Geraldine called Liston's attorney and his doctor, but did not notify the police until two to three hours later. ", It was later theorized that a substance used on Liston's cuts by Joe Pollino, his cut man, may have caused the irritation. [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. [36], Jack Dempsey spoke for many when he was quoted as saying that Sonny Liston should not be allowed to fight for the title. It was a shocking result, not only because Liston was favored in the match, but because hardly anybody saw the punch that took him down. (2) Professional gambler Lem Banker insists that Liston was murdered by drug dealers with whom he'd become involved. That saw him drive a big red bus to Liston's home that read, "Sonny Liston is a great but will fall in eight" along with the words "World's most colorful fighter Cassius Clay.". interview with Alex Haley in Muhammad Ali by Thomas Hauser. He also took his gun. 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. [22], Early in his career, Liston faced capable opponents. Gary Beckwith said, "It wasn't uncommon for family members in these cases to go through and tidy up to save family embarrassment.
Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston: The Controversial Fight Behind Their [42], Liston's run-ins with the police had continued in Philadelphia. More on that in a second. During a ringside interview after the fight, Terrellwith his swollen eye and deflated egowould later say he respected all boxers. Knopfler said he enjoys boxing and other sports but reflected on a conversation he had with a friend about the fights. He won eight fights that year, six by knockout. He talked of a fight with Joe Frazier, claiming, "It'd be like shooting fish in a barrel." He said he could not hear McDonough, who did not have a microphone. Boston: Little, Brown.
Book Review: Was Sonny Liston Murdered? - The Arts Fuse The Murder of Sonny Liston is an absorbing, albeit speculative, attempt at addressing the mystery that died with the man. Shaun Assael. [15] In 1946, Helen Baskin, along with some of her children, moved to St. Louis to seek factory work. Rocky Marciano, the former heavyweight champion, said that he appreciated the punchs strength upon re-examination. Liston retired in his corner due to an inflamed shoulder. Two more arrestsfor disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and another for impersonating a copled to Liston being suspended by the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission on July 14, 1961. According to a New York Times report the day after the fight, Clay was indeed an official member of the Nation of Islam. "From Bad Buck to White Hope: Journalism and Sonny Liston, 19581965. There were some, however, who believed the fight was legitimate. Clay brought Malcolm X along with him to Miami, and amid the controversy, the fight was almost canceled. Walcott then rushed back to the fighters, who had resumed boxing, and stopped the fightawarding Ali a first-round knockout victory. Then again, you can also have guys like Ali or Mike Tyson. Liston assaulted the officer, breaking his knee and gashing his face. In "Song for Sonny Liston," Knopfler's voice is backed by electric guitar, a bass and drums as he tells the story of a sharecropper's son who went from prison to the championship to an early death under mysterious circumstances. In a pre-fight poll, 43 of 46 sportswriters picked Liston to win by knockout. Mark Knopfler's tribute to Liston, "Song for Sonny Liston", appeared on his 2004 album Shangri-La. "[35], U.S. President John F. Kennedy also did not want Patterson to fight Liston. Liston's story, Knopfler said, "is great for a writer for many reasons. Anyone can read what you share. He was paroled after serving six months of a nine-month sentence, and was not prohibited from boxing during 1957. "[96], Many people who knew Liston insisted he was afraid of needles and never would have used heroin. 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 . Tocco said that the living room furniture was in disarray, but the house did not yet smell of death. "The only thing my old man ever gave me was a beating," Liston said. "It really has made an impact, actually from the very first time I performed it on 'A Prairie Home Companion,"' Knopfler said in a telephone interview. Very rare interview of Sonny Liston talking about how he got started in boxing, his fights with Williams and Patterson and his training routine. In an interview with The Associated Press shortly before his death in May 2009, Liston said he regretted . Sonny Liston in Denver, Colorado. He sunk to the canvas, and as he was down, Ali stood over him, taunting and demanding his stunned opponent get back up. "[35] Although largely illiterate through lack of schooling, Liston was a more complex and interesting individual than has often been acknowledged. When Machen clinched in . I was down but not hurt, but I looked up and saw Ali standing over me. [93] Liston had been hospitalized in early December, complaining of chest pains. In his sixth bout, he faced ranked heavyweight Johnny Summerlin (18-1-2) on national television and won in an eight-round decision. Tale of the tape: Fight poster for Sonny Liston v Cassius Clay in 1964. . In the novel, Liston not only drinks but also pops pills and works as a sometime enforcer for a heroin ring in Las Vegas.
[10] His family, but not one Charles (or Sonny) Liston, can be found in the 1930 census, and in the 1940 census he was listed as 10 years old. Good lord, Sonny's mitts are massive. #muhammadali #henrycooper #sonnyliston #dougjones #heavyweight #greatness #boxing #legend #larryholmes #ironmike #sonnyliston #intimidating #bad #big #greatb. Liston was depicted as a bad guy by the media, a handbreaker for the mafia. 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. Philadelphia wanted nothing to do with him. According to Liston's trainer, Willie Reddish, Liston cancelled a planned tour to Africa in 1963 because he refused to get the required inoculations. Subsequently, Liston spent some months in Denver where a Catholic priest who acted as his spiritual adviser attempted to help bring his drinking under control. Wepner needed 72 stitches and suffered a broken cheekbone and nose. He pulled the same stuff Walcott did against Marciano. For those too young to remember, Sonny "The Big Bear" Liston was a legendary heavyweight boxer. Be respectful and come chat with us. After demolishing these top-ranked fighters in the heavyweight division, Liston was regarded as the top-contender champion-in-waiting. He was also seeking to prove himself after his two embarrassing and suspicious losses to Ali. During the fourth round Liston appeared dominant as Clay coasted, keeping his distance. He had the whole package. At that point, the fight was scored as even on the official scorecards.
THE PREFIGHT MOODS OF SONNY LISTON - Sports Illustrated 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. 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. Sonny Liston fought for only $10,000 during his career. Unfortunately for Martin, however, his career ended after that fight due to a detached retina he suffered during the bout. [50]
Savant Sundays: Sonny Liston - Bad Left Hook The opening round was fought an extra eight seconds, since both fighters and referee Barney Felix apparently did not hear the bell. [66], Former champions Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Floyd Patterson and Gene Tunney, as well as contender George Chuvalo all declared they considered the fight to be a fake. Liston appears as a character in James Ellroy's novel The Cold Six Thousand. When Patterson met with the president in January 1962, Kennedy suggested that Patterson avoid Liston, citing Justice Department concerns over Liston's ties to organized crime.
Ali's "Phantom Punch" Controversy Explained - PBS "[18] The only backers willing to put up the necessary money for him to turn professional were close to underworld figures, and Liston supplemented his income by working for racketeers as an intimidator-enforcer. Rogin called Liston's physique "awesomearms like fence posts, thighs like silos." Emily Post would probably recommend a ticker-tape parade. During these same years Sonny Liston was on the comeback trail as well. Walcott never began a count in the ring because of Ali's non-compliance and his physical struggle with getting Ali to go to that neutral corner. Dude was only 6'2 and his hands dwarfed Lesnar's. 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. I was about to say look at those mitts! 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. The governor of nearby Maine, John Reed, stepped up and volunteered to host it in the small town of Lewiston, where a resort and ice rink could provide some infrastructure. ", Hutchison, Phillip J. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations.
Remembering One Of Boxing's Storied Bouts : NPR Concert Preview/Interview: John Lodge of the Moody Blues on Reprising "Days of Future Passed . Muhammad Ali stands over Sonny Liston after dropping Liston with a short hard right to the jaw on May 25, 1965, in Lewiston, Maine, Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston: The Controversial Fight Behind Their Iconic Boxing Photo, Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, an official member of the Nation of Islam, Senate subcommittee hearing turned up no evidence, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. [17] The athletic director at Missouri State Penitentiary, Rev. Very Rare interview with Sonny Liston and Joe Louis. Support this Channel:https://www.patreon.com/LegendsofBoxing Merchandise:LegendsofBoxing.redbubble.com I restore \u0026 colorize your projects, PayPal Donations: LegendsofBoxingYT@gmail.comThank you!________________________________________________________________________________All My YouTube ChannelsMy Main Channel \"Legends of Boxing\": https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC73ffQAknNEWJlRoFSWH_awMy Second Boxing Channel \"Legends of Boxing Strikes Back\": https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-QLrFyDnskqz5_z95mcOAMy History Channel \"Time Travel: Colorized Archive\": https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC29VFkNvVVi6_OzwFV2oTqQMy Documentary Channel \"Tales From The Past\":https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpFIIYrCc1lOHbG-fUo5vwMein Dokumentation Channel \"Geschichten aus der Vergangenheit\" (Tales From The Past in Deutsch) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXBfWoE1KVXEzh9d2NrwBhASocial https://www.instagram.com/legends_of_boxing1/ "[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? It was more likely that Liston was out of shape according to a story in Esquire at the time, Liston trained as normal, running around five miles a day, eating hot dogs and drinking beer. He was also possibly much older than his listed 32 years than anything else Liston was the second-youngest of 25 children to parents who didnt exactly keep records of birthdates. Beat me to it! 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. "[75], Future world heavyweight champion George Foreman, who sparred with Liston after Foreman's amateur career, assessed Liston's jab as the most formidable he faced and Liston as the strongest man he encountered in the ring, describing Liston as having the most natural talent and skill. With Clay quickly ducking his head left, right or away, Liston's leading left jabs largely failed to land. Hed shown up to the fight in the best shape of his life no hot dogs or beer in his diet this time and promised to take down Ali. On April 21, 1955, he defeated Marshall in a rematch, dropping him four times en route to a sixth-round knockout. Charles L. "Sonny" Liston (c. 1930 - December 30, 1970) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1953 to 1970. Skeptics called the knockout blow "the phantom punch." But then again, he took a pretty good beating in the fight.
The last of Sonny Liston Andscape The Devil And Sonny Liston.
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. As Liston pursued his target Clay retreated, using his foot speed to slip away into open space in the ring, largely circling to the left and away from the threat of a Liston left hook. The fight lasted four seconds longer than the first one. He cited Liston's inability to lift his arm: "There is no doubt that Liston's arm was damaged. "The timekeeper was waving both hands and saying, 'I counted him outthe fight is over,'" Walcott said after the fight. Geraldine remembered her husband as "Great with me, great with the kids. Unlike Dylan or Carter, however, Knopfler does not present Liston as innocent of a crime for which he was imprisoned. "Yes, it was good and honest". Who needed that? This is a clip out of the \"The Other Side\" Documentary. Support this Channel:https://www.patreon.com/LegendsofBoxing Merchandise:LegendsofBoxing.redbubble.com I restore \u0026 colorize your projects, PayPal Donations: LegendsofBoxingYT@gmail.comThank you!________________________________________________________________________________ Credit Original B\u0026W Footage:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CLMlEpRb9wSonny Liston Interview uploaded by haNZAgodAll My YouTube ChannelsMy Main Channel \"Legends of Boxing\": https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC73ffQAknNEWJlRoFSWH_awMy Second Boxing Channel \"Legends of Boxing\": https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-QLrFyDnskqz5_z95mcOAMy History Channel \"Time Travel: Colorized Archive\": https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC29VFkNvVVi6_OzwFV2oTqQMy Documentary Channel \"Tales From The Past\":https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZpFIIYrCc1lOHbG-fUo5vwMein Dokumentation Channel \"Geschichten aus der Vergangenheit\" (Tales From The Past in Deutsch) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXBfWoE1KVXEzh9d2NrwBhASocial https://www.instagram.com/legends_of_boxing1/