Patterson's fatal mistake was that he "did not punch enough and frequently tried to clinch with Liston. While valuing the photograph, appraiser Kathleen Guzman told. Authorities theorized that he was undressing for bed when he fell over backward with such force that he broke the rail of the bench. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Create Space Independent Publishing Platform. "[35], Patterson and Liston had a rematch clause in their contract. The commotion was not lost on referee Barney Felix, who was walking toward Clay's corner. 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." In the third round, Marshall nailed Listonreportedly while he was laughingand broke his jaw. And the face, it was an unforgettable face. and "Nobody will believe this!"[63]. QUESTION 1 It was the third-fastest knockout in a world heavyweight title fight, and the first time the defending champion had been knocked out in round one. [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. I wasn't hit. and he was pointing at some little bandage over the needle mark in his arm. Sonny Liston had a very sad upbringing & had to learn to survive at a young age. Liston biographer Paul Gallender claims that Liston fathered several children, though none with his wife. For Sonny Liston, a Ballad to a Heavyweight, https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/13/sports/othersports/for-sonny-liston-a-ballad-to-a-heavyweight.html. Maule, Tex (March 9, 1964). Frank Mir was around that height and was noticeably taller than Carwin. [52][53] It was the first time since 1919when Jack Dempsey defeated Jess Willardthat a world heavyweight champion had quit on his stool. Sports Illustrated predicted a Patterson victory in 15 rounds, stating: "Sonny has neither Floyd's speed nor the versatility of his attack. 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. A couple weeks later, he was still complainin' about that needle mark. Half a mile above and beyond the shrine, looking down from the summit of the mountain, is a statue of the Sacred Heart. Don't confuse shyness with dullness, Sonny was reluctant to talk to the press - the always painted a bad picture of him.Dwight Muhammad Qawi Braxton ATG Philly Joe Frazier Bernard HopkinsTags:pernell whitaker jersey joe walcott louis julio chavez evander holyfield lennox lewis felix sturm oscar de la hoya floyd mayweather miguel cotto marquez manny pacquiao pacman boxing boxer ko knockout tribute robbery mike tyson rocky marciano oscar de la hoya manny pacquiao foreman fight miguel cotto dead death muhammad ali cassius mike tyson clay lennox lewis eric morales barrera floyd mayweather fedor emelianenko ufc boxing ko k.o. Felix later said Clay was seconds from being disqualified. Good lord, Sonny's mitts are massive. On July 28, 1963, Liston joined a group of 500 African Americans in Denver who marched to a post office to mail letters urging the Colorado congressional delegation to pass the Kennedy administration's civil rights package. There's never been anybody as ruthless. His fists measured 15 inches (38cm) around, the largest of any heavyweight champion. The victim sought out the executioner." Many did not see the punch land, and some who did questioned that it was powerful enough to knock Liston out. "Better get me out of this ring," exclaimed Wilson, "he is going to kill me! Rode with the muggers in the dark and dread and all them sluggers went down like lead. "[59], Liston is ranked second in the ESPN.com list of "The Hardest Hitters in Heavyweight History. 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]. I dont have to be what you want me to be, Clay told agitated reporters. Only Massachusetts was willing to host the fight, though it was delayed from November 1964 to May 1965 so that Ali could recover from hernia surgery. (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. A few months after Alis fight, Liston was dead from lung congestion though even that was shrouded in mystery and controversy. Before he left for his bout with Clay, Sonny's training in Denver took him to some strange places. [51], Liston failed to answer the bell for the seventh round, and Clay was declared the winner by technical knockout. But audiences attending Knopfler's concerts around North America this summer are hearing and responding favorably to a song of a different genre, a bluesy narrative ballad called "Song for Sonny Liston," about the troubled fighter who preceded Muhammad Ali as heavyweight champion in the early 1960's. In this case, Intercontinental Promotions Inc., which had the rights to Listons fight, also got to choose the first opponent for the new champion, should Liston lose. 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. Liston retired in his corner due to an inflamed shoulder. When Patterson met with the president in January 1962, Kennedy suggested that Patterson avoid Liston, citing Justice Department concerns over Liston's ties to organized crime. The most iconic photo in boxing history documents the knockout that almost nobody saw happen. The torn tendon had bled down into the mass of the biceps, swelling and numbing the arm. He allegedly later told an assistant that he took a dive because he was afraid of the consequences of beating Ali he thought it would put a target on his own back. Joe Frazier vs Sonny Liston : r/Boxing - Reddit [24], In 1958, Liston returned to boxing. Rare interview of Sonny Liston colorized. Be respectful and come chat with us. 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. 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." Liston decked Martin with a left hook in the fourth round and dominated most of the fight, but Martin came back and knocked Liston out cold in the ninth round. Then again, you can also have guys like Ali or Mike Tyson. 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. Liston appears as a character in James Ellroy's novel The Cold Six Thousand. Tosches, Nick (2000). ", The Liston song appears on an album called "Shangri-La." . Knopfler, who now records as a soloist and performs with a backup band, has a wide-ranging curiosity that has produced an eclectic collection of songs. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. [87], Liston was found dead by his wife, Geraldine, in their Las Vegas home on January 5, 1971. Furthermore, that count cannot be started until the fighter scoring the knockdown goes to and remains in a neutral corner. He was paroled after serving six months of a nine-month sentence, and was not prohibited from boxing during 1957. More on that in a second. To the rest of the world, it would be known as "The Phantom Punch." That shot, which Ali dropped Sonny Liston with on May 25, 1965, was far from a phantom. Liston was the subject of a 2008 feature film based upon his life titled Phantom Punch. It burned like hell. Like Dylan's subject, Rubin Carter, Knopfler's version of Liston is sympathetic. 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. The fight quickly descended into chaos. 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. Liston's wife also recalled that her husband would refuse basic medical care for common colds because of his dislike of needles. Geraldine called Liston's attorney and his doctor, but did not notify the police until two to three hours later. Stuttgarter Amtsblatt No. [8][9], There is no official record of Liston's birth. Liston also appears in the sequel, Blood's a Rover. The photo depicted Ali standing over his opponent, Sonny Liston, after delivering a final blow that knocked Liston to the ground. kos k.o.s ko.s knockouts fight of the year joe louis lewis primo carnera buddy max baer tony galento lamon brewster monte barrett barret amir khan oleg maskaev nicolai valuev nikolai joe calzaghe sergej sergey liakhovich liakovich shannon briggs evander holyfield zultan ibragimov sultan meldrick taylor pauli ayala paul spadafora prince prinze naseem hamed naz johnny tapia john ruiz wilfredo gomez wilfried benitez george foreman big ron lyle earnie shavers joe frazier ken norton angelo dundee eddie futch riddick bowe Henry Akinwande Muhammad Ali Max Baer Michael Bentt Riddick Bowe James J. Braddock Shannon Briggs Tommy Burns Primo Carnera Ruslan Chagaev Ezzard Charles Gerrie Coetzee James J. Corbett Francesco Damiani Jack Dempsey Michael Dokes Jimmy Ellis Bob Fitzsimmons Joe Frazier Marvin Hart Herbie Hide Evander Holyfield James J. Jeffries Ingemar Johansson Jack Johnson Vitali Klitschko Sonny Liston Joe Louis Rocky Marciano Ray Mercer Tommy Morrison Greg Page Floyd Patterson John Ruiz Max Schmeling Bruce Seldon Jack Sharkey James Smith John L. Sullivan John Tate Ernie Terrell Tony Tubbs Nikolay Valuev Jersey Joe Walcott Mike Weaver Jess Willard Tim Witherspoon Muhammad Ali Lou Ambers Sammy Angott Fred Apostoli Ray Arcel Alexis Argello Baby Arizmendi Henry Armstrong Abe Attell Max Baer Caleb Baldwin Carmen Basilio Wilfred Bentez Nino Benvenuti Jack Kid Berg Jimmy Bivins Umberto Branchini Joe Brown Panama Al Brown Ken Buchanan Charley Burley Orlando Canizales Miguel Canto Tony Canzoneri Michael Carbajal Jem Carney Jimmy Carter Marcel Cerdan Antonio Cervantes Bobby Chacon Arthur Chambers Ezzard Charles Kid Chocolate Joe Choynski Stanley Christodoulou Billy Conn Eugne Criqui Jos Cuevas Jack Dempsey Jack (Nonpareil) Dempsey Jack Dillon Professor Mike Donovan Paddy Duffy Don Dunphy Roberto Durn Lou Duva Billy Edwards Gabriel Elorde Jeff Fenech Bob Fitzsimmons George Foreman Bob Foster Joe Frazier Gene Fullmer Khaosai Galaxy Vctor Galndez Joe Gans Kid Gaviln Joey Giardello Mike Gibbons Wilfredo Gmez Humberto Mike Tyson Patterson wanted a chance to redeem himself, so they met again on July 22, 1963, in Las Vegas. [38], Patterson finally signed to meet Liston for the world title on September 25, 1962, in Comiskey Park in Chicago. And I said, 'Whoa, whoa, back up, baby. THE PREFIGHT MOODS OF SONNY LISTON - Sports Illustrated I didn't think it was a powerful punch when I saw the fight from ringside," he said. Sports Illustrated writer Mort Sharnik said his hands "looked like cannonballs when he made them into fists." But others contend he just was not the same Liston. In his own words in Thomas Hauser's 1991 biography: "The punch jarred him. My man. 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. When Machen clinched in . I forgot about the rules." Sonny Liston - Wikipedia Muhammad Ali: FBI probed 1964 Sonny Liston fight for match-fixing Helen had one child before she married Tobe, and Tobe had 13 children with his first wife. Sonny Liston vs Eddie Machen (1960) As usual, Liston wasted no time throwing his jab and keeping Machen at bay, who was trying to get his hands off with minimal success. He could probably drive his thumb through your skull like Michael Myers, It's crazy to think about the fact that Sonny Liston was an actual gangster running with gangs.. and then he looks so soft spoken in the interview. [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. Time magazine said Liston had worked himself into the best shape of his career. December 1963 extended Interview with Champion Sonny Liston - discusses [99] (3) The mob promised Liston some money to throw the second Ali fight, but they never paid him. 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 One Journalist's Attempt To Solve 'The Murder Of Sonny Liston' - WBUR One of the victories was over Amos Johnson, Liston's former sparring partner, who had recently defeated British champion Henry Cooper. ", 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]. Tocco left the house before the police did. [93] Liston had been hospitalized in early December, complaining of chest pains. Sonny Liston, I think was possibly the greatest intimidator of all time. Liston went down on his back. 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. He particularly resented a 1961 arrest by a black patrolman for loitering, claiming to have merely been signing autographs and chatting with fans outside a drugstore. ", Still, some found it hard to believe that the punch could have floored a man like Liston. Two of the three official scorers, or judges, awarded the round to Liston, and the other scored the round even. In a pre-fight poll, 43 of 46 sportswriters picked Liston to win by knockout. 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. 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. Maybe he was. Ali initially stood over his fallen opponent, gesturing and yelling at him, "Get up and fight, sucker!" [50] 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 . These transcripts contain material that did not appear in the final program. [107] The story speculates that Liston threw the Ali match for the good of society. [101], Liston played a fist fighter in the 1965 film Harlow, made a cameo appearance in the 1968 film Head, which starred The Monkees, and played the part of The Farmer in the 1970 film Moonfire, which starred Richard Egan and Charles Napier. Washington University Libraries, Film and Media Archive, Henry Hampton Collection. After he won the title, Liston relocated to Denver permanently, saying, "I'd rather be a lamppost in Denver than the mayor of Philadelphia. Mike Tyson - Tyson's Speech | Genius .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, The Man Behind the First All-Black Basketball Team, 8 Times Brothers Have Faced Off in a Championship, Every Black Quarterback to Play in the Super Bowl, Soccer Star Christian Atsu Survived an Earthquake. Tobe and Helen had 12 children together; Sonny was the second youngest child. RARE Sonny Liston Interview before the first Ali fight 1964 in Color NPR's Robert Siegel talks to Gary Robinov, director of Raising Ali, a film about the 50th anniversary of the heavyweight boxing match between Muhammed Ali and Sonny Liston in Lewiston, Maine.. 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.