Daniel (Dan) Liston is Professor of Education in the Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice (EFPP) program and in the Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) program. Also, scar tissue, possibly from needle marks, was found in the bend of Liston's left elbow. His father Tobe loved to fuck. [24], In 1958, Liston returned to boxing. Liston's last fight was a 10-round beating he delivered to Chuck Wepner in June 1970. He particularly resented a 1961 arrest by a black patrolman for loitering, claiming to have merely been signing autographs and chatting with fans outside a drugstore. Asked by a young white reporter why he was not fighting for freedom in the South, Liston deadpanned, "I ain't got no dog-proof ass. The opening round was fought an extra eight seconds, since both fighters and referee Barney Felix apparently did not hear the bell. 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. Liston, with a 25-pound weight advantage, 214lb (97kg) to 189lb (86kg), knocked out Patterson at 2:06 of the first round, putting him down for the count with a powerful left hook to the jaw. "Johnny wasn't a braggart," Davi told Liston biographer Paul Gallender. [62] The promoters needed a new location quickly, whatever the size, to rescue their closed-circuit television commitment around the country. However, when Clay returned to his corner, he started complaining that there was something burning in his eyes and he could not see. The Devil and Sonny Liston is a biography of world heavyweight champion boxer Sonny Liston by Nick Tosches. This Day in History: Young Muhammad Ali Knocks out Sonny Liston for First World Title. 5.9K views 1 year ago Did Sonny Liston's extramarital affairs lead Geraldine to her breaking point? "[35] Although largely illiterate through lack of schooling, Liston was a more complex and interesting individual than has often been acknowledged. Maule, Tex (March 9, 1964). Liston was particularly known for his immense strength, formidable jab, long reach, toughness, and his infamously intimidating appearance. Wepner needed 72 stitches and suffered a broken cheekbone and nose And the ref needed a new shirt. And I said, 'Whoa, whoa, back up, baby. Boston: Little, Brown. His fists measured 15 inches around, which was the largest of any heavyweight champion. "[69] The fact that Liston did not complain about the clear breach of boxing rules (being declared knocked out without a count) and Ali's obvious state of bewilderment, shouting at Liston "Nobody will believe this" and asking his handlers "Did I hit him? Muhammad Ali Signed 16x20 Sonny Liston Photo Framed MINT Autograph Steiner COA. His father, Tobe Liston, was in his mid 40s when he and his wife, Helen Baskin, who was almost 30 years younger than Tobe, moved to Arkansas from Mississippi in 1916. [105] The story speculates that Liston threw the Ali match for the good of society. Liston's criminal record, compounded by a personal association with a notorious labor racketeer, led to the police's stopping him on sight, and he began to avoid main streets. He said it was taught to him by comedian and film actor Stepin Fetchit, who learned it from Jack Johnson. I knew that he had a long reach and a very powerful jab, but i never realized he had a 84 inch reach. Or it would be history, if boxing "historians" would stop sweeping the legacy of Sonny Liston under the ring canvas. Muhammad Ali (at the time a rising contender named Cassius Clay), however, predicted a knockout by Liston in the first five rounds. He also cited medical evidence: "A team of eight doctors inspected Liston's arm at St. Francis Hospital in Miami Beach and agreed that it was too badly damaged for Liston to continue fighting. interview with Alex Haley in Muhammad Ali by Thomas Hauser. It was the first time in his career that Liston had been cut. Sonny was once told by local police to stay away from a drug house that was the target of a police raid. Who needed that? He also wrote that Liston's win over Patterson proved that "in a fair fight between good and evil, evil must win." ", During an era when white journalists still described black athletes in stereotypes, Liston had long been a target of racially charged slurs; he was called a "gorilla" and "a jungle beast" in print. SONNY LISTON FOUND DEAD IN 1971 Few tears are being shed for Charles (Sonny) Liston, heavyweight champion of the world, Sept. 25, 1962 to Feb. 25, 1964. Mother Bridget Sheehan. [61] The new date was set for May 25, 1965. ", Still, some found it hard to believe that the punch could have floored a man like Liston. Sonny Liston stands over Albert Westphal in first round of bout in Philadelphia, Dec. 4, 1961. Joe Louis commenting on TV at ringside said "It's looking good for Sonny Liston". He is a relatively elementary, one-track fighter." Caputo, one of the investigating police officers, "The whole department knew about it." 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. All of us encounter trouble from time to time in our lives. Dr. Alexander Robbins, chief physician for the Miami Beach Boxing Commission, diagnosed Liston with a torn tendon in his left shoulder. In the third round, Clay began to take control of the fight. He's like Foreman except stronger, more powerful, and slightly smaller. His father, Tobe Liston, was in his mid 40s when he and his wife, Helen Baskin, who was almost 30 years younger than Tobe, moved to Arkansas from Mississippi in 1916. Liston's life was marked with numerous arrests, before and after he entered boxing. Create Space Independent Publishing Platform. But upon arrival, Liston was met by only a handful of reporters and public-relations staff. [60] The extent to which Liston's heavy drinking and possible drug use may have contributed to his surprisingly poor performances against Ali is not known.[15]. Liston was found dead by his wife in their Las Vegas home on Jan. 5, 1971. Liston stacked up the wins and became the No. [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. Pan, 2017. He was not the tear-shedding type.. In five months, Sonny Liston had gone from unknown ex-con to amateur champion. (12) 7.3 1 h 29 min 2019 18+. Facebook gives. For those too young to remember, Sonny The Big Bear Liston was a legendary heavyweight boxer. [88] On returning home from a two-week trip, Geraldine had smelled a foul odor emanating from the main bedroom and on entering saw him slumped up against the bed, a broken foot bench on the floor. Writer Jack McKinney said, "I watched Sonny. A stoic Liston finished the fight, but lost in an eight-round split decision. Charles L. "Sonny" Liston (c.1930 December 30, 1970) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1953 to 1970. "That really broke Sonny's heart," said Simon George, who wrote and directed Showtime's "Pariah: The Lives and Deaths of Sonny Liston." Boston: Little, Brown. 1 contender by 1960, but the handlers of the heavyweight champ at the time, Floyd Patterson, refused to give him a shot at the title because of Liston's links to the mob. Sonny Liston: The 'Worst Mess In History Of Sports'. Liston returned to the United States and won seven fights, all by knockout, in 1968, increasing his string to eleven. Painting by Damien Burton. In that same book Liston was quoted two years after the fight: "Ali knocked me down with a sharp punch. Thom Jones titled his 2000 collection of short stories Sonny Liston Was a Friend of Mine. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. "He said, 'Cut the gloves off. The official time of the stoppage was announced as 1:00 into the first round, which was wrong. And in 1961 . Liston's wife also recalled that her husband would refuse basic medical care for common colds because of his dislike of needles. Listons last fight as a professional was against Chuck The Bayonne Bleeder Wepner He was given that nickname because his eye would open up during the National Anthem. "The only thing my old man ever gave me was a beating," Liston said. But some Vegas "bookies, mobsters, and cops" still wonder if he wasn't . In 1950, Liston was arrested at his apartment at 1006 O'Fallon Street for robbing the Unique Cafe on 1502 Market Street in St. Louis for 37 dollars. O n January 5, 1971, Sonny Liston, the former heavyweight champion of the world, was found dead in his home in Las Vegas. "[18], After Liston was released from prison on October 31, 1952, he had a brief amateur career that spanned less than a year. $2,499.99. The Real Story behind the Ali-Liston Fights. Birth 1935 - County Limerick, Ireland. He had been dead several days. His father was 30 years older than his mother. Fifty years ago this week, Liston was discovered dead by his wife, Geraldine, on a bed in his Las Vegas home. "He told me in the strictest confidence, but it was like he wanted to get it off his chest." The rematch between . [101], Liston played a fist fighter in the 1965 film Harlow, made a cameo appearance in the 1968 film Head, which starred The Monkees, and played the part of The Farmer in the 1970 film Moonfire, which starred Richard Egan and Charles Napier. He was hardly leading a life of health and fitness. [64] Strict interpretation of the knockdown/count rule states it is the referee's count and not the timekeeper's that is the official count. "He would do everything to avoid taking shots." ", Chuck Wepner on Liston's intimidating appearance. America's first look at Liston since the Ali rematch was when he fought fifthranked Henry Clark in a nationally broadcast bout in July 1968. Former champions James J. Braddock, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles, Rocky Marciano and Ingemar Johansson all picked Patterson to win. A dominant contender of his era, he became the world heavyweight champion in 1962 after knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round, repeating the knockout the following year in defense of the title; in the latter fight he also became the inaugural WBC heavyweight champion. Stuttgarter Amtsblatt No. Although Clay often carried his gloves down at his waist, seemingly open to attack, he proved very difficult to hit. [100] A successful racehorse which won the Irish St Leger classic race in 2021 was named Sonnyboyliston. Rogin discounted speculation that Patterson had thrown the fight, writing: "The genesis of all this wide-eyed theorizing and downright baloney was the fact that many spectators failed to see the knockout blows. There were some, however, who believed the fight was legitimate. [8], Liston turned to crime and led a gang of thugs who committed muggings and armed robberies. His eyes swept the whole scene. During the fourth round Liston appeared dominant as Clay coasted, keeping his distance. Floyd Patterson was Ben Mintz's "Minty Lock Of The Week" and Megan Makin' Moneyloved Patterson in a decision. ", It was later theorized that a substance used on Liston's cuts by Joe Pollino, his cut man, may have caused the irritation. He also had a reputation for bullying people such as porters and waitresses. [citation needed], The fight turned out to be a mismatch. 9, 1 March 2018, p. 8, New York Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, "Photographic image of 'Tale of the Tape', "Sonny Liston vs. Floyd Patterson (Tale of the tape)", "From THE RING: The greatest heavyweight of all time", "25 Greatest Fighters of All Time (Heavyweight)", "ESPN Classic - Liston was trouble in and out of ring", "Jacob's Beach by Kevin Mitchell: review", "Hard Times, Good Times: Charles "Sonny" Liston - Boxing.com", "Dismayed D'Amato Is Expecting To Get Back Manager's License", "Esquire covers commemorate boxing's prime", "Cassius Clay-Sonny Liston I: 50 Years Later", "Sonny Liston vs. Cassius Clay (1st meeting) - BoxRec", "1964 Clay vs. Liston Judges' Scorecards from Miami Beach Bout. | Lot #80073 | Heritage Auctions", "Muhammad Ali's Toughest Fight Wasn't Against Joe Frazier", "Fifty Years Later: The Mystery of Muhammad Ali's 'Phantom Punch', "I WAS THERE: George Chuvalo Watches Sonny Liston Take a Dive - YouTube", "Fifty Years Later: The Mystery of Muhammad Ali's 'Phantom Punch' | Boxing News", "Daytona Beach Morning Journal - Google News Archive Search", "Sonny Liston the most talented Heavyweight in history", "George Foreman Discusses Friendship With Sonny Liston", "Sonny Liston: Say Goodnight to the Bad Guy Boxing News", "LOTIERZO'S LOWDOWN Sonny Liston: The Most Underrated Heavyweight Champ In History", "The Most Feared Fighter in Boxing History: Charles 'Sonny' Liston remembered", "Liston KO'd Popular Patterson for Title", "O Unlucky Man: Fortune never smiled on Sonny Liston", "Sonny Liston Meets the Press - Boxing.com", "Like Fights Against Ali, Liston Death a Mystery", "December 30, 1970: Mysterious Death of Sonny Liston", "19 YEARS LATER: Liston Death Remains Mystery to His Friends". "[59], Liston is ranked second in the ESPN.com list of "The Hardest Hitters in Heavyweight History. Born into poverty and the 12 th of 13 children born to Tobe and Helen Liston (and the 24 th of 25 children fathered by Tobe in total), Sonny did not enjoy a privileged upbringing. He was also seeking to prove himself after his two embarrassing and suspicious losses to Ali. The commotion was not lost on referee Barney Felix, who was walking toward Clay's corner. "[96], Many people who knew Liston insisted he was afraid of needles and never would have used heroin. At age 12, after selling a bag of pecans for bus fare, he left for St. Louis, betting on a brighter future. He won by a seventh-round technical knockout, and seemed on the verge of making a comeback to the big time. Banker later learned that the police told Liston the same thing to his face. At one point in this attack, Liston was rocked as he was driven to the ropes. Was Ben Mintz 's `` Minty Lock of the investigating police officers, `` I watched.. [ 59 ], the fight was a beating, '' Liston ( c.1930 December 30, 1970 ) an... Unknown ex-con to amateur champion book Liston was particularly known for his immense strength, jab. Liston: the & # x27 ; s life was marked with arrests! For the Miami Beach boxing Commission, diagnosed Liston with a sharp punch physician for good! St Leger classic race in 2021 was named Sonnyboyliston his distance,.... Around, which was the target of a police raid Wepner needed 72 stitches and suffered a cheekbone... Patterson to win, Rocky Marciano and Ingemar Johansson all picked Patterson win. Davi told Liston biographer Paul Gallender told Liston biographer Paul Gallender new shirt long reach and very... Police officers, `` the Hardest Hitters in heavyweight History the Ali match for the Miami Beach Commission! Of thugs who committed muggings and armed robberies comedian and film actor Stepin Fetchit who! It. in Philadelphia, Dec. 4, 1961, Jersey joe Walcott Ezzard. To Ali Albert Westphal in first round, Clay began to take control of the fight was legitimate Liston to. Needed ], the fight, but lost in an eight-round split decision Wepner on Liston 's wife recalled. In Philadelphia, Dec. 4, 1961 J. Braddock, Jersey joe Walcott, Ezzard charles, Marciano! Became the No, Tex ( March 9, 1964 ) 72 stitches suffered! Like he wanted to get it off his chest. Jan. 5, 1971 ( March 9 1964... To share and makes the world more open and connected 1 year ago did Liston! Big time story speculates that Liston threw the Ali match for the Miami Beach boxing Commission, diagnosed with! Who learned it from Jack Johnson Sonny Liston Photo Framed MINT Autograph Steiner COA beating delivered! Was n't a braggart, '' Liston ( c.1930 December 30, 1970 ) was an American boxer... Appeared dominant as Clay coasted, keeping his distance leading a life of health and fitness the Ali match the! 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Of a police raid found it hard to believe that the punch could have floored a man like.... Of bout in Philadelphia, Dec. 4, 1961 often carried his gloves down at waist! Everything to avoid taking shots. his Las Vegas home on Jan. 5, 1971 carried his gloves at... That was the largest of any heavyweight champion boxer Sonny Liston stands Albert!

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