Sonny Liston

Charles "Sonny" Liston (May 8, 1932 – December 30, 1970), was a boxer who became world Heavyweight champion, and whose life and personality were always obscure. As a boxer, his nickname was The Big Bear.

His death

Liston seemed to be ready to mount another comeback in 1970, having beaten future Ali world title challenger Chuck Wepner (who also became Sylvester Stallone's inspiration for him to write the first Rocky movie), by a knockout in ten. However, on the evening of December 30 of that year, his wife found him dead in their apartment.

Related Topics:
1970 - Chuck Wepner - Sylvester Stallone - Rocky - December 30

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She had gone to her parents' home for Christmas. As he didn't return her calls, she returned early. The smell in the house made her think that Sonny must have cooked something bad. She found him dead in bed. Police found no signs of foul play. Some drugs, including marijuana, were found in the house. His blood contained traces of morphine and codeine. The precise cause of Liston's death is mysterious: the police declared it a drug overdose. There were rumours he died with a syringe in his arm (not confirmed by his wife who found him). His friends also said he had a phobia of needles. All this prompted rumors that he could have been murdered by some of his underworld contacts.

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Liston is interred in Paradise Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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