sonny liston interview

In his next fight, he had a rematch with Summerlin and again won an eight-round decision. In his own words in Thomas Hauser's 1991 biography: "The punch jarred him. His death was, too. He was also seeking to prove himself after his two embarrassing and suspicious losses to Ali. The previous month, Schreibauer had won a bronze medal in the European Championships. ", This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 06:36. 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. that startles everyone in a 100 foot radius. Both fights were in Summerlin's hometown of Detroit.[23]. "The timekeeper was waving both hands and saying, 'I counted him outthe fight is over,'" Walcott said after the fight. Charles L. "Sonny" Liston (c. 1930 - December 30, 1970) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1953 to 1970. "The only thing my old man ever gave me was a beating," Liston said. When he tried to muscle in for a bigger share, Conrad thinks his employers got him very drunk, took him home and stuck him with a needle. 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 theres a documentary somewhere on YouTube Id recommend watching it. 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. Pan, 2017. Shaun Assael wrote "The Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas, Heroin, and Heavyweights", published in 2016. . "Johnny wasn't a braggart," Davi told Liston biographer Paul Gallender. He was hardly leading a life of health and fitness. Tocco called the police, and they broke into the house. Mike Tyson - Tyson's Speech | Genius It became known as the phantom punch and has been the subject of controversy and speculation for the last 55 years. Odds makers gave Liston 71 to win. The governor of nearby Maine, John Reed, stepped up and volunteered to host it in the small town of Lewiston, where a resort and ice rink could provide some infrastructure. Traduo Context Corretor Sinnimos Conjugao Conjugao Documents Dicionrio Dicionrio Colaborativo Gramtica Expressio Reverso Corporate "He was afraid of needles," echoed Father Edward Murphy. 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. 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. The fight ranks as one of the shortest heavyweight title bouts in history. Entire books have been written about the fight, and one, released in 2015, sought to end the suggestion that Liston took another fall. Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston: The Controversial Fight Behind Their 'What's My Name| Muhammad Ali' Proves Why Ali's The Greatest - VIBE.com In the third round, Marshall nailed Listonreportedly while he was laughingand broke his jaw. We cooked up that shoulder thing on the spot. "When he first got to the big city, he was hanging out with a bunch of people who were just looking for trouble.". Dr. Alexander Robbins, chief physician for the Miami Beach Boxing Commission, diagnosed Liston with a torn tendon in his left shoulder. [105], Singer/Songwriter Rod Picott wrote and recorded a song titled "Sonny Liston" for his 2022 album "Paper Hearts and Broken Arrows. Muhammad Ali: FBI probed 1964 Sonny Liston fight for match-fixing He was poking the bear a bit there . r/boxing does not tolerate racism or intolerance of any kind. Even before the first punch was thrown, the May 25, 1965 bout between .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston, during which the photo was snapped, was already shaping up to be the stuff of legends. RARE Sonny Liston Interview before the first Ali fight 1964 in Color Legends of Boxing in Color 2.47K subscribers Subscribe 16K views 8 months ago Very Rare interview with Sonny Liston and. Who are the four people who knocked out Sonny Liston? Liston angrily responded by questioning whether Dempsey's failure to serve in World War I qualified him to moralize. (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. THE PREFIGHT MOODS OF SONNY LISTON - Sports Illustrated Sports Illustrated writer Mort Sharnik said his hands "looked like cannonballs when he made them into fists." What are you doing? [19], On June 23, 1953, a team consisting of ten recent St. Louis Golden Gloves champions of all weight classes, with Liston on top as the heavyweight, was gathered to represent the United States in an International Golden Gloves (USA vs. West Europe) competition at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis. Joe Louis commenting on TV at ringside said "It's looking good for Sonny Liston". Sonny Liston fought for only $10,000 during his career. "[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. His family's home state of Arkansas did not make birth certificates mandatory until 1965. knockout kimbo slice evander holyfield nogueira wladimir vitali klitschko haye mma brutal bareknuckle headbutt lowblow foul dirty boxer funny bob sapp david cesar chavez joe frazier rocky marciano larry holmes felix trinidad jackson new tribute video highlight dirtiest best brock lesnar julio cesar ricky hatton randy couture israel vasquez juan manuel marquez antonio margarito felix tito trinidad antonio rodrigo minotauro marco antonio barrera john ruiz freddie roach hector camacho pernell whitaker willie pep sugar ray robinson shane mosley antonio tarver roy jones joe cortez lennox lewis david haye haymaker wladimir vitali vladimir klitschko klitchko prediction prefight postfight press conferencetex cobb gerry cooney jerry pierre coetzer floyd roger mayweather arturo gatti rocky graziano graciano tony zale dariusz michalczewski rocky rocchigiani henry maske james toney vassily jirov vasily unbelievable knockout ko k.o. 'Raising Ali' Remembers The 'Worst Mess In The History Of Sports' - NPR One memo, dated 24 May 1966, outlined an interview with Houston gambler Barnett Magids, who believed Liston would win. [15] In 1946, Helen Baskin, along with some of her children, moved to St. Louis to seek factory work. Sad how they portrayed sonny in such a negative light he seems like a genuinely kind person. He also went with a new manager in 1958: Joseph "Pep" Barone, who was a front man for mobsters Frankie Carbo and Frank "Blinky" Palermo. [20], Liston signed a contract in September 1953, proclaiming: "Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do. Watch the interview you be the judge.. He was 6ft 1in (1.85m), and had an exceptionally powerful physique, with a disproportionately long reach at 84 inches (2.13m). He won by a seventh-round technical knockout, and seemed on the verge of making a comeback to the big time. [29] Machen's taunting and his spoiling tactics of dodging and grapplingat one point almost heaving Liston over the ropesso alienated the audience that Liston received unaccustomed support from the crowd. 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. Ali called it "the anchor punch." A couple weeks later, he was still complainin' about that needle mark. Muhammad Ali called it his "anchor punch," a quick right hand that the young heavyweight champion claimed he had learned from his friend, actor Stepin Fetchit. Clay confessed later he had been hurt by the punch, but Liston was unable to press his advantage home. During the fourth round Liston appeared dominant as Clay coasted, keeping his distance. 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. Liston biographer Paul Gallender claims that Liston fathered several children, though none with his wife. He said he could not hear McDonough, who did not have a microphone. [58] Despite Liston carrying an injury and being undertrained, Clay stated in 1975 that the first fight with Liston was the toughest of his career. While valuing the photograph, appraiser Kathleen Guzman told. On May 7, backers of the rematch ended the court battle by pulling the fight out of Boston. I wasn't hit. Because of that, Cage may have thought Sonny was an informant and shot him with a hot dose as retribution. While true he also sent women to the hospital, which his sparring partner confirms. Sonny Liston, once the heavyweight champ, died at the age of who-knows-what some days before Dec. 30, 1970. Liston was a heavy favorite. Some writers thought Liston brought bad press on himself by a surly and hostile attitude toward journalists. Sonny Liston interview with Max Goldberg before his fight with Cassius Sonny Liston Vs Floyd Patterson What If There Had Been A Third Fight This interview is missing a "BOOOOOOOMZQUAD!!" "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." A sudden violent combination delivered with 30 seconds left in the round electrified the crowd. [36], Jack Dempsey spoke for many when he was quoted as saying that Sonny Liston should not be allowed to fight for the title. Sonny Liston: The Tragic Story of a Terrifying Man One of the reasons why sports stays alive in us is that there's part of us that wants to keep the child alive and recognizes that there is something important in doing that. [52][53] It was the first time since 1919when Jack Dempsey defeated Jess Willardthat a world heavyweight champion had quit on his stool. According to Liston's trainer, Willie Reddish, Liston cancelled a planned tour to Africa in 1963 because he refused to get the required inoculations. He pulled the same stuff Walcott did against Marciano. Liston also appears in the sequel, Blood's a Rover. That would prove to be an understatement. He rolled over, got to his right knee and then fell on his back again. So I went down. Sonny Liston Interview 82,818 views Apr 2, 2014 1.3K Dislike Share Save haNZAgod 93.2K subscribers Subscribe A rare interview with former Heavyweight champion of the world, Sonny Liston.. He took one and went down. The ending of the fight remains one of the most controversial in boxing history. "Nat Fleischer [editor of The Ring] was sitting beside McDonough and he was waving his hands, too, saying it was over." 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. Caputo, one of the investigating police officers, "The whole department knew about it." These transcripts contain material that did not appear in the final program. Sonny Liston became world heavyweight champion in 1962 and fought Muhammad Ali twice In January 1971, former heavyweight champion of the world Sonny Liston was found dead at his Las Vegas. The toxicology report said his body was too decomposed for the tests to be conclusive. Rogin called Liston's physique "awesomearms like fence posts, thighs like silos." 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. Geraldine remembered her husband as "Great with me, great with the kids. [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]. It was 1965, not 1955. Tradues em contexto de "with Sonny" en ingls-portugus da Reverso Context : I think you should stay here with Sonny. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Authorities theorized that he was undressing for bed when he fell over backward with such force that he broke the rail of the bench. In the first fight, in Miami, a 22-year-old Cassius Clay danced around the ring, taunted Liston, promised reporters hed shock the world, and then delivered on that promise with a blistering late attack that prompted Liston to toss in the towel after the sixth round. Mark Knopfler enjoyed widespread popularity in the 1980's as the leader of Dire Straits, lending his husky voice to hit songs like "Sultans of Swing" and "Money for Nothing." The Devil And Sonny Liston. Referee Jersey Joe Walcott, a former world heavyweight champion, had a hard time getting Ali to go to a neutral corner. Rocky Marciano, the former heavyweight champion, said that he appreciated the punchs strength upon re-examination. #muhammadali #henrycooper #sonnyliston #dougjones #heavyweight #greatness #boxing #legend #larryholmes #ironmike #sonnyliston #intimidating #bad #big #greatb. "It really has made an impact, actually from the very first time I performed it on 'A Prairie Home Companion,"' Knopfler said in a telephone interview. [7] Liston was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991. Sonny Liston shot a gun at Muhammad Ali. "[42], Liston made his second title defense on February 25, 1964, in Miami Beach, Florida against Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali). [55], There is ample evidence that Liston did carry an injury to his left shoulder into the fight. Walcott never did pick up the count. He offered no comment on the matter, but his victory would soon turn it into an international story. Another depicts Liston's death scene and autopsy: "There was dope in his veins and a pistol on the drawer Criss-crossed on his back, scars from his daddy like slavery tracks.". In that same book Liston was quoted two years after the fight: "Ali knocked me down with a sharp punch. Unfortunately for Martin, however, his career ended after that fight due to a detached retina he suffered during the bout. Sonny Liston had a controversial boxing career, winning 54 of 58 bouts from 1953 to 1970. However, there were again rumors of alcohol abuse in training. He said that Liston was not quick with his hand or footwork, that he relied too much on his ability to take a punch, and that he could be vulnerable to an opponent with more hand speed. [87], Liston was found dead by his wife, Geraldine, in their Las Vegas home on January 5, 1971. "[69] The fact that Liston did not complain about the clear breach of boxing rules (being declared knocked out without a count) and Ali's obvious state of bewilderment, shouting at Liston "Nobody will believe this" and asking his handlers "Did I hit him? Inter-Continental said local veteran Sam Silverman was the promoter. Liston had thrown a jab with his left arm and, leaning forward, took a right hook from Ali right to the skull. ", 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]. "He told me in the strictest confidence, but it was like he wanted to get it off his chest." Genuinely kind mobster who had been convicted of armed robbery and assault. [76][77] Foreman stated: "There wasn't anything missing from Sonny Liston. 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. He sunk to the canvas, and as he was down, Ali stood over him, taunting and demanding his stunned opponent get back up. [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. Liston tried going to school but quickly left after jeers about his illiteracy; the only employment he could obtain was sporadic and exploitative. He said they found Liston lying on his bed with a needle sticking out of his arm. The victim sought out the executioner." "A blues song just for fighters: The legend of Sonny Liston. He had a whiplash, so they took him to the hospital," said boxing trainer Johnny Tocco. "It was common knowledge that Sonny was a heroin addict," said Sgt. To this day, I'm convinced that's what the coroner saw in his examthat hospital needle mark. [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. Paul R Gallender, 2012. He would not close in until the accumulated inside damage and Liston's own frustration had sapped the challenger's strength and will." Rare interview of Sonny Liston colorized. ", One of the most vivid verses creates a word-picture of Liston in his prime with photographic clarity: "Black Cadillac, alligator boots, money in the pockets of his sharkskin suits." The most iconic photo in boxing history documents the knockout that almost nobody saw happen. [93] Liston had been hospitalized in early December, complaining of chest pains. Alois Stevens, suggested to Liston that he try boxing, and his obvious aptitude, along with an endorsement from Stevens, who was also a priest, aided Liston in getting an early parole. Liston went down on his back. Officially, Liston died of lung congestion and heart failure. At one point, Liston had Clay against the ropes and landed a hard left hook. It burned like hell. After two rounds, Wilson had taken enough. "Now (after seeing video) I think Clay, seeing the opening, snapped the punch the last six inches. Ali brought his big personality to the small town, but Liston was still the favorite. At the IBHOF, the casts of Listons hands were bigger than Lennox Lewis' which were also gigantic. "[35] Although largely illiterate through lack of schooling, Liston was a more complex and interesting individual than has often been acknowledged. Ali initially stood over his fallen opponent, gesturing and yelling at him, "Get up and fight, sucker!" Sonny Liston - BoxRec Liston appears as a character in James Ellroy's novel The Cold Six Thousand. [94], On January 1, Liston's wife, Geraldine, called Johnny Tocco and said she had not heard from her husband in three days and was worried. Patterson wanted a chance to redeem himself, so they met again on July 22, 1963, in Las Vegas. He had been deliberately snubbed. "[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. Walcott never began a count in the ring because of Ali's non-compliance and his physical struggle with getting Ali to go to that neutral 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." Ali did neither. Gallender claimed, "A lot of officers knew Sonny was dead before Geraldine returned home on January 5, but they chose to let him rot. "You're putting things on and you're taking this out and molding it," Knopfler said. "[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. It was probably Liston's best moment in the entire fight. Press J to jump to the feed. And I said, 'Whoa, whoa, back up, baby. [66], Former champions Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Floyd Patterson and Gene Tunney, as well as contender George Chuvalo all declared they considered the fight to be a fake. 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. People around the world tuned in via satellite to watch the match, which was fought in front of 2,434 paying ticket-holders, the smallest crowd in heavyweight championship fight history; people there suggested the crowd was more like 4,000, but nonetheless, it was a very small in-person audience. Don't confuse shyness with dullness, Sonny was. The following year, Sonnydetermined to reunite with his mother and siblingsthrashed the pecans from his brother-in-law's tree and sold them in Forrest City, Arkansas. Ali's "Phantom Punch" Controversy Explained - PBS Controversy followed with claims that Liston had been drinking heavily the night before the fight and had entered the bout with a lame shoulder. That saw him drive a big red bus to Liston's home that read, "Sonny Liston is a great but will fall in eight" along with the words "World's most colorful fighter Cassius Clay.". He would later employ McCarter as a sparring partner. Naturally, they decided that Ali would take on Liston. You could feel the deflation, see the look of hurt in his eyes. Walcott then rushed back to the fighters, who had resumed boxing, and stopped the fightawarding Ali a first-round knockout victory.

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