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.

Professional boxing career

Liston made his professional debut on September 2, 1953, knocking out Don Smith in the first round in St. Louis, where he campaigned for the first five fights of his career. In his sixth bout, in Detroit, Michigan, he faced John Summerlin, who was 22-1, on national television. Liston won a narrow eight round decision. In his next bout he beat Summerlin in a rematch, and then, he suffered his first defeat, at the hands of Marty Marshall on another eight round decision, also in Detroit.

Related Topics:
September 2 - 1953 - Don Smith - St. Louis - Detroit - Michigan - John Summerlin - Television - Marty Marshall

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In 1955, he won six fights, five by knockout. Among the fights won, there was a rematch with Marshall, whom he beat in six rounds.

Related Topics:
1955 - Knockout

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A rubber match with Marshall in 1956 saw him the winner by a ten round decision, but in May of that year, he ran afoul of the law once again, when he beat up a police officer in an incident that was unclear, many rumors and allegations of how it happened coming into the public light. He was forced to stay away from boxing during 1957 while serving a nine month sentence. He was paroled after six months in jail.

Related Topics:
1956 - May - 1957

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In 1958, he returned to boxing and began slowly but steadily raising the quality of his opponents. He won eight fights that year, including one over Ernie Cab, and accused the top heavyweights of the era of dodging him.

Related Topics:
1958 - Ernie Cab

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1959 was a good year for Liston. He knocked out Mike DeJohn in six, number one rated challenger Cleveland Williams (who would later challenge for the world title) in three and Nino Valdez in three. In total, he fought four times, winning all of them by knockout.

Related Topics:
1959 - Mike DeJohn - Cleveland Williams - World - Nino Valdez

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In 1960, Liston won five more fights, including a rematch with Williams, who only lasted two this time, wins over Roy Harris, Zora Folley and Eddie Machen.

Related Topics:
1960 - Roy Harris - Zora Folley - Eddie Machen

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In 1961, he had trouble with the law again, and his license to box was suspended by United States boxing commission for one fiscal year. He had difficulty getting a deserved shot at Floyd Patterson whose handlers tried to use Liston's links with the mafia (Carbo and Palermo) as an excuse against the fight.

Related Topics:
1961 - United States - Floyd Patterson

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In 1962, Liston was finally signed to meet world heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson for the title. The fight was going to be held in New York, but New York's commission denied him a license because his suspension was still in force. As a result the fight moved to Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, where it was agreed that the fight would be held as soon as the suspension was lifted. Liston and Patterson met on September 25 of that year, and Liston became world champion by knocking out Patterson in the first round. Liston was very disappointed though that on his comeback to hometown Philadelphia, the fans did not come to cheer him. He wasn't a liked champion.

Related Topics:
1962 - Floyd Patterson - New York - Comiskey Park - Chicago, Illinois - September 25 - Philadelphia

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During his time as a world champion, rumors of Liston's connections with members of the underworld and gamblers were common. These rumors would be strengthened later on in his life. Nevertheless, Liston enjoyed the kind of fame he could never dreamt of: he was a household name, appeared on the cover of Ring Magazine and even made a television commercial for Trans World Airlines.

Related Topics:
Ring Magazine - Trans World Airlines

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Patterson and Liston signed up for a rematch, to be held in 1963, on the evening of July 22 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This time the fight lasted exactly four seconds longer than the original fight, Liston once again the winner.

Related Topics:
1963 - July 22 - Las Vegas - Nevada

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Liston did not box again that year, and in 1964, he met a young contender named Cassius Clay on the evening of February 25 in Miami, Florida. During training for the fight, Liston was taunted mercilessly by Clay, who alleged to his corner that Liston blinded him in the third round using an unknown substance smeared on his gloves. No evidence was found to substantiate the allegations, and Liston lost his title when he quit in his corner before the start of the seventh round, after dislocating his shoulder. Some experts believe that the shoulder has not been the real cause (upon the analysis of video and the punches thrown). Instead, Sonny might have simply lost his heart for fight having his face beaten to a pulp with Clay's jabs.

Related Topics:
1964 - Cassius Clay - February 25 - Miami, Florida

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The Phantom Punch

Liston's next fight was a rematch. It proved to be an event that overshadowed the rest of his career. The fight was held in a small high school gym in Lewiston, Maine, before 1,254 paying customers. It was the smallest crowd ever for a world heavyweight championship bout, but it was telecast nationwide.

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Liston lost by a knockout in the first round. The punch with which Ali knocked out Liston became known as The Phantom Punch because it was barely visible, even when it was shown in slow motion. Even Clay was surprised, yelling "Get up and fight! Get up!". Rumors that Liston threw away the fight as a way of repaying a debt to gamblers would taint Liston's reputation in the years ahead. However, no concrete evidence of these allegations was found. According to Liston's wife, the punch was real, but not strong enough to put him out for good. However, when on the canvas, Liston realized he was not able to win the fight and decided to toss the outcome.

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Subsequent fights

Liston took one year off from boxing, returning in 1966 and 1967, winning four bouts in a row in Sweden, including one over Amos Johnson. In 1968, he won seven fights, all by knockout, including one in Mexico.

Related Topics:
1966 - 1967 - Sweden - Amos Johnson - 1968 - Mexico

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In 1969, he had three wins and one loss. Among his wins was a 10 round decision over Billy Joiner at St. Louis, but in his last bout of that year, he lost by a knockout in nine to Leotis Martin at Las Vegas.

Related Topics:
1969 - Billy Joiner - Leotis Martin

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