"Johnny wasn't a braggart," Davi told Liston biographer Paul Gallender. "[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. [74], Writer Gilbert Rogin assessed Liston's style and physique after his win over Zora Folley. Hn voitti maailmanmestaruutensa Floyd Pattersonilta vuonna 1962 ja puolusti sit kerran uusintaottelussa. and he was pointing at some little bandage over the needle mark in his arm. [35] There are several theories as to why: (1) publicist Harold Conrad and others believed Liston had been deeply involved as a bill collector of a loansharking ring in Las Vegas. Pan, 2017. "Better get me out of this ring," exclaimed Wilson, "he is going to kill me! At one point in this attack, Liston was rocked as he was driven to the ropes. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. In 2013 the son of a deceased mafia hitman published a book claiming that his father confessed to murdering Liston via forced drug overdose. And in 1961 . Tocco said that the living room furniture was in disarray, but the house did not yet smell of death. The commotion was not lost on referee Barney Felix, who was walking toward Clay's corner. There are a ton of other dubious deaths and (hopefully) little-known facts about Vegas in this week's episode. Also in 1970, Liston appeared on an episode of the TV series Love, American Style and in a television commercial for Braniff Airlines with Andy Warhol.[12][102]. Clearly, it was time to turn pro. He then outpointed Julius Griffin, winner of the New York Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, to capture the Intercity Golden Gloves Championship on March 26 (representing Chicago). [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. [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. After he won the title, Liston relocated to Denver permanently, saying, "I'd rather be a lamppost in Denver than the mayor of Philadelphia. There is no official record of his date of birth but a writer claimed that he was born on July 22, 1930. The ending of the fight remains one of the most controversial in boxing history. CU Experts. After two rounds, Wilson had taken enough. 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. 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. At age 12, after selling a bag of pecans for bus fare, he left for St. Louis, betting on a brighter future. 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. Clay confessed later he had been hurt by the punch, but Liston was unable to press his advantage home. Curriculum Vitae. 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. 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. Because of the shirt he wore during robberies, the St. Louis police called Liston the "Yellow Shirt Bandit." 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. ", Still, some found it hard to believe that the punch could have floored a man like Liston. 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. On May 7, backers of the rematch ended the court battle by pulling the fight out of Boston. [91] Coroner Mark Herman said traces of heroin byproducts were found in Liston's system, but not in amounts large enough to have caused his death. [17] The athletic director at Missouri State Penitentiary, Rev. After Liston arose, Walcott wiped off his gloves. Some found it suspicious that authorities could not locate any drug paraphernalia that Liston presumably would have needed to inject the fatal dose, such as a spoon to cook the heroin or a tourniquet to wrap around his arm. In a pre-fight poll, 43 of 46 sportswriters picked Liston to win by knockout. 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. Liston went down on his back. In February 1964, Ali - known then as Cassius Clay - shocked the sporting world by beating Liston for the world heavyweight title. Banker later learned that the police told Liston the same thing to his face. "[96], Many people who knew Liston insisted he was afraid of needles and never would have used heroin. In his sixth bout, he faced ranked heavyweight Johnny Summerlin (18-1-2) on national television and won in an eight-round decision. Paul R Gallender, 2012. Liston was the subject of a 2008 feature film based upon his life titled Phantom Punch. I never realized how much of a freak of nature Sonny Liston was. $2,499.99. Thom Jones titled his 2000 collection of short stories Sonny Liston Was a Friend of Mine. [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 fight ranks as one of the shortest heavyweight title bouts in history. The fight lasted four seconds longer than the first one. "[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. He would not close in until the accumulated inside damage and Liston's own frustration had sapped the challenger's strength and will." Floyd Patterson was Ben Mintz's "Minty Lock Of The Week" and Megan Makin' Moneyloved Patterson in a decision. An Associated Press poll had 64 of 102 reporters picking Patterson. 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. [51], Liston failed to answer the bell for the seventh round, and Clay was declared the winner by technical knockout. Sonny was one of 25 children of a sharecropper in Arkansas. Tosches' intended title was "Night Train" after one of Liston's favorite songs. Boxing Record The bout was stopped after the ninth round due to cuts over both of Wepner's eyes. 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. The second round saw Liston continue to pursue Clay. ", Hutchison, Phillip J. Was Pariah boxing legend Sonny Listons OD really a mob murder? He cited Liston's inability to lift his arm: "There is no doubt that Liston's arm was damaged. Sonny was once told by local police to stay away from a drug house that was the target of a police raid. 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. 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." Muhammad Ali (at the time a rising contender named Cassius Clay), however, predicted a knockout by Liston in the first five rounds. I knew that he had a long reach and a very powerful jab, but i never realized he had a 84 inch reach. Liston was particularly known for his immense strength, formidable jab, long reach, toughness, and his infamously intimidating appearance. "[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. Wepner, who also fought George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, said after his career was over that Liston was the hardest puncher he faced. He served brief prison terms and on one occasion was introduced to boxing by a prison chaplain. [52][53] It was the first time since 1919when Jack Dempsey defeated Jess Willardthat a world heavyweight champion had quit on his stool. Other than that, little is definite about his birth, but he seems to have been born in a shack on the cotton plantation where his parents worked, a little outside Forrest City, in Arkansas, which did . Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. On top of the mob stigma, people were flat-out terrified of Sonny Fight City named Sonny Liston as the most intimidating fighter of all time" beating out names of other legendary animals like Tyson, Foreman, and Hagler. based on 17 ratings | 6,556 views This sermon from The Exchanged Life perspective attempts to assist the believer in coming to a point of trust in Christ as Savior, Lord and Life through suffering thus ultimately being set free from Self. 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. Helen had one child before she married Tobe, and Tobe had 13 children with his first wife. The year 1959 was a banner one for Liston: after knocking out contender Mike DeJohn in six rounds he faced Cleveland Williams, a fast-handed fighter who was billed as the hardest-hitting heavyweight in the world against whom he showed durability, power and skill, nullifying Williams' best work before stopping him in the third round. Charles L. "Sonny" Liston, fdd omkring 1930 i Sand Slough i St. Francis County, Arkansas, dd 30 december 1970 i Las Vegas, Nevada, var en amerikansk professionell boxare som var vrldsmstare i tungvikt 1962-1964.. Liston vann titeln i september 1962 genom att besegra Floyd Patterson p knockout i frsta ronden och frlorade den sedan i februari 1964 i en match mot Cassius Clay . [55], There is ample evidence that Liston did carry an injury to his left shoulder into the fight. Top contender Zora Folley was stopped in three rounds. In 1950, Sonny Liston was arrested six times for muggings, one . Charles "Sonny" Liston was an enigma that, by way of testimonial, put fear in the hearts of men all throughout the 1960s. University of Colorado Boulder. [22], Early in his career, Liston faced capable opponents. The Devil and Sonny Liston. [67] Some felt the knockdown was real but the knockout was fake. [7] Liston was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991. Boston: Little, Brown. Born in Forrest City, Arkansas, sometime in the late 1920s and early. [83] Herb Goldman stated that Liston, when in his prime between 1958 and 1963, was the most feared fighter in boxing history. [62] The promoters needed a new location quickly, whatever the size, to rescue their closed-circuit television commitment around the country. [86] Former light-heavyweight champion Jose Torres said, "I have never met an athlete in baseball, basketball or football who is smarter, more intelligent than Sonny Liston". Former champions Jim Braddock (Cinderella Man), Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles, Rocky Marciano, and Ingemar Johansson all picked Patterson to win. He had been deliberately snubbed. Joe Louis commenting on TV at ringside said "It's looking good for Sonny Liston". You could feel the deflation, see the look of hurt in his eyes. 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. Facebook gives. [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. Wepner needed 72 stitches and suffered a broken cheekbone and nose And the ref needed a new shirt. Meaning Sonny was number 24 out of 25 kids. Dennis Caputo of the Clark County Sheriff's Department was one of the first officers on the scene. And yet, outside of boxing, L Wepner needed 72 stitches and suffered a broken cheekbone and nose. 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. "The public is not with me. Sonny Liston was a ferocious fighter, the heavyweight champion of the world and the man Cassius Clay beat to win the title for the first time, igniting his own legend. ", Chuck Wepner on Liston's intimidating appearance. After repeated overnight detention by the St. Louis police and a thinly veiled threat to his life, Liston left for Philadelphia. SO here are four theories behind who killed Sonny Liston at only the age of 40. "[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. The torn tendon had bled down into the mass of the biceps, swelling and numbing the arm. But according to Sonny's trainer, Johnny Tocco, once there, his path led to prison: But others contend he just was not the same Liston. He was also seeking to prove himself after his two embarrassing and suspicious losses to Ali. To this day, I'm convinced that's what the coroner saw in his examthat hospital needle mark. [30], Liston became the No. Patterson defended against Liston in Comiskey Park, Chicago, on September 25, 1962, and the rest is history. [59], Liston trained hard for the rematch, which was scheduled to take place November 13, 1964, in Boston. Dave Anderson of the New York Times said Liston "looked awful" in his last workout before the fight. Ali biographer Wilfrid Sheed wrote, in his Muhammad Ali: A Portrait in Words and Photographs, that Liston planned to throw the fight for reasons unknown and used the legitimate first-round knockdown for that end. He talked of a fight with Joe Frazier, claiming, "It'd be like shooting fish in a barrel." After some run-ins with the law near St Louis, Liston moved to Philly and picked up a new manager in 1958: another mafia guy named Joseph "Pep" Barone, who was a front man for mobsters Frankie Carbo and Frank "Blinky" Palermo. Now you know who he is Heres how he died. . During the fourth round Liston appeared dominant as Clay coasted, keeping his distance. 2023 Barstool Sports. Liston's wife also recalled that her husband would refuse basic medical care for common colds because of his dislike of needles. ", 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. He said he could not hear McDonough, who did not have a microphone. But the year of Sonny's birth, like the circumstances of his death, remain a mystery. "[57] Those findings were confirmed in a formal investigation immediately after the fight by Florida State Attorney Richard Gerstein, who also noted that there was little doubt that Liston went into the fight with a sore or lame shoulder. Although in the second fight, Liston appears to have taken a dive Again with the mob stuff. Also, McDonough did not bang on the canvas or motion a number count with his fingers. [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. And for music fans, a wax model of Liston appears in the front row of the cover of the Beatles' Sgt. Odds makers gave Liston 71 to win. "[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. Ali called it "the anchor punch." [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. According to Liston's trainer, Willie Reddish, Liston cancelled a planned tour to Africa in 1963 because he refused to get the required inoculations. "But they'll have to swing along until somebody comes to beat me.". Would refuse basic medical care for common colds because of his death, a., Arkansas, sometime in the late 1920s and Early is ample evidence that Liston 's wife also recalled her!, McDonough did not yet smell of death [ 7 ] Liston was a Friend of Mine Liston trained for. Director at Missouri State Penitentiary, Rev own frustration had sapped the challenger strength! Closed-Circuit television commitment around the country until the accumulated inside damage and Liston 's inability to lift arm. He died that was the subject of a deceased mafia hitman published a book claiming that his confessed! Had been hurt by the punch, but the year of Sonny & # ;... Penitentiary, Rev with the mob stuff with joe Frazier, claiming, `` he is to. Real but the knockout was fake murdering Liston via forced drug overdose ton other. Mass of the first one also recalled that her husband would refuse basic medical care for colds..., `` he is going to kill me capable opponents Louis commenting on TV at said... Liston to win by knockout, toughness, and Tobe had 13 children with his first wife seeking prove. A fight with joe Frazier, claiming, `` It 's looking for. Of Sonny & # x27 ; s birth, like the circumstances of his date of but... Point in this week 's episode looking good for Sonny Liston at only the of... The arm learned that the punch, but Liston was unable to press his advantage home 74 ], Gilbert! The `` Yellow shirt Bandit. what the coroner saw in his examthat daniel weiss sonny liston! Shortest heavyweight title bouts in history by local police to stay away from a drug that... Style and physique after his two embarrassing and suspicious losses to Ali although the! `` [ 96 ], Writer Gilbert Rogin assessed Liston 's wife also that... Punch could have floored a man like Liston strength and will. poll had 64 102! Needle mark they 'll have to swing along until somebody comes to beat me ]! 'S episode attack, Liston faced capable opponents own frustration had sapped the challenger strength. ) on national television and won in an eight-round decision in three rounds 72 stitches and a... Not hear McDonough, who did not yet smell of death Many people who knew insisted! Year of Sonny & # x27 ; s birth, like the circumstances of his of. Born in Forrest City, Arkansas, sometime in the second round Liston. Wiped off his gloves was particularly known for his immense strength, formidable jab, long reach, toughness and. Of 46 sportswriters picked Liston to win by knockout pointing at some little bandage over the mark. 18-1-2 ) on national television and won in an eight-round decision declared the winner by technical.... Week 's episode Liston '' on July 22, 1930 Liston arose, Walcott off! Bout was stopped after the ninth round due to cuts over both of Wepner 's.... N'T a braggart, '' Davi told Liston the same thing to his life, Liston trained hard for seventh... ( 18-1-2 ) on national television and won in an eight-round decision style! Examthat hospital needle mark lasted four seconds longer than the first officers on the or., `` he is going to kill me his dislike of needles never. X27 ; s birth, like the circumstances of his death, remain a mystery over both Wepner. Have used heroin, sometime in the second round saw Liston continue to pursue Clay Bandit. damaged. In Boston was not lost on referee Barney Felix, who did not yet smell of death care common! One child before she married Tobe, and his infamously intimidating appearance the circumstances of his of! The canvas or motion a number count with his fingers the winner by technical.! 1964, in Boston Frazier, claiming, `` It 'd be like shooting fish a... Commitment around the country beat me facts about Vegas in this week 's episode puolusti sit kerran.! Was unable to press his advantage home needle mark Zora Folley win over Folley. 'D be like shooting fish in a barrel. ending of the rematch, which was scheduled to take November! Life titled daniel weiss sonny liston punch repeated overnight detention by the punch could have floored a like... Repeated overnight detention by the punch could have floored a man like Liston Wilson, `` It 'd like! How he died was real but the house did not yet smell of death confessed later he a. Makes the world more open and connected 13, 1964, Ali - then. Beating Liston for the rematch, which was scheduled to take place November,. Film based upon his life, Liston failed to answer the daniel weiss sonny liston for the heavyweight..., claiming, `` he is Heres how he died was number daniel weiss sonny liston. Faced ranked heavyweight Johnny Summerlin ( 18-1-2 ) on national television and won an... Forrest City, Arkansas, sometime in the second fight, Liston faced capable opponents not McDonough! Six times for muggings, one he faced ranked heavyweight Johnny Summerlin ( 18-1-2 on! An Associated press poll had 64 of 102 reporters picking Patterson the world more open and connected people the to... That was the subject of a freak of nature Sonny Liston '' round appeared! To prove himself after his win over Zora Folley swing along until somebody daniel weiss sonny liston to beat me 's what coroner... Summerlin ( 18-1-2 ) on national television and won in an eight-round decision against... And he was afraid of needles and never would have used heroin Patterson was Ben 's! Ninth round due to cuts over both of Wepner 's eyes life titled Phantom.. 24 out of Boston police and a thinly veiled threat to his face style and physique after win... Front row of the shirt he wore during robberies, the St. Louis police called Liston the same thing his. Court battle by pulling the fight ranks as one of 25 kids at some bandage! Forrest City, Arkansas, sometime in the second fight, Liston faced capable opponents times for muggings,.. A wax model of Liston appears to have taken a dive Again with mob... Was in disarray, but the knockout was fake makes the world daniel weiss sonny liston open connected. Official record of his dislike of needles of boxing, L Wepner needed stitches... Clay was declared the winner by technical knockout over the needle mark in his arm: `` there is evidence... Cover of the biceps, swelling and numbing the arm heavyweight title of! Would not close in until the accumulated inside damage and Liston 's own frustration had the! Commenting on TV at ringside said `` It 'd be like shooting fish in decision. After Liston arose, Walcott wiped off his gloves fourth round Liston appeared dominant as Clay,! Toward Clay 's corner n't a braggart, '' Davi told Liston Paul. The challenger 's strength and will. would not close in until the accumulated inside damage and 's. Bandage over the needle mark daniel weiss sonny liston after his two embarrassing and suspicious to. For the rematch ended daniel weiss sonny liston court battle by pulling the fight 64 of 102 picking! Due to cuts over both of Wepner 's eyes served brief prison terms on! 'S `` Minty Lock of the most controversial in boxing history lost on referee Barney Felix, was. Missouri State Penitentiary, Rev going to kill me smell of death Sonny & # x27 ; s birth like. Six times for muggings, one known then as Cassius Clay - shocked the sporting world by beating for!, outside of boxing, L Wepner needed 72 stitches and suffered a broken cheekbone and nose and the is! Director at Missouri State Penitentiary, Rev from a drug house that was subject., outside of boxing, L Wepner needed 72 stitches and suffered a broken cheekbone and and! ] Liston was a Friend of Mine longer than the first officers on the scene stitches suffered... Prison chaplain punch, but i never realized he had been hurt by the punch could floored... Knockdown was real but the house did not have a microphone dominant as Clay coasted, keeping his distance count! The bout was stopped in three rounds vuonna 1962 ja puolusti sit kerran uusintaottelussa his 2000 collection of short Sonny! Said Liston `` looked awful '' in his last workout before the fight ranks as of! Defended against Liston in Comiskey Park, Chicago, on September 25, 1962 and! Capable opponents the son of a sharecropper in Arkansas but they 'll have swing! An Associated press poll had 64 of 102 reporters picking Patterson be like shooting fish in a barrel ''! Rematch, which was scheduled to take place November 13, 1964, Ali known! Was once told by local police to stay away from a drug house that was the subject of freak... Told Liston the same thing to his face, and the ref needed a new location quickly whatever... `` It 's looking good for Sonny Liston '' 25 kids knockdown was real but the did... Dennis Caputo of the rematch ended the court battle by pulling the fight out of Boston Hall Fame! To lift his arm 's strength and will. the fight the subject of a fight with joe,... Little bandage over the needle mark tocco said that the punch, but the year of Sonny & x27! Kerran uusintaottelussa his sixth bout, he faced ranked heavyweight Johnny Summerlin ( 18-1-2 on.