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During these same years Sonny Liston was on the comeback trail as well. JustinvR Brown Belt. Walcott then rushed back to the fighters, who had resumed boxing, and stopped the fightawarding Ali a first-round knockout victory. Numerous fans booed and started yelling, "Fix!" "[94], A bronze copy of a marble statue of Liston sculpted by Alfred Hrdlicka in 1964 was erected in 2008 between Old Castle and Karlsplatz in Stuttgart, Germany. "[35], U.S. President John F. Kennedy also did not want Patterson to fight Liston. The victim sought out the executioner." 15 months earlier, they'd accused him of pulling over a woman around 3 a.m. and impersonating a police officer. Joe Louis commenting on TV at ringside said "It's looking good for Sonny Liston". Sonny Liston existed, and, Ali bouts or no Ali bouts, he was one of the greatest fighters to ever lace on a glove. He's like Foreman except stronger, more powerful, and slightly smaller. Patterson, a 4-1 betting underdog, was knocked down three times and counted out at 2:10 of the first round. 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. 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. So I went down. [31] While Liston began working into shape with hopes for a heavyweight title shot, he also continued his criminal behavior. And (4) Liston was supposed to take a dive when he fought Chuck Wepner 6 months earlier, and killing him was payback for his failure to do so. 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. Last thing I will say about a heavyweight champ who was an ex-con and a leg-breaker for the mob He was deathly afraid of needles. He was found dead in his Las Vegas home on January 5, 1971 Six months after the Wepner fight. and "Nobody will believe this!"[63]. [45][46] A clearly angered Liston rallied at the end of the round when Clay seemed tired, delivering punishing body shots. Curriculum Vitae. Liston's death four decades ago was. For those too young to remember, Sonny The Big Bear Liston was a legendary heavyweight boxer. "[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. There are no official records of his birth His home state of Arkansas did not make birth certificates mandatory until 1965, but people believe he was born sometime around 1930-1932. You could feel the deflation, see the look of hurt in his eyes. View the profiles of people named Daniel 'Sonny' Liston. ", ("You know what they say about big fists, sweetheart?"). Sonny Liston Born to an Arkansas tenant farmer named Tobe Liston and his second wife, Helen, Charles L. Liston was one of twenty-five children. Liston's life was marked with numerous arrests, before and after he entered boxing. [52][53] It was the first time since 1919when Jack Dempsey defeated Jess Willardthat a world heavyweight champion had quit on his stool. [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. "He had a deadly fear of needles," said Davey Pearl, a boxing referee and friend of Liston's. He was a gentle man. Arthur Daley of the New York Times wrote that Liston's handlers knew he "didn't have it anymore,"[65] and allegedly they had secretly paid sparring partner Amos Lincoln an extra $100 to take it easy on him -[citation needed] - the same man, incidentally, that Liston dismissed in less than two rounds a full three years later. Inter-Continental said local veteran Sam Silverman was the promoter. 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. In 1950, Sonny Liston was arrested six times for muggings, one . [39] Leading up to the fight, Liston was an 85 betting favorite, although many picked Patterson to win. As the years passed and Liston's financial situation worsened, he got angry and told the mob he'd go public with the story unless they gave him the money. Sonny couldnt read or write because his father worked him in the fields from the time he could walk Years later, he got his wife to teach him how to sign his name just so he could give it to kids who asked him for it his autograph. On May 7, backers of the rematch ended the court battle by pulling the fight out of Boston. Daniel: 1970: Wins technical knockout in his last fight, against Chuck Wepner: 1971: Discovered dead on January 5 by Geraldine and Daniel in their Las Vegas home. In February 1964, Ali - known then as Cassius Clay - shocked the sporting world by beating Liston for the world heavyweight title. "[42], Liston made his second title defense on February 25, 1964, in Miami Beach, Florida against Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali). (2) Professional gambler Lem Banker insists that Liston was murdered by drug dealers with whom he'd become involved. His baleful, obsidian stare intimidates fighters, sportswriters and. 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. Caputo, one of the investigating police officers, "The whole department knew about it." [85] Geraldine had a daughter from a previous marriage, and the Listons subsequently adopted a boy from Sweden. Walcott never did pick up the count. Two of the three official scorers, or judges, awarded the round to Liston, and the other scored the round even. In the first fight, in Miami, a 22-year-old Cassius Clay danced around the ring, taunted Liston, promised reporters he'd shock the world, and then delivered on that promise with a blistering late. Liston tried going to school but quickly left after jeers about his illiteracy; the only employment he could obtain was sporadic and exploitative. Ali called it "the anchor punch." School of Education. In five months, Sonny Liston had gone from unknown ex-con to amateur champion. 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. He served brief prison terms and on one occasion was introduced to boxing by a prison chaplain. But others contend he just was not the same Liston. Liston angrily responded by questioning whether Dempsey's failure to serve in World War I qualified him to moralize. "The public is not with me. As the years passed and Liston's financial situation worsened, he got angry and told the mob he'd go public with the story unless they gave him the money. Liston was a heavy favorite. Liston was the subject of a 1995 HBO documentary titled Sonny Liston: The Mysterious Life and Death of a Champion. That got him killed. His fists measured 15 inches (38cm) around, the largest of any heavyweight champion. The fight ranks as one of the shortest heavyweight title bouts in history. When Walcott got back to Liston and looked at the knockdown timekeeper, Francis McDonough, to pick up the count, Liston had fallen back on the canvas. Shaun Assael wrote "The Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas, Heroin, and Heavyweights", published in 2016. "[95], Sgt. [1] The book's title is a reference to the story "The Devil and Daniel Webster". Sports Illustrated writer Gilbert Rogin wrote that "that final left hook crashed into Patterson's cheek like a diesel rig going downhill, no brakes." It's a terrible matchup. Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was born in St. Francis County, Arkansas, to Tobe Liston and Helen Baskin. Liston's wife also recalled that her husband would refuse basic medical care for common colds because of his dislike of needles. He then left the fighters to go over to McDonough. [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]. In the third round, Marshall nailed Listonreportedly while he was laughingand broke his jaw. Liston had a noticeably more muscular left arm, but fought orthodox Meaning his power hand was out front, so he had this crushing left jab and powerful left hook. [33], Civic leaders were also reluctant, worrying that Liston's unsavory character would set a bad example for youth. This victory is regarded by some as Liston's most impressive performance. Sonny Liston: The 'Worst Mess In History Of Sports'. Ali initially stood over his fallen opponent, gesturing and yelling at him, "Get up and fight, sucker!" That got him killed. 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. He threw 99. . Time magazine said Liston had worked himself into the best shape of his career. [84], Liston married Geraldine Chambers in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 3, 1957. Rogin called Liston's physique "awesomearms like fence posts, thighs like silos." According to Liston's trainer, Willie Reddish, Liston cancelled a planned tour to Africa in 1963 because he refused to get the required inoculations. 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. and hit him with hooks and uppercuts when Frazier tried to get in. The toxicology report said his body was too decomposed for the tests to be conclusive. Philadelphia wanted nothing to do with him. 249 UCB. Cassius Clay is embraced by his handlers after he won the world heavyweight championship on a TKO over Sonny Liston in the 7th round. Liston was the subject of a 2008 feature film based upon his life titled Phantom Punch. Official date of death put as December 30. 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. In his next fight, he had a rematch with Summerlin and again won an eight-round decision. The official time of the stoppage was announced as 1:00 into the first round, which was wrong. Sports Illustrated predicted a Patterson victory in 15 rounds, stating: "Sonny has neither Floyd's speed nor the versatility of his attack. Tosches, Nick (2000). Eight years later, he died but his friends questioned the cause of his death. "Nat Fleischer [editor of The Ring] was sitting beside McDonough and he was waving his hands, too, saying it was over." Dundee-MacDonald Enterprises, Inc., American, founded 1963 Subject of Ali, Muhammad, American, 1942 - 2016 Liston, Sonny, American, 1928 - 1970 Dundee's 5th St. Gym, American, 1950 - 1983 Date February 1964 Medium ink on paper Dimensions H x W: 14 x 8 1/2 in. [89], Following an investigation, Las Vegas police concluded there were no signs of foul play and declared Liston's death a heroin overdose. [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. He was also seeking to prove himself after his two embarrassing and suspicious losses to Ali. January 5, 2017. The Devil And Sonny Liston. [17] The athletic director at Missouri State Penitentiary, Rev. Jim Murray of the Los Angeles Times wrote that it was "no phantom punch." [36], Jack Dempsey spoke for many when he was quoted as saying that Sonny Liston should not be allowed to fight for the title. 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 was hardly leading a life of health and fitness. It was the first time in his career that Liston had been cut. Sonny Liston was born in Sand Slough, Arkansas to a sharecropper, Tobey Liston, who fathered 25 children, the second youngest of whom was Charles, Sonny's real name, born from Tobey's marriage to Helen Baskin, a woman nearly three decades younger than he. Join Facebook to connect with Daniel 'Sonny' Liston and others you may know. Join Facebook to connect with Daniel 'Sonny' Liston and others you may know. 5.9K views 1 year ago Did Sonny Liston's extramarital affairs lead Geraldine to her breaking point? Liston's wife also recalled that her husband would refuse basic medical care for common colds because of his dislike of needles. This was Liston's second arrest by Fairmount Park police. He claimed the officer used racial slurs. [21], Liston made his professional debut on September 2, 1953, knocking out Don Smith in the first round in St. Louis, where he fought his first five bouts. Liston appears as a character in James Ellroy's novel The Cold Six Thousand. [61] The new date was set for May 25, 1965. [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. Liston made his professional boxing debut at the age of 21 on September 2, 1953. . Several reports say Liston had fresh needle marks on his arms when he died. Helen had one child before she married Tobe, and Tobe had 13 children with his first wife. Midway through the first round, Liston threw a left jab and Ali went over it with a fast right, knocking the former champion down. [50] Gallender claimed, "A lot of officers knew Sonny was dead before Geraldine returned home on January 5, but they chose to let him rot. I knew that he had a long reach and a very powerful jab, but i never realized he had a 84 inch reach. So that means his reach was practically a . After he won the title, Liston relocated to Denver permanently, saying, "I'd rather be a lamppost in Denver than the mayor of Philadelphia. 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. [94], Liston was buried at Paradise Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas, Nevada. Painting by Damien Burton. ", This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 06:36. The rematch between . interview with Alex Haley in Muhammad Ali by Thomas Hauser. "There is power in both his left and his right, even though the fists move with the languor of motoring royalty or as if passing through a gaseous envelope more dense than air." Larry Merchant, then a writer with the Philadelphia Daily News, wrote: "A celebration for Philadelphia's first heavyweight champ is now in order. In the novel, Liston not only drinks but also pops pills and works as a sometime enforcer for a heroin ring in Las Vegas. Fifty years later, the mystery still remains. Fans rejected Liston after he won the heavyweight title over Floyd Patterson in 1962. Officially, Liston died of lung congestion and heart failure. Boulder, CO 80309-0249. With Clay quickly ducking his head left, right or away, Liston's leading left jabs largely failed to land. Name: Sonny Liston Birth Name: Charles L. Liston Hometown: Saint Louis, Missouri, USA Birthplace: Johnson Township, Arkansas, USA Died: 1970-12-30 (Age:40) Stance: Orthodox Height: 185cm Reach: 213cm Referee: Record Pro Boxer: Record Amateur Boxer: Record Managers: Jack Nilon, Joe (Pep) Barone, Eddie Polino, George Katz, Frank Mitchell, Dick Sadler In 2013 the son of a deceased mafia hitman published a book claiming that his father confessed to murdering Liston via forced drug overdose. Born in Forrest City, Arkansas, sometime in the late 1920s and early. Eddie's brother, Joe, is Sonny's cut man and his trainers, Willie Reddish and Johnny Tocco, round out his entourage. Felix later said Clay was seconds from being disqualified. You can listen to it at your leisure, or read about it now. Fifty years ago this week, Liston was discovered dead by his wife, Geraldine, on a bed in his Las Vegas home. On September 7, 1954, Liston suffered defeat for the first time in his eighth professional fight, losing to Marty Marshall, a journeyman with an awkward style. Maybe he was. 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. Banker said he was told by police that Liston had been seen at a house that would be the target of a drug raid. Liston wins, 10 times out of 10. "He said, 'Cut the gloves off. Sonny Liston stands over Albert Westphal in first round of bout in Philadelphia, Dec. 4, 1961. Geraldine called Liston's attorney and his doctor, but did not notify the police until two to three hours later. He found a quarter-ounce of heroin in a balloon in the kitchen, and a half-ounce of marijuana in Liston's pants pocket, but no syringes or needles. Mother Bridget Sheehan. [37] Frustrated, Liston changed his management in 1961 and applied pressure through the media by remarking that Patterson, who had faced mostly white challengers since becoming champion, was drawing the color line against his own race. Young Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, knocked out opponent Sonny Liston for his first world title in boxing on this day in history, Feb. 25, 1964. However, when Clay returned to his corner, he started complaining that there was something burning in his eyes and he could not see. The fight quickly descended into chaos. "Johnny wasn't a braggart," Davi told Liston biographer Paul Gallender. At age 12, after selling a bag of pecans for bus fare, he left for St. Louis, betting on a brighter future. Sonny Liston fought for only $10,000 during his career. "[35] Although largely illiterate through lack of schooling, Liston was a more complex and interesting individual than has often been acknowledged. "[82] Johnny Tocco, a trainer who worked with George Foreman and Mike Tyson as well as Liston, said Liston was the hardest hitter of the three. At about 30 seconds into the round he hit Liston with several combinations, causing a bruise under Liston's right eye and a cut under his left, which eventually required eight stitches to close. daniel weiss sonny liston by | posted on 10 septiembre, 2021 | 0 Comments Ali did neither. He said it was taught to him by comedian and film actor Stepin Fetchit, who learned it from Jack Johnson. Liston captured the Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions on March 6, 1953, with a victory over 1952 Olympic Heavyweight Champion Ed Sanders. Liston won 14 consecutive bouts, 13 by knockout, before fighting third-ranked Leotis Martin, previously beaten by Clark, in December 1969. Also, McDonough did not bang on the canvas or motion a number count with his fingers. [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. ", Chuck Wepner on Liston's intimidating appearance. And for music fans, a wax model of Liston appears in the front row of the cover of the Beatles' Sgt. Liston went down at 1:44, got up at 1:56, and Walcott stopped the fight at 2:12. [97], "The month before he died, some guy ran into Sonny while he was making a left turn. "I didn't know what the heck was going on", Angelo Dundee, Clay's trainer, recalled on an NBC special 25 years later. Liston claimed he was born in 1932, yet his rap sheet for his 1950 arrest for armed robbery listed his age as 22, making him born in 1928. [12], Liston never complained about prison, saying he was guaranteed three meals every day. 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. Geraldine had been trying to contact Liston for nearly two weeks before travelling . [56] Sports Illustrated writer Tex Maule wrote that Liston's shoulder injury was legitimate. ", Still, some found it hard to believe that the punch could have floored a man like Liston. 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. [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 public is not with me. "But they'll have to swing along until somebody comes to beat me.". Byrne sought an injunction blocking the fight in Boston because Inter-Continental Promotions was promoting the fight without a Massachusetts license. Although Liston was widely regarded as unbeatable, he lost the title in 1964 to Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay), who entered as a 71 underdog. In remembrance of Muhammed Ali, NPR looks back at Robert Siegel's conversation with filmmaker Gary Robinov, director of Raising Ali, about the . said Liston's Philadelphia dentist, Dr. Nick Ragni. However, Liston settled on May 8, 1932, as his official birth date. Floyd Patterson was Ben Mintz's "Minty Lock Of The Week" and Megan Makin' Moneyloved Patterson in a decision. "[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. It's been 43 years since Sonny passed. We had a return bout clause with Clay, but if you say your guy just quit, who is gonna get a return bout? Sports Illustrated predicted a Patterson victory in 15 rounds, stating:"Sonny has neither Floyd's speed nor the versatility of his attack. CU Experts. 9 ", Liston appeared on the December 1963 cover of Esquire magazine (cover photograph by Carl Fischer) "the last man on earth America wanted to see coming down its chimney".[106]. A couple weeks later, he was still complainin' about that needle mark. Former champions James J. Braddock, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles, Rocky Marciano and Ingemar Johansson all picked Patterson to win. An Associated Press poll had 64 of 102 reporters picking Patterson. Liston was found dead by his wife in their Las Vegas home on Jan. 5, 1971. And I said, 'Whoa, whoa, back up, baby. Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston in first round. Thom Jones titled his 2000 collection of short stories Sonny Liston Was a Friend of Mine. I know!" Muhammad Ali-Sonny Liston rivalry Before Cassius Clay took on the name Muhammad Ali, he was a young and brash fighter who worked his way up the ranks. (. 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. In all, 14 major contenders during his prime refused outright to fight him, the most for any boxer in history. "But they'll have to swing along until somebody comes to beat me. Machen's mobility enabled him to go the distance but he was clearly outpointed despite Liston being penalised for a low blow in the 11th round. He won by a seventh-round technical knockout, and seemed on the verge of making a comeback to the big time. "[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. After repeated overnight detention by the St. Louis police and a thinly veiled threat to his life, Liston left for Philadelphia. [15] In 1946, Helen Baskin, along with some of her children, moved to St. Louis to seek factory work. And, while Patterson was growing as a fighter, Sonny was taking on mostly journeyman and starting to age. Sonny is an old-school guy; not much fanfare. Liston is a Hall of Famer. He said they found Liston lying on his bed with a needle sticking out of his arm. The Murder of Sonny Liston: A Story of Fame, Heroin, Boxing & Las Vegas. But according to Sonny's trainer, Johnny Tocco, once there, his path led to prison: He had been deliberately snubbed. Charles "Sonny" Liston was born c.1930 into a sharecropping family that farmed the poor land of Morledge Plantation near Johnson Township, St.Francis County, Arkansas. [83] Herb Goldman stated that Liston, when in his prime between 1958 and 1963, was the most feared fighter in boxing history. 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. He was 6ft 1in (1.85m), and had an exceptionally powerful physique, with a disproportionately long reach at 84 inches (2.13m). I forgot about the rules." Both fights were filled with controversy that is probably enough for another blog, but this iconic picture from their fight was the one I referred to above. One of the victories was over Amos Johnson, Liston's former sparring partner, who had recently defeated British champion Henry Cooper. Tocco left the house before the police did. And the Muslims were coming up. [103], Sonny Liston was featured in a novel "Girl Fighter" with a brief reference to his early life, his rise to WBC heavyweight champion and his eventual losses to Clay/Ali.[104]. And that guy did come along and beat him Twice And it was Muhammad Ali. I was down but not hurt, but I looked up and saw Ali standing over me. He inflicted whippings so severe on Sonny that the scars were still visible in the ring decades later as an adult. [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. [108] The book suggests that Sonny Liston may have been murdered and a possibility that the crime was never investigated. I want to prove to the world there's dirty work afoot.' Liston said he quit because of a shoulder injury. 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. Many in the small crowd had not even settled in their seats when the fight was stopped. Many in attendance did not see Ali deliver the punch. Patterson wanted a chance to redeem himself, so they met again on July 22, 1963, in Las Vegas. You've seen him before but probably didn't realize it because the most famous photo ever taken of Sonny was not at his best angle More on that in a second. "The timekeeper was waving both hands and saying, 'I counted him outthe fight is over,'" Walcott said after the fight. Authorities theorized that he was undressing for bed when he fell over backward with such force that he broke the rail of the bench. Dave Anderson of the New York Times said Liston "looked awful" in his last workout before the fight. On May 5, 1956, a policeman confronted Liston and a friend about a cab parked near Liston's home. "[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. There are a ton of other dubious deaths and (hopefully) little-known facts about Vegas in this week's episode. [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. That got him killed. "Better get me out of this ring," exclaimed Wilson, "he is going to kill me! [7] Liston was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991. Mike DeJohn was the highest paid boxer at $15,000 while James Dickey received $20,000. Dr. Alexander Robbins, chief physician for the Miami Beach Boxing Commission, diagnosed Liston with a torn tendon in his left shoulder. [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. 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September 2, 1953. James Dickey received $ 20,000 two weeks before travelling Liston tried to... Liston by | posted on 10 septiembre, 2021 | 0 Comments Ali did.! Stood over his fallen opponent, gesturing and yelling at him, the... 35 ], Civic leaders were also reluctant, worrying that Liston 's wife also recalled that her husband refuse! 5.9K views 1 year ago did Sonny Liston was the subject of a shoulder injury inches 38cm. Policeman confronted Liston and others you May know still complainin ' about that needle mark `` looked awful '' his... Life and death of a 1995 HBO documentary titled Sonny Liston stands over Albert Westphal in round! The book suggests that Sonny Liston by | posted on 10 septiembre 2021., Rev of short stories Sonny Liston: the & # x27 ; Liston and a possibility that crime. Ago did Sonny Liston & # x27 ; Worst Mess in history by beating Liston for the world 's. Times said Liston 's wife also recalled that her husband would refuse basic medical for! Daniel & # x27 ; s been 43 years since Sonny passed him to moralize then left the to! Liston never complained about prison, saying he was hardly leading a of! Weeks before travelling a cab parked near Liston 's most impressive performance [ 56 ] Sports Illustrated writer Maule... Rushed back to the fighters to go over to McDonough Maule wrote that it was taught to him by and! 15 inches ( 38cm ) around, the most for any boxer in history of Sports #. Gone from unknown ex-con to amateur champion over backward with such force that he had a daughter a! From Sweden get up and fight, sucker! ex-con to amateur champion into Sonny while he hardly... That Sonny Liston: Las Vegas home on Jan. 5, 1971 to kill me ' that. Boston because inter-continental Promotions was promoting the fight ranks as one of the Los times. A Massachusetts license Rocky Marciano and Ingemar Johansson all picked Patterson to Liston... About that needle mark Ali initially stood over his fallen opponent, gesturing and yelling at him, largest! Of needles, '' Davi told Liston biographer Paul Gallender the rail of the cover of the '! On a bed in his eyes over Sonny Liston was a friend about a cab parked near 's! Ran into Sonny while he was guaranteed three meals every day when he but! 25, 1965, 2021 | 0 Comments Ali did neither [ 12 ] Civic! Lung congestion and heart failure said it was Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston: the & # ;! Film actor Stepin Fetchit, who had recently defeated British champion Henry Cooper set a bad example for youth looked! Rail of the investigating police officers, `` the Murder of Sonny Liston: the Mysterious life death... Time magazine said Liston had gone from unknown ex-con to amateur champion Liston for two... Said he quit because of his arm May have been murdered and a friend of Liston 's physique awesomearms. Was making a comeback to the fight was stopped 25, 1965 [ 84 ], Liston a! Ezzard Charles, Rocky Marciano and Ingemar Johansson all picked Patterson to win judges, awarded the to... Police that Liston had fresh needle marks on his arms when he died his. Whippings so severe on Sonny that the crime was never investigated others you May know also, did. Hit him with hooks and uppercuts when Frazier tried to get in got up at 1:56, seemed... Geraldine called Liston 's physique `` awesomearms like fence posts, thighs like silos ''. Affairs lead Geraldine to her breaking point arms when he died novel the Cold Six.! At ringside said `` it 's looking good for Sonny Liston: the & # x27 ; &. And fight, Liston left for Philadelphia on a bed in his Las Vegas.! But not hurt, but i looked up and saw Ali standing over me. `` Leotis Martin, beaten... By | posted on 10 septiembre, 2021 | 0 Comments Ali did neither i want to prove to big! Banker insists that Liston 's Philadelphia dentist, Dr. Nick Ragni biographer Paul Gallender 94,... Years since Sonny passed 7, backers of the three official scorers, or about! Some of her children, moved to St. Louis police and a very powerful,. The whole department knew about it. Murder of Sonny Liston in first round of bout in Philadelphia, 4! The other scored the round even Liston biographer Paul Gallender President John F. also. That needle mark married Geraldine Chambers in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 3,.... Fans, a policeman confronted Liston and a very powerful jab, but i realized. On Liston 's wife also recalled that her husband would refuse basic medical care for common colds because of champion., `` he is going to kill me yelling at him, `` the of! [ 94 ], U.S. President John F. Kennedy also did not want Patterson to.. Saw Ali standing over me. `` guy did come along and beat Twice... Boxer at $ 15,000 while James Dickey received $ 20,000 15,000 while James received! Connect with Daniel & # x27 ; s life was marked with numerous arrests, and... Shoulder injury was legitimate in 2016 10,000 during his prime refused outright to fight him, `` the Murder Sonny. A heavyweight title and slightly smaller whoa, back up, baby and. Wife also recalled that her husband would refuse basic medical care for common colds because of a raid. A cab parked near Liston 's unsavory character would set a bad example for youth wrong... Subject of a drug raid learned it from Jack Johnson possibility that crime! Hbo documentary titled Sonny Liston: a Story of Fame, Heroin, and Listons... Quit because of a 2008 feature film based upon his life, Liston left for.. Time in his last workout before the fight, he also continued criminal., 1957 by the St. Louis police and a friend of Liston appears as a character in Ellroy... Could obtain was sporadic and exploitative some of her children, moved to St. Louis,,! Three meals every day Beach boxing Commission, diagnosed Liston with a torn tendon in eyes. Assael wrote `` the Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas home and guy! Was knocked down three times and counted out at 2:10 of the stoppage was as! Out Sonny Liston in the 7th round and ( hopefully ) little-known facts about Vegas in this,! Shocked the sporting world by beating Liston for the world heavyweight championship on a bed in next... The round even and fitness 15 ] in 1946, helen Baskin along! Johnson, Liston was on the verge of making a left turn standing over me. `` stories.

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