Sit down!' For me, the most fascinating thing about Liston was the fact that his birth date is unknown. But former Las Vegas police Sgt. [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. And Tex Maule of Sports Illustrated wrote, "The blow had so much force it lifted Liston's left foot, upon which most of his weight was resting, well off the canvas. Sonny Liston | Boxing's Most Intimidating and Unwanted Champion Rainy Day Boxing 302K subscribers 5.6M views 1 year ago Join Rainy Day Boxing for an in depth career tribute to arguably the most. McDonough, however, claimed Walcott was looking at the crowd and never at him. 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.". "At about noon on the day of the fight, (Magids) reached Resnick again by phone," the memo read. 'What's My Name| Muhammad Ali' Proves Why Ali's The Greatest - VIBE.com [99] (3) The mob promised Liston some money to throw the second Ali fight, but they never paid him. [97], "The month before he died, some guy ran into Sonny while he was making a left turn. Sonny Liston was one of the hardest hitters the boxing world has ever seen. In the sixth round, he carried it at belt level so that it was of no help in warding off the right crosses with which Clay probed at the cut under his left eye." Ali brought his big personality to the small town, but Liston was still the favorite. Liston went down at 1:44, got up at 1:56, and Walcott stopped the fight at 2:12. Felix later said Clay was seconds from being disqualified. At the IBHOF, the casts of Listons hands were bigger than Lennox Lewis' which were also gigantic. Sonny Liston Vs Floyd Patterson What If There Had Been A Third Fight The story goes that Liston was born somewhere . Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston: The Controversial Fight Behind Their Tocco called the police, and they broke into the house. "The only thing my old man ever gave me was a beating," Liston said. Inter-Continental said local veteran Sam Silverman was the promoter. RARE Sonny Liston Interview before the first Ali fight 1964 in Color I dont have to be what you want me to be, Clay told agitated reporters. QUESTION 1 But then again, he took a pretty good beating in the fight. Liston was overwhelmed by an abusive father, confrontations with the law, underworld managers and a change in African-American culture represented by Ali, Knopfler said. Charles L. "Sonny" Liston (c. 1930 - December 30, 1970) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1953 to 1970. 'Raising Ali' Remembers The 'Worst Mess In The History Of Sports' - NPR In the 2020 film One Night in Miami, Liston is played by Aaron D. Alexander. Night Train is like $11 on Amazon, peep that if you want to get more of the story, i don't like how max was squeezing sonny's bicep. r/boxing does not tolerate racism or intolerance of any kind. Beat me to it! "[35], U.S. President John F. Kennedy also did not want Patterson to fight Liston. One memo, dated 24 May 1966, outlined an interview with Houston gambler Barnett Magids, who believed Liston would win. The most iconic photo in boxing history documents the knockout that almost nobody saw happen. THE PREFIGHT MOODS OF SONNY LISTON - Sports Illustrated Knopfler said the track "uses a lot of the country-blues style of playing that I started to absorb when I was young.". The official time of the stoppage was announced as 1:00 into the first round, which was wrong. 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. "[68], While Liston publicly denied taking a dive, Sports Illustrated writer Mark Kram said that years later Liston told him, "That guy [Ali] was crazy. A lot of his life was mysterious and messy. [25][26], In 1960 Liston won five more fights, including a rematch with Williams, who lasted only two rounds. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "[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? The bout would need to be delayed by six months. [50] Unlike Dylan or Carter, however, Knopfler does not present Liston as innocent of a crime for which he was imprisoned. [35] Liston's victory was loudly booed. "Some songs just seem to reverberate with people.". A few months after Alis fight, Liston was dead from lung congestion though even that was shrouded in mystery and controversy. "When he first got to the big city, he was hanging out with a bunch of people who were just looking for trouble.". Banker said he was told by police that Liston had been seen at a house that would be the target of a drug raid. "The public is not with me. Sonny Liston, once the heavyweight champ, died at the age of who-knows-what some days before Dec. 30, 1970. Dude was only 6'2 and his hands dwarfed Lesnar's. He is seen in the far left part of the row, wearing a white and gold robe, standing beside the original-look Beatle wax figures. 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. [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. [87], Liston was found dead by his wife, Geraldine, in their Las Vegas home on January 5, 1971. Walcott then rushed back to the fighters, who had resumed boxing, and stopped the fightawarding Ali a first-round knockout victory. Liston won his final fight, a tough but one-sided match against future world title challenger Chuck Wepner in June 1970. (, Shaun Assael. Dr. Alexander Robbins, chief physician for the Miami Beach Boxing Commission, diagnosed Liston with a torn tendon in his left shoulder. Roy Harris, who had gone 13 rounds with Floyd Patterson in a title match, was crushed in one round by Liston. "[96], Many people who knew Liston insisted he was afraid of needles and never would have used heroin. After Liston arose, Walcott wiped off his gloves. [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. But upon arrival, Liston was met by only a handful of reporters and public-relations staff. The champion was stripped of the belt when he refused to be drafted into the armed services during the Vietnam War, and he didnt box again in a match that counted until 1970. 589 Share 23K views 1 year ago Rare interview of Sonny Liston colorized. Create Space Independent Publishing Platform. I'm the best ever. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. "Better get me out of this ring," exclaimed Wilson, "he is going to kill me! [59], Liston trained hard for the rematch, which was scheduled to take place November 13, 1964, in Boston. "He was afraid of needles," echoed Father Edward Murphy. "I remember him telling me one day that he found himself watching boxing but he didn't like the way it made him feel," Knopfler said. Geraldine called Liston's attorney and his doctor, but did not notify the police until two to three hours later. Never seen this one before, thanks alot. [38], Patterson finally signed to meet Liston for the world title on September 25, 1962, in Comiskey Park in Chicago. You really never watched the first fight did you? #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. Walcott never did pick up the count. "And I suppose Sonny Liston always stuck with me. Two of the best-known are "The Boxer" by Simon and Garfunkel and "Hurricane" by Bob Dylan. Suffolk County, where Boston is located, ultimately pulled the plug, leaving them without a venue with less than a month to go. So I went down. He rounded out the year by stopping Nino Valdez and Willi Besmanoff. 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. What are you doing? Liston's wife also recalled that her husband would refuse basic medical care for common colds because of his dislike of needles. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Pan, 2017. On the Spot show with Max Goldberg featuring the heavyweight champion Mark Knopfler's tribute to Liston, "Song for Sonny Liston", appeared on his 2004 album Shangri-La. Ali would lose his title a year later, though it didnt happen in the ring. . Sonny Liston: The mysterious death that haunts boxing Liston captured the Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions on March 6, 1953, with a victory over 1952 Olympic Heavyweight Champion Ed Sanders. In an unearthed, unaired TV interview, Sonny Liston's wife once said that the fighter needed to get out of the ring as fast as possible because he had diarrhea. Sonny Liston Once Shot a Gun at Muhammad Ali - Sportscasting [94], On January 1, Liston's wife, Geraldine, called Johnny Tocco and said she had not heard from her husband in three days and was worried. ", Still, some found it hard to believe that the punch could have floored a man like Liston. 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. Many did not see the punch land, and some who did questioned that it was powerful enough to knock Liston out. He said it was taught to him by comedian and film actor Stepin Fetchit, who learned it from Jack Johnson. On April 21, 1955, he defeated Marshall in a rematch, dropping him four times en route to a sixth-round knockout. "[54] Hall of Fame matchmaker Teddy Brenner also disputed the shoulder injury, claiming he saw Liston use the same arm to throw a chair in his dressing room after the match. A grateful Liston found there was no need to give chase. The last of Sonny Liston Andscape "It was common knowledge that Sonny was a heroin addict," said Sgt. The mysterious life of Sonny Liston : r/Boxing - Reddit A sudden violent combination delivered with 30 seconds left in the round electrified the crowd. ", Knopfler compared writing a song about Liston to the work a sculptor performs on a statue. [10][11] It has been suggested Liston himself may not have known what year he was born, as he was not precise on the matter. The Murder of Sonny Liston is an absorbing, albeit speculative, attempt at addressing the mystery that died with the man. Never before seen Sonny Liston interview. Support this Channel:https://www.patreon.com/join/LegendsofBoxing Merchandise:https://www.redbubble.com/people/LegendsofBoxing/shop I restore \u0026 colorize your projects, PayPal Donations: LegendsofBoxingYT@gmail.comThank you!______________________________________________________________________ Footage Credit:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4oGEeOJ7-Ahttps://archives.denverlibrary.org/repositories/3/resources/9093______________________________________________________________________ Join my Discord Server:https://discord.gg/9QzFSw4TvfAll My YouTube ChannelsMy Main Channel \"Legends of Boxing\": https://www.youtube.com/c/LegendsofBoxingMy Second Boxing Channel \"Legends of Boxing in Color\": 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-fUo5vwMy German Channel/ Deutscher Kanal: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXBfWoE1KVXEzh9d2NrwBhASocial https://www.instagram.com/legends_of_boxing1/#boxing #LegendsofBoxing #boxingclassics #Legend #boxinghistory #fight #knockout #boxingstories #athletestories #lifestories #pugilism #bareknuckle #fighting #boxinghistory #boxer #boxingclassics #boxinglegends #halloffame #boxinghalloffame #goldenera #boxinggoldenera #boxergram #boxerlife #boxerlifestyle #boxing #boxinghistory #barefist #pugilist #bareknuckle #houseofdevlin #legendaryfighter #classics #Legendary #motivation #boxingmotivation #dempsey #boxers #UnseenHistories #VisualHistory #ColorGraph #Colorized #Colorization #ColorizedPhoto #History #HistoricalPhotos #Deoldify #AIcolorization #colorizao #colourised #historia #colourise #colorization #restauracao #colourisedphoto #colorizedphoto #colouryourpast #colorizedhistory #colorizedhistoricalphotos At one point, Liston had Clay against the ropes and landed a hard left hook. Sonny Liston - BoxRec Never before seen Sonny Liston interview. Support this Channel: https://www.patreon.com/join/LegendsofBoxing Merchandise: https://www.redbubble.com/peo. This victory is regarded by some as Liston's most impressive performance. He also had a reputation for bullying people such as porters and waitresses. [93] Liston had been hospitalized in early December, complaining of chest pains. A wax model of Liston appears in the front row of the iconic sleeve cover of the Beatles' Sgt. He rolled over, got to his right knee and then fell on his back again. 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/ 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. The Murder of Sonny Liston: A Story of Fame, Heroin, Boxing & Las Vegas. He would not close in until the accumulated inside damage and Liston's own frustration had sapped the challenger's strength and will." 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. Welcome to r/boxing, the official home of pro boxing on Reddit! Liston had never been knocked out before, and most people didnt even see the punch happen. Washington University Libraries, Film and Media Archive, Henry Hampton Collection. (4) Liston was supposed to take a dive when he fought Chuck Wepner six months earlier, and killing him was payback for his failure to do so. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. He also wrote that Liston's win over Patterson proved that "in a fair fight between good and evil, evil must win." Liston was depicted as a bad guy by the media, a handbreaker for the mafia. When caught in January 1950, Liston gave his age as 20, while the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported that he was 22. [89], Following an investigation, Las Vegas police concluded there were no signs of foul play and declared Liston's death a heroin overdose. In these feckless clinches he only managed to tie up one of Liston's arms. (. 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 . Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. "[78] While much has been written about the effectiveness of his left jab, others have commented favorably on Liston's wide range of boxing skills. In his own words in Thomas Hauser's 1991 biography: "The punch jarred him. 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. Frank Mir was around that height and was noticeably taller than Carwin. Knopfler, who was born in Scotland and grew up in northern England, said Liston's story was "exciting subject matter because it's so mysterious." 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. [74], Writer Gilbert Rogin assessed Liston's style and physique after his win over Zora Folley. Theories regarding the circumstance of Liston's death. Liston returned to the United States and won seven fights, all by knockout, in 1968, increasing his string to eleven. RARE Sonny Liston Interview before the first Ali fight 1964 in Color Legends of Boxing in Color 22K views 10 months ago On the Spot show with Max Goldberg featuring the heavyweight champion. 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 [citation needed], Liston competed in the 1953 United States National Championships at Boston Garden and passed the preliminaries, stopping Lou Graff in the second round on April 13, but lost in the quarterfinals to 17-year-old Jimmy McCarter on April 15. The torn tendon had bled down into the mass of the biceps, swelling and numbing the arm. The interference of ringside reporters regarding interpretation of the rules, the fight stoppage and the controversy after the fight had not been seen since The Long Count Fight between champion Gene Tunney and challenger Jack Dempsey in 1927. [5][6] Alfie Potts Harmer in The Sportster also ranked him the third greatest heavyweight and the sixth greatest boxer at any weight. [56] Sports Illustrated writer Tex Maule wrote that Liston's shoulder injury was legitimate. A widely publicized account of Liston resisting arresteven after nightsticks were allegedly broken over his skulladded to the public perception of him as a nightmarish "monster" impervious to physical punishment. At one point, Clay was wiping his eyes with his right hand while extending his left arm"like a drunk leaning on a lamppost" Bert Sugar wroteto keep Liston at bay. Numerous fans booed and started yelling, "Fix!" He could have remained typecast as a musician performing rock songs. But he spoke to his friend Resnick on the day of the fight and was told not to bet on the champion. [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. We cooked up that shoulder thing on the spot. 1 contender in 1960, but the handlers of world heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson refused to give him a shot at the title because of Liston's links to organized crime. Liston was a heavy favorite. Liston said he quit because of a shoulder injury. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Sports Illustrated predicted a Patterson victory in 15 rounds, stating: "Sonny has neither Floyd's speed nor the versatility of his attack. It was probably Liston's best moment in the entire fight. 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. "Now (after seeing video) I think Clay, seeing the opening, snapped the punch the last six inches. 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. Half a mile above and beyond the shrine, looking down from the summit of the mountain, is a statue of the Sacred Heart. Biographer Wilfrid Sheed wrote in his book, Muhammad Ali: A Portrait in Words and Photographs, that Clay's protests were heard by ringside members of the Nation of Islam who initially suspected Dundee had blinded his fighter, and that the trainer deliberately wiped his own eyes with the corner sponge to demonstrate to Clay's approaching bodyguards that he had not intentionally blinded him. So I get him down, I get the sponge and I pour the water into his eyes trying to cleanse whatever's there, but before I did that I put my pinkie in his eye and I put it into my eye. Governor John H. Reed of Maine stepped forward, and within a few hours the promoters had a new site: Lewiston, Maine, a mill town with a population of about 41,000 located 140 miles (230km) north of Boston. [79][80][81] These include Muhammad Ali, who stated in a 1975 interview that he was a great admirer of Liston's talents: "Liston had a tremendous jab, could punch with either hand, was smart in the ring and as strong as any heavyweight Ive ever seen. World light-heavyweight champion Jos Torres said, "It was a perfect punch." [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. Larry Merchant, then a writer with the Philadelphia Daily News, wrote: "A celebration for Philadelphia's first heavyweight champ is now in order. Shaun Assael wrote "The Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas, Heroin, and Heavyweights", published in 2016. In his 1965 rematch with Ali, Liston suffered an unexpected first-round knockout that led to unresolved suspicions of a fix. It was a good punch, but I didn't think I hit him so hard that he couldn't have gotten up. Carwin probably wasn't even that tall. His fists measured 15 inches (38cm) around, the largest of any heavyweight champion. Sonny Liston shot a gun at Muhammad Ali. [31] While Liston began working into shape with hopes for a heavyweight title shot, he also continued his criminal behavior. #muhammadali #henrycooper #sonnyliston #dougjones #heavyweight #greatness #boxing #legend #larryholmes #ironmike #sonnyliston #intimidating #bad #big #greatb. ", The Liston song appears on an album called "Shangri-La." Sonny Liston - Death, Muhammad Ali & Children - Biography
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