a unanimous twelve-round decision against Eddie Machen on September 7, 1960. All Rights Reserved. Boston: Little, Brown. Standing 185 centimeters (6'1) tall and packing over 90 kilograms (200 lb) of pure muscle, there's a reason he was nicknamed "The Big Bear," and it wasn't for the hugs he gave.. His career in heavyweight boxing spanned from 1953 to 1970, and he spent all 17 of those years going guts for glory against the . A few months after Alis fight, Liston was dead from lung congestion though even that was shrouded in mystery and controversy. Unlike Dylan or Carter, however, Knopfler does not present Liston as innocent of a crime for which he was imprisoned. Former champions James J. Braddock, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles, Rocky Marciano and Ingemar Johansson all picked Patterson to win. [70] There have been a number of unproven theories as to the background to the purported dive including that Liston was threatened by the Muslims, or agreed to lose in return for a share in the more marketable Ali's future purses. I wasn't hit. It became known as the phantom punch and has been the subject of controversy and speculation for the last 55 years. During the interim, officials in Boston also got cold feet. There's something really primal about the whole thing, obviously. Liston was allegedly present at dealer Earl Cage's residence during a raid by narcotics detectives. Remembering One Of Boxing's Storied Bouts Robert Siegel and Melissa Block recall the fight between Cassius Clay and and Sonny Liston, the fight at the heart of the off-Broadway play Fetch Clay, . The second fight? People around the world tuned in via satellite to watch the match, which was fought in front of 2,434 paying ticket-holders, the smallest crowd in heavyweight championship fight history; people there suggested the crowd was more like 4,000, but nonetheless, it was a very small in-person audience. With Clay quickly ducking his head left, right or away, Liston's leading left jabs largely failed to land. Sit down!' He said that Liston was not quick with his hand or footwork, that he relied too much on his ability to take a punch, and that he could be vulnerable to an opponent with more hand speed. So I went down. Top contender Zora Folley was stopped in three rounds. He claimed the officer used racial slurs. [32] Ironically, Patterson's manager, Cus D'Amato, associated with racketeers and had his manager's license revoked by the New York State Athletic Commission for alleged misconduct in connection with the Floyd PattersonIngemar Johansson title fight in June 1959. He was still a world-ranked boxer when he died in mysterious circumstances in 1970. I didn't want anything to do with him. He also went with a new manager in 1958: Joseph "Pep" Barone, who was a front man for mobsters Frankie Carbo and Frank "Blinky" Palermo. After he won the title, Liston relocated to Denver permanently, saying, "I'd rather be a lamppost in Denver than the mayor of Philadelphia. Jim Murray of the Los Angeles Times wrote that it was "no phantom punch." He would later employ McCarter as a sparring partner. "A blues song just for fighters: The legend of Sonny Liston. Any objective observer would have had to concede that Ali's counterpunch had landed, and landed with enough force to turn Liston's head, Rob Sneddon wrote in The Phantom Punch: The Story Behind Boxing's Most Controversial Bout. Even before the first punch was thrown, the May 25, 1965 bout between .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston, during which the photo was snapped, was already shaping up to be the stuff of legends. Good lord, Sonny's mitts are massive. Knopfler, who now records as a soloist and performs with a backup band, has a wide-ranging curiosity that has produced an eclectic collection of songs. The World Boxing Association one of several boxing organizations was not too pleased, moving to strip Ali of his title and advising states not to agree to host the rematch. . [30] Before his bout with Liston, Muhammad Ali consulted Machen and was advised that the key to survival was to make Liston lose his temper. Sheed says that the punch and the knockdown "may have been genuine, but when referee Joe Walcott blew the count and gave him all evening to get up, Liston's rendition of a coma wouldn't have fooled a possum. [citation needed], Rogin wrote that Patterson backers expected him to "go inside on Liston, fire away and then run like a thief in the night. The previous month, Schreibauer had won a bronze medal in the European Championships. [36], Jack Dempsey spoke for many when he was quoted as saying that Sonny Liston should not be allowed to fight for the title. That got him killed. One of the victories was over Amos Johnson, Liston's former sparring partner, who had recently defeated British champion Henry Cooper. Dude was only 6'2 and his hands dwarfed Lesnar's. Sonny Liston is considered by many as the most intimidating boxer of all time with a devastating jab which is widely regarded as one of the best in heavyweight history. In a pre-fight poll, 43 of 46 sportswriters picked Liston to win by knockout. ", It was later theorized that a substance used on Liston's cuts by Joe Pollino, his cut man, may have caused the irritation. Roy Harris, who had gone 13 rounds with Floyd Patterson in a title match, was crushed in one round by Liston. It made a champion out of Clay, who declared that hed shook up the world.. For Sonny Liston, a Ballad to a Heavyweight, https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/13/sports/othersports/for-sonny-liston-a-ballad-to-a-heavyweight.html. He could probably drive his thumb through your skull like Michael Myers, It's crazy to think about the fact that Sonny Liston was an actual gangster running with gangs.. and then he looks so soft spoken in the interview.
Burt Lancaster Grandchildren,
Chelmsford Crematorium South Chapel,
Wisconsin Auction Calendar,
What Kind Of Cheese Does Round Table Use,
Articles S