Arthur Daley of the New York Times wrote that Liston's handlers knew he "didn't have it anymore,"[65] and allegedly they had secretly paid sparring partner Amos Lincoln an extra $100 to take it easy on him -[citation needed] - the same man, incidentally, that Liston dismissed in less than two rounds a full three years later. That night in jail he is seriously beaten by the correction officers and told to get out of town or he will be killed. "[95], Sgt. In 1971 Geraldine returns home from a trip to find Sonny dead. Liston has been referenced in many songs by artists such as Curtis Eller, Sun Kil Moon, the Animals, Tom Petty, Mark Knopfler, Phil Ochs, Morrissey, Freddy Blohm, Chuck E. Weiss, This Bike is a Pipe Bomb, the Roots, Wu-Tang Clan, Gone Jackals, Billy Joel, the Mountain Goats, Lil Wayne, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and the Killers. 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. Officially, Liston died of lung congestion and heart failure. So I went down. Ali did neither. I know!" "[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. Dennis Caputo of the Clark County Sheriff's Department was one of the first officers on the scene. A coroner ruled that he died of natural causes - but some say the truth is far. Patterson wanted a chance to redeem himself, so they met again on July 22, 1963, in Las Vegas. 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. However, when Clay returned to his corner, he started complaining that there was something burning in his eyes and he could not see. In 1962 the Mob-managed ex-con with fists like hams captured the world heavyweight title for the Mafia with brutish nonchalance, demolishing Floyd Patterson in two minutes; three years later, in the second of his fruitless and endlessly controversial duels with Ali, a farcical first-round knockout in Lewiston, Maine, extinguished what was left of his credibility. [105], Singer/Songwriter Rod Picott wrote and recorded a song titled "Sonny Liston" for his 2022 album "Paper Hearts and Broken Arrows. Liston's wife also recalled that her husband would refuse basic medical care for common colds because of his dislike of needles. Rogin called Liston's physique "awesomearms like fence posts, thighs like silos." The opening round was fought an extra eight seconds, since both fighters and referee Barney Felix apparently did not hear the bell. Machen had moments in the eighth and ninth where he tried to bully Liston. [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. The Patterson-Liston fights of 9/25/62 and 7/22/63 1955-Sept.21. He highlighted his biceps, which Goldbergs grown man hands failed to grab, as well as his imposing frame. Boxer Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was born in St. Francis County, Arkansas on May 8, 1932. Sports Illustrated writer Mort Sharnik said his hands "looked like cannonballs when he made them into fists." [11][12][10][13][14] One writer concluded that Liston's most plausible date of birth was July 22, 1930, citing census records and statements from his mother during her lifetime. We had a return bout clause with Clay, but if you say your guy just quit, who is gonna get a return bout? Liston had been suffering from bursitis in his shoulders for close to a year and had been receiving cortisone shots. Liston is surprised by Cassius Clay's unusual style in their boxing match and asks Catfish to spread an irritating substance on his gloves to bother Clay's eyes. 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. Many cannot see the punch and the press once again attacks Liston, accusing him of taking a dive. "[35], U.S. President John F. Kennedy also did not want Patterson to fight Liston. Goldberg did everything. He said it was taught to him by comedian and film actor Stepin Fetchit, who learned it from Jack Johnson. Larry Merchant, then a writer with the Philadelphia Daily News, wrote: "A celebration for Philadelphia's first heavyweight champ is now in order. The film is a biopic of Sonny Liston, with Ving Rhames in the lead role. He was still a world-ranked boxer when he died in mysterious circumstances in 1970. [71] Credence to the latter theory is provided by the fact that Liston, immediately after his fight with Chuck Wepner, seemed more concerned about supporting the proposed Ali-Frazier bout and Ali's claims to be champion than promoting his own career. Already upset, Liston flies into a rage when provoked by the press with questions about the murder of Bobby Zazo and his connection to Caesar Novak. Novak waits outside Zazo's hotel room to threaten him to stop spreading rumors that Liston's fights are fixed and discovers him leaving the room with Farah. Wepner, who also fought George Foreman and Muhammad Ali, said after his career was over that Liston was the hardest puncher he faced. "[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. Midway through the first round, Liston threw a left jab and Ali went over it with a fast right, knocking the former champion down. [67] Some felt the knockdown was real but the knockout was fake. Liston loses the rematch against Cassius Clay, now known as Muhammad Ali, after falling down for 20 seconds following the famous phantom punch. "[35], Patterson and Liston had a rematch clause in their contract. Folley knocked down twice in 2nd round; 9 count and saved by the bell at 9 count. [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. "Too many people are still alive who won't want you to know about this. Walcott then rushed back to the fighters, who had resumed boxing, and stopped the fightawarding Ali a first-round knockout victory. Tosches, Nick (2000). Also, scar tissue, possibly from needle marks, was found in the bend of Liston's left elbow. "Sonnyboyliston | Race Record & Form | Racing Post", "Moonfire (1972), a film by Michael Parkhurst -Theiapolis", NYSAC World Heavyweight Champion - BoxRec, Lyrics to a song about Liston by Mark Knopfler, FBI Records: The Vault - Charles Sonny Liston, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sonny_Liston&oldid=1133574312, Hackman, Timothy. Many did not see the punch land, and some who did questioned that it was powerful enough to knock Liston out. Banker said he was told by police that Liston had been seen at a house that would be the target of a drug raid. Time magazine said Liston had worked himself into the best shape of his career. 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. Farah and Sonny continue to meet for sex but find no romance in their relationship. [16] Listonaged around 13, according to his later reckoningsremained in Arkansas with his father. In an Associated Press poll, 64 of 102 reporters picked Patterson. "Johnny wasn't a braggart," Davi told Liston biographer Paul Gallender. In the 2001 film Ali, Liston was portrayed by former WBO Heavyweight Champion Michael Bentt. Because of that, Cage may have thought Sonny was an informant and shot him with a hot dose as retribution. So long as he was winning he was useful; after Lewiston, he became increasingly dispensable. "[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? Odds makers gave Liston 71 to win. [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. A grateful Liston found there was no need to give chase. At that point, the fight was scored as even on the official scorecards. Two sweeping body shots had Patterson about to take a knee, before a barrage sent him to the canvas, and that was all she wrote. 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. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. It burned like hell. In his 1965 rematch with Ali, Liston suffered an unexpected first-round knockout that led to unresolved suspicions of a fix. By the author of Power on Earth. The NAACP had urged Patterson not to fight Liston, fearing that a Liston victory would hurt the civil rights movement. 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 Project Management test evaluates a candidate's ability to initiate, plan, execute, track, monitor, and complete the work of a team to achieve the specific goals of a project.. (2) Professional gambler Lem Banker insists that Liston was murdered by drug dealers with whom he'd become involved. Biographer Wilfrid Sheed wrote in his book, Muhammad Ali: A Portrait in Words and Photographs, that Clay's protests were heard by ringside members of the Nation of Islam who initially suspected Dundee had blinded his fighter, and that the trainer deliberately wiped his own eyes with the corner sponge to demonstrate to Clay's approaching bodyguards that he had not intentionally blinded him. Liston moved to Denver from Philadelphia, not to Las Vegas. Every purchase you make puts money in an artist's pocket. Tosches, Nick (2000). 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 countered his opponents movement with precise shots at the beltline. In that same book Liston was quoted two years after the fight: "Ali knocked me down with a sharp punch. It was the first time in his career that Liston had been cut. Liston was not a one-trick-pony either, as his jab was very active and precise. The official time of the stoppage was announced as 1:00 into the first round, which was wrong. The fight quickly descended into chaos. [99] (3) The mob promised Liston some money to throw the second Ali fight, but they never paid him. Mark Knopfler's tribute to Liston, "Song for Sonny Liston", appeared on his 2004 album Shangri-La. In these feckless clinches he only managed to tie up one of Liston's arms. ", Chuck Wepner on Liston's intimidating appearance. Although the opening round saw Clay largely on the defensive, it was soon established that Clay could reverse roles quickly and take to the offensive with a remarkably fast series of combinations delivered to Liston's head. They attempt to pin a drunk driving charge on him, even though he is walking, and another fistfight ensues. Create Space Independent Publishing Platform. Eventually, during a night of vigorous drinking, the old man relented. [84], Liston married Geraldine Chambers in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 3, 1957. 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. Liston was allegedly present at dealer Earl Cage's residence during a raid by narcotics detectives. 1932-1970. Phantom Punch is a 2008 film directed by Robert Townsend. Many in attendance did not see Ali deliver the punch. 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. He appeared on the "On the Spot" show with host Max Goldberg in 1964 ahead of his fight with Muhammad Ali. In the third round, Clay began to take control of the fight. [56] Sports Illustrated writer Tex Maule wrote that Liston's shoulder injury was legitimate. [35] Liston's victory was loudly booed. "Ving Rhames to portray boxer Sonny Liston", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phantom_Punch_(film)&oldid=1107604158, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 30 August 2022, at 21:54. (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. Now to say Liston put Sand Slough on the map would be an exaggeration. Although Clay often carried his gloves down at his waist, seemingly open to attack, he proved very difficult to hit. Patterson's fatal mistake was that he "did not punch enough and frequently tried to clinch with Liston. Ali called it "the anchor punch." A dominant contender of his era, he became the world heavyweight champion in 1962 after knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round, repeating the knockout the following year in defense of the title; in the latter fight he also became the inaugural WBC heavyweight champion. [10] His family, but not one Charles (or Sonny) Liston, can be found in the 1930 census, and in the 1940 census he was listed as 10 years old. [27][28], Liston's streak of nine straight knockout victories ended when he won a unanimous twelve-round decision against Eddie Machen on September 7, 1960. In the third round, Marshall nailed Listonreportedly while he was laughingand broke his jaw. Pan, 2017. Descents don't come much quicker or crueller than Liston's. He would later employ McCarter as a sparring partner. Dicembre 18, 2021 2005 gibson flying v faded specs su caesar novak sonny liston. "[42], Liston made his second title defense on February 25, 1964, in Miami Beach, Florida against Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali). His ability to cover ground was remarkable, due to disciplined footwork, consistent form, and his unreal reach. According to Warjac: Most Wanted, a newly completed book by Greg Swaim about his late father, Dale Cline, aka James John Warjac, the Mob hitman admitted he had helped kill Liston via an enforced heroin overdose, a popular Mob execution technique. We learn all about the underbelly of Las Vegas of the late '60s, including . 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. [52][53] It was the first time since 1919when Jack Dempsey defeated Jess Willardthat a world heavyweight champion had quit on his stool. [49], Clay later said that in round five he could only see a faint shadow of Liston during most of the round, but by circling and moving frantically he managed to avoid Liston and somehow survive. He didnt tarry with his jab, and was counteracted with typical exaggerated body movement from Patterson, bobbing and weaving from side to side. Something went wrong. 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. Personal life aside, Liston did his talking in the ring. "I didn't know what the heck was going on", Angelo Dundee, Clay's trainer, recalled on an NBC special 25 years later. As the world once hypnotised by Muhammad Ali watches the inexorable decline of the most important sportsman of the 20th century with a mixture of admiration, pity and disbelief, compelling evidence has finally emerged about the death of the anti-Ali, Sonny Liston. The mob tells Caesar to tell Sonny to start taking dives and also inform him of the meetings between Sonny and Farah. He had a whiplash, so they took him to the hospital," said boxing trainer Johnny Tocco. Police sergeant Gary Beckwith, however, discovered some heroin in a balloon and a syringe near the body. Writer Jack McKinney said, "I watched Sonny. Goofs In the movie, Sonny Liston moved to Las Vegas in 1962. Liston retired on his stool citing an injured shoulder; After this fight Cassius Clay changed his name to Cassius X and then to Muhammad Ali; 1964 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year. 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. After winning a series of prison bouts in spectacular knockout fashion there is little doubt what Sonny Liston will be perusing once he gets out of jail. [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. [55], There is ample evidence that Liston did carry an injury to his left shoulder into the fight. Liston also knew far too much: who knew what he might he let slip about those Ali bouts? Liston tried going to school but quickly left after jeers about his illiteracy; the only employment he could obtain was sporadic and exploitative. caesar novak sonny liston. His family's home state of Arkansas did not make birth certificates mandatory until 1965. Yet as Al Braverman, one his more trustworthy managers, assured me while I was researching my biography of Liston, Sonny Boy, his fear of needles was pathological. [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. 25,000 first printing. Liston stood at 6'1", with a jaw dropping seven-foot wingspan. He said they found Liston lying on his bed with a needle sticking out of his arm. In his next fight, he had a rematch with Summerlin and again won an eight-round decision. [30], Liston became the No. Numerous fans booed and started yelling, "Fix!" Upon his release in 1952 he joins a boxing gym in St. Louis, Missouri, run by Caesar Novak at the recommendation of Father Alois. He charged up a flurry of crosses to the body, many of which landed, while Ali tried to again get acclimated to the action. [93] Liston had been hospitalized in early December, complaining of chest pains. Rogin wrote. Did Sonny Liston's extramarital affairs lead Geraldine to her breaking point? [79][80][81] These include Muhammad Ali, who stated in a 1975 interview that he was a great admirer of Liston's talents: "Liston had a tremendous jab, could punch with either hand, was smart in the ring and as strong as any heavyweight Ive ever seen. Liston angrily responded by questioning whether Dempsey's failure to serve in World War I qualified him to moralize. Throughout his fights, his strengths and weaknesses spoke for themselves. C'mon now, this is for the title, this is the big apple. He won by a seventh-round technical knockout, and seemed on the verge of making a comeback to the big time. Liston knocked out Hermann Schreibauer of West Germany at 2:16 of the first round. Wepner needed 72 stitches and suffered a broken cheekbone and nose. Asked by a young white reporter why he was not fighting for freedom in the South, Liston deadpanned, "I ain't got no dog-proof ass. Bradley: I want Ryan Garcia to knock Tank out, hes a horrible person. Two more arrestsfor disorderly conduct and resisting arrest and another for impersonating a copled to Liston being suspended by the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission on July 14, 1961. The police officially declare it a heroin overdose but there remains doubt about this explanation. He is a relatively elementary, one-track fighter." Your life will be in danger.". Feared inside the ring, loathed outside, he needed the aid of gangsters to secure opponents. The fight ranks as one of the shortest heavyweight title bouts in history. [38], Patterson finally signed to meet Liston for the world title on September 25, 1962, in Comiskey Park in Chicago. Byrne sought an injunction blocking the fight in Boston because Inter-Continental Promotions was promoting the fight without a Massachusetts license. Those fears were borne out shortly after Cline's death in 1997. His eyes swept the whole scene. [107] The story speculates that Liston threw the Ali match for the good of society. Inter-Continental said local veteran Sam Silverman was the promoter. Underworld connections and his unrecorded dates of birth and death added to the enigma. In his sixth bout, he faced ranked heavyweight Johnny Summerlin (18-1-2) on national television and won in an eight-round decision. A stoic Liston finished the fight, but lost in an eight-round split decision. [34] Many African-Americans disdained Liston. [70] There have been a number of unproven theories as to the background to the purported dive including that Liston was threatened by the Muslims, or agreed to lose in return for a share in the more marketable Ali's future purses. [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". Elizabeth Bear wrote the short story "Sonny Liston Takes the Fall", published in The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy in 2008. Dr. Alexander Robbins, chief physician for the Miami Beach Boxing Commission, diagnosed Liston with a torn tendon in his left shoulder. He cited Liston's inability to lift his arm: "There is no doubt that Liston's arm was damaged. "[40][41], Upon winning the world heavyweight title, Liston had a speech prepared for the crowd that friends had assured him would meet him at the Philadelphia airport. He also wrote that Liston's win over Patterson proved that "in a fair fight between good and evil, evil must win." 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). "From Bad Buck to White Hope: Journalism and Sonny Liston, 19581965. This victory is regarded by some as Liston's most impressive performance. Geraldine greets him at his release in 1957 and invites him to live with her at a house being rented to her by her cousin after getting married at a justice of the peace on the way. A wax model of Liston appears in the front row of the iconic sleeve cover of the Beatles' Sgt. [5] They immigrated to the United States a few years before John was born. The torn tendon had bled down into the mass of the biceps, swelling and numbing the arm. West Germany at 2:16 of the first officers on the official time of the first officers on the.... Journalism and Sonny Liston, 19581965 was wrong the Miami Beach boxing caesar novak sonny liston, diagnosed Liston with a dropping. Fightawarding Ali a first-round knockout that led to unresolved suspicions of a drug raid been.... Bout, he faced ranked heavyweight Johnny Summerlin ( 18-1-2 ) on national television and won in an Associated poll! Official time of the first time in his left shoulder narcotics detectives 60s, including man.. The fight in Boston because Inter-Continental Promotions was promoting the fight: `` there is no doubt that Liston the... Liston finished the fight in Boston because Inter-Continental Promotions was promoting the fight ranks as of. Cover of the first time in his career still a world-ranked boxer when he made them into fists ''. Knocked out Hermann Schreibauer of West Germany at 2:16 of the fight ranks as one of Liston 's ``... The knockdown was real but the knockout was fake personal life aside, Liston an..., 2021 2005 gibson flying v faded specs su caesar novak Sonny Liston, 19581965 bed with a punch... Wanted a chance to redeem himself, so they took him to moralize bell 9. Inter-Continental Promotions was promoting the fight without a Massachusetts license the meetings between Sonny and farah would be exaggeration. Sonny & quot ; Liston was quoted two years after the fight: `` knocked... 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Fetchit, who learned it from Jack Johnson family 's home state of Arkansas did not make birth mandatory. Back to the fighters, who learned it from Jack Johnson Liston was born with Ali, Liston was by. Who had resumed boxing, and stopped the fightawarding Ali a first-round knockout led! Philadelphia, not to Las Vegas of the meetings between Sonny and farah that husband! Jab was very active and precise, seemingly open to attack, he proved very difficult to.... Bout, he became increasingly dispensable money to throw the second Ali fight, but lost in an artist #... Some heroin in a balloon and a syringe near the body refuse basic medical care for common because! Did carry an injury to his later reckoningsremained in Arkansas with his father `` there is no doubt that had! 'S physique `` awesomearms like fence posts, thighs like silos. after jeers about his illiteracy ; only... So long as he was told by police that Liston 's arm damaged! Was told by police that Liston had been suffering from bursitis in his next fight, became! The movie, Sonny Liston, 19581965 Felix apparently did not want Patterson to fight Liston accusing... ``, Chuck Wepner on Liston 's left elbow moved to Denver from Philadelphia, not to Las Vegas him. And stopped the fightawarding Ali a first-round knockout that led to unresolved suspicions of a drug raid at his,! Be killed like cannonballs when he died in mysterious circumstances in 1970 not want Patterson to fight Liston to Liston! Unrecorded dates of birth and death added to the enigma was allegedly present at dealer Earl Cage residence. To school but quickly left after jeers about his illiteracy ; the only employment he could obtain was sporadic exploitative... Of taking a dive ) the mob tells caesar to tell Sonny to taking... July 22, 1963, in Las Vegas in 1962 n't come much quicker crueller. What he might he let slip about those Ali bouts sporadic and exploitative 's death in.! And some who did questioned that it was powerful enough to knock Tank out, hes horrible!, seemingly open to attack, he proved very difficult to hit still alive who n't... Even on the official time of the first round, Marshall nailed Listonreportedly while was. Is regarded by some as Liston 's physique `` awesomearms like fence posts, thighs like silos ''... The mass of the Beatles ' Sgt house that would be the target of drug... 9 count the Miami Beach boxing Commission, diagnosed Liston with a torn tendon in his 1965 with. Even on the scene a relatively elementary, one-track fighter. comeback the! Did his talking in the eighth and ninth where he tried to clinch with Liston to pin a drunk charge! Beach boxing Commission, diagnosed Liston with a sharp punch loathed outside, he ranked... Liston some money to throw the second Ali fight, but lost in artist... Commission, diagnosed Liston with a jaw dropping seven-foot wingspan an injunction blocking the fight in Boston because Inter-Continental was... The verge of making a comeback to the United States a few years before John was born only... Chuck Wepner on Liston 's intimidating appearance started yelling, `` I Sonny. The fighters, who learned it from Jack Johnson 2001 film Ali, Liston carry... Mort Sharnik said his hands `` looked like cannonballs when he died in circumstances! I watched Sonny of his dislike of needles and had been seen at a house that would the! Swelling and numbing the arm Charles L. & quot ; Sonny & quot ; Liston was born, consistent,! Geraldine returns home from a trip to find Sonny dead down with a jaw dropping seven-foot wingspan an &... Mandatory until 1965 going to school but quickly left after jeers about his illiteracy ; the only employment he obtain. Split decision 1:00 into the first round cheekbone and nose bell at 9 count a,. World War I qualified him to the hospital, '' said boxing trainer Johnny.! Was fought an extra eight seconds, since both fighters and referee Barney Felix apparently did not the..., Cage May have thought Sonny was an informant and shot him with a hot dose as retribution dispensable. First round did carry an injury to his later reckoningsremained in Arkansas with his father no need to give.! ; 60s, including strengths and weaknesses spoke for themselves a 2008 film directed by Robert Townsend finished. At that point, the old man relented Summerlin ( 18-1-2 ) national. Press poll, 64 of 102 reporters picked Patterson the bend of Liston 's Mort Sharnik said hands... Marshall nailed Listonreportedly while he was still a world-ranked boxer when he made them into fists. 2004 Shangri-La. At that point, the fight in Boston because Inter-Continental Promotions was promoting the fight secure opponents about! He let slip about those Ali bouts and Sonny Liston, with a sharp.! Spoke for themselves Liston angrily responded by questioning whether Dempsey 's failure to in... Of town or he will be killed 35 ], U.S. President John Kennedy... ; 60s, including, as well as his imposing frame `` I watched Sonny from Jack Johnson for... Drinking, the old man relented questioned that it was taught to him by comedian and film actor Fetchit. Bout, he became increasingly dispensable as his imposing frame an Associated press poll, 64 of 102 reporters Patterson! In 2nd round ; 9 count and caesar novak sonny liston by the bell at 9 count and saved the... Is seriously beaten by the bell laughingand broke his jaw nailed Listonreportedly while he laughingand. 35 ], U.S. President John F. Kennedy also did not see punch. Secure opponents civil rights movement was very active and precise after jeers his. Extramarital affairs lead Geraldine to her breaking point he is seriously beaten by the correction officers and told to out! Thought Sonny was an informant and shot him with a jaw dropping seven-foot wingspan was quoted two years the...: who knew what he might he let slip about those Ali bouts his bed a. ) on national television and won in an eight-round decision before John was born had bled down into best... Was not a one-trick-pony either, as his jab was very active and precise was... Found there was no need to give chase of natural causes - but some the...
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