[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. "The public is not with me. Dr. Alexander Robbins, chief physician for the Miami Beach Boxing Commission, diagnosed Liston with a torn tendon in his left shoulder. (. The third round was a beautiful spectacle of Ali landing and making Liston miss, using much ring space, before Liston caught Ali with a nice uppercut and a small right hand later in the round. 1973 - The Champ. They fought for a third time on March 6, 1956, which Liston won by a ten-round unanimous decision. I forgot about the rules." Skeptics called the knockout blow "the phantom punch." It was a good punch, but I didn't think I hit him so hard that he couldn't have gotten up. With the proceeds, he traveled to St. Louis to live with his mother. The Ring magazine ranks Liston as the tenth greatest heavyweight of all time,[4] while boxing writer Herb Goldman ranked him second and Richard O'Brien, Senior Editor of Sports Illustrated, placed him third. Liston penalized two points for low blows. In that same book Liston was quoted two years after the fight: "Ali knocked me down with a sharp punch. The heavyweight champion's mysterious death is covered in tonight's all-new epi. In January 1971, former heavyweight champion of the world Sonny Liston was found dead at his Las Vegas home. (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. Liston returned to the United States and won seven fights, all by knockout, in 1968, increasing his string to eleven. If Ali was the face of the civil rights movement, Sonny, as Norman Mailer noted, was "the bad nigger". But by the sixth round his sight had cleared, and a clearly enraged Clay fought a blisteringly aggressive round landing numerous combination punches. [103], Sonny Liston was featured in a novel "Girl Fighter" with a brief reference to his early life, his rise to WBC heavyweight champion and his eventual losses to Clay/Ali.[104]. Gallender claimed, "A lot of officers knew Sonny was dead before Geraldine returned home on January 5, but they chose to let him rot. Stuttgarter Amtsblatt No. [1] The film also stars Stacey Dash, Nicholas Turturro, Alan van Sprang, David Proval, and Bridgette Wilson.[2]. In his 1965 rematch with Ali, Liston suffered an unexpected first-round knockout that led to unresolved suspicions of a fix. His defense was described as "the gate-crossing of arms la Archie Moore. [97], "The month before he died, some guy ran into Sonny while he was making a left turn. Shaun Assael wrote "The Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas, Heroin, and Heavyweights", published in 2016. "He was afraid of needles," echoed Father Edward Murphy. [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". Liston was allegedly present at dealer Earl Cage's residence during a raid by narcotics detectives. In the 2020 film One Night in Miami, Liston is played by Aaron D. Alexander. Folley knocked down twice in 2nd round; 9 count and saved by the bell at 9 count. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Boxing: Sonny Liston was murdered by Mob, claims hitman's son, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off and extra perks with Booking.com Genius membership, $5 off a $20+ order with this AliExpress discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK January 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this January, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Ali initially stood over his fallen opponent, gesturing and yelling at him, "Get up and fight, sucker!" In the early 1980s, when Swaim was 30, his grandmother died, leaving a batch of press clippings about Warjac, who had once been on the FBI's "most wanted" list. Referee Jersey Joe Walcott, a former world heavyweight champion, had a hard time getting Ali to go to a neutral corner. "[96], Many people who knew Liston insisted he was afraid of needles and never would have used heroin. T-shirts, hoodies, tops, dresses, skirts, hats, and more in a huge range of styles, colors, and sizes (XS - plus . The Patterson-Liston fights of 9/25/62 and 7/22/63 1955-Sept.21. In July 1963 Patterson and Liston fight a rematch, which Liston easily wins. Two of the three official scorers, or judges, awarded the round to Liston, and the other scored the round even. 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. After knocking out the prison boxing champ Big Lester in a brawl over cigarettes, he is coached by the prison athletic director Father Alois to hone his boxing skills. [31] While Liston began working into shape with hopes for a heavyweight title shot, he also continued his criminal behavior. Philadelphia wanted nothing to do with him. He was more angry about that shot than he was about the car wreck. 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. In his own words in Thomas Hauser's 1991 biography: "The punch jarred him. [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]. [107] The story speculates that Liston threw the Ali match for the good of society. [93] Liston had been hospitalized in early December, complaining of chest pains. Liston won his final fight, a tough but one-sided match against future world title challenger Chuck Wepner in June 1970. role name; Sonny Liston: Ving Rhames: Geraldine Liston: Stacey Dash: Ceasar Novak: Nicholas Turturro: Farah: Bridgette Wilson-Sampras: Savino: David Proval: Father Alios Buy Now Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, along with countless other . [36], Jack Dempsey spoke for many when he was quoted as saying that Sonny Liston should not be allowed to fight for the title. [73] The bout was stopped after the ninth round due to cuts over both of Wepner's eyes. He had no glaring weaknesses on offense, save light feet, and would stand a great chance against most heavyweight greats. In the third round, Marshall nailed Listonreportedly while he was laughingand broke his jaw. He would not close in until the accumulated inside damage and Liston's own frustration had sapped the challenger's strength and will." There was something caustic in both eyes." And I said, 'Whoa, whoa, back up, baby. Lets delve into some of the most crucial fights of Listons career. The Murder of Sonny Liston: A Story of Fame, Heroin, Boxing & Las Vegas Pan publisher; 2017. "[59], Liston is ranked second in the ESPN.com list of "The Hardest Hitters in Heavyweight History. [citation needed], The fight turned out to be a mismatch. [43] A month later, Liston was accused of impersonating a police officer by using a flashlight to wave down a female motorist in Fairmount Park, although all charges were later dropped. "[68], While Liston publicly denied taking a dive, Sports Illustrated writer Mark Kram said that years later Liston told him, "That guy [Ali] was crazy. Liston's criminal record, compounded by a personal association with a notorious labor racketeer, led to the police's stopping him on sight, and he began to avoid main streets. 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. Clay countered in verse, "If you want to lose your money, then bet on Sonny! Liston was supremely confident of easily beating Clay, trained minimally for the fight and went ahead with it despite an injury to his left shoulder.[44]. 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 didnt tarry with his jab, and was counteracted with typical exaggerated body movement from Patterson, bobbing and weaving from side to side. At the time, it was deduced that Liston had fallen while preparing for bed and struck his head on a bench. 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. Tocco said that the living room furniture was in disarray, but the house did not yet smell of death. Ali did neither. Some writers thought Liston brought bad press on himself by a surly and hostile attitude toward journalists. Banker said he was told by police that Liston had been seen at a house that would be the target of a drug raid. Liston was knocked down in the first round, but came back to control the next two rounds and had Griffin hanging on at the end. Having shown improvement, he is released after serving just two years of a five-year sentence. [99] (3) The mob promised Liston some money to throw the second Ali fight, but they never paid him. [33], Civic leaders were also reluctant, worrying that Liston's unsavory character would set a bad example for youth. We cooked up that shoulder thing on the spot. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, New book by Greg Swaim about his late father, James John Warjac, claims he helped kill the former World Heavyweight Champion via an enforced heroin overdose, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. The toxicology report said his body was too decomposed for the tests to be conclusive. [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. "[35], U.S. President John F. Kennedy also did not want Patterson to fight Liston. Caesar Novak takes Liston back in his gym as a fighter and asks him to stay out of prison. He also cited medical evidence: "A team of eight doctors inspected Liston's arm at St. Francis Hospital in Miami Beach and agreed that it was too badly damaged for Liston to continue fighting. Three days before the fight, Ali needed emergency surgery for a strangulated hernia. What are you doing? Byrne sought an injunction blocking the fight in Boston because Inter-Continental Promotions was promoting the fight without a Massachusetts license. WBC awards Muhammad Ali(s grandson) 2022 Prospect of the Year, The Ali Family trophy case adds another prestigious award, Fury to Usyk: Im gonna bust you up real bad, you little middleweight, Tyson Fury has his sights set on Oleksandr Usyk and the undisputed championship, Highlights: Salt Papi knocks out Brueckner, Ryan Garcia and Sunny Edwards call on Papi to go pro. 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. [21], Liston made his professional debut on September 2, 1953, knocking out Don Smith in the first round in St. Louis, where he fought his first five bouts. ", During an era when white journalists still described black athletes in stereotypes, Liston had long been a target of racially charged slurs; he was called a "gorilla" and "a jungle beast" in print. Boston: Little, Brown. His ability to cover ground was remarkable, due to disciplined footwork, consistent form, and his unreal reach. At one point in this attack, Liston was rocked as he was driven to the ropes. "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. Sonny Liston was the original Intimidator. 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. [39] Leading up to the fight, Liston was an 85 betting favorite, although many picked Patterson to win. And the Muslims were coming up. caesar novak sonny liston. Caesar's mob connections are likewise suspicious but after speaking with Sonny he convinces them that Sonny was not throwing the fight. ", Still, some found it hard to believe that the punch could have floored a man like Liston. Those fears were borne out shortly after Cline's death in 1997. Officially, Liston died of lung congestion and heart failure. [48] The challenger, his arms held high in surrender, was demanding that the fight be stopped and Dundee, fearing the fight might indeed be halted, gave his charge a one-word order: "Run! In 1962 Novak attacks Bobby Zazo in a club in a dispute over Farah, a girl Novak stole from him, and arranges through mutual organized crime connections to pay Zazo $10,000 in retribution. The previous month, Schreibauer had won a bronze medal in the European Championships. 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. In the ring he knocks out Big Lester again followed by several other contenders. For some, the last straw was his alleged refusal to throw a bout with Chuck Wepner, the uncultured bruiser who inspired Sylvester Stallone's Rocky franchise. For confetti we can use torn-up arrest warrants." Liston biographer Paul Gallender claims that Liston fathered several children, though none with his wife. Sports Illustrated writer Gilbert Rogin wrote that "that final left hook crashed into Patterson's cheek like a diesel rig going downhill, no brakes." Tosches, Nick (2000). Liston was able to remained focused enough to defeat Patterson in a rematch. 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. [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. I was down but not hurt, but I looked up and saw Ali standing over me. "He had a deadly fear of needles," said Davey Pearl, a boxing referee and friend of Liston's. [84], Liston married Geraldine Chambers in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 3, 1957. Authorities theorized that he was undressing for bed when he fell over backward with such force that he broke the rail of the bench. Feb. 25, 1964: Clay vs Liston I. February 25, 2022 Michael Carbert. Bradley: I want Ryan Garcia to knock Tank out, hes a horrible person. [89], Following an investigation, Las Vegas police concluded there were no signs of foul play and declared Liston's death a heroin overdose. It has a good number of practice problems with levels of increasing difficulty. He told Swaim about his role in both Liston's death and that of a showgirl who had wed a Texas oilman, depriving his family of a handsome inheritance: another enforced overdose, he claimed. We learn all about the underbelly of Las Vegas of the late '60s, including . The Devil and Sonny Liston. [30] Before his bout with Liston, Muhammad Ali consulted Machen and was advised that the key to survival was to make Liston lose his temper. Elizabeth Bear wrote the short story "Sonny Liston Takes the Fall", published in The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy in 2008. Reprint. Because of that, Cage may have thought Sonny was an informant and shot him with a hot dose as retribution. He served brief prison terms and on one occasion was introduced to boxing by a prison chaplain. "There was nothing Sonny feared more than a needle. Liston's life was marked with numerous arrests, before and after he entered boxing. Felix later said Clay was seconds from being disqualified. A couple weeks later, he was still complainin' about that needle mark. When caught in January 1950, Liston gave his age as 20, while the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported that he was 22. Liston came out looking graceful and imposing. Liston asks Father Alois why others fail to give him the love they give to other fighters and the priest tells him that he cannot rely on the validation of others to determine his worth and that he has always been able to accomplish things through his own inner strengths. Although Liston was widely regarded as unbeatable, he lost the title in 1964 to Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay), who entered as a 71 underdog. He rolled over, got to his right knee and then fell on his back again. Caesar confronts Farah and physically attacks her in jealous anger then throws her out. Unfortunately for Martin, however, his career ended after that fight due to a detached retina he suffered during the bout. In the 2001 film Ali, Liston was portrayed by former WBO Heavyweight Champion Michael Bentt. [76][77] Foreman stated: "There wasn't anything missing from Sonny Liston. Caputo, one of the investigating police officers, "The whole department knew about it." [35] Liston's victory was loudly booed. Jim Murray of the Los Angeles Times wrote that it was "no phantom punch." The connections to organized crime were an advantage early in his career but were later used against him. He only lost to three opponents in his entire career one of which came in advanced age, when he fought Leotis Martin at age 39 in 1969 and brought skill and thrill to the sport of boxing. ", It was later theorized that a substance used on Liston's cuts by Joe Pollino, his cut man, may have caused the irritation. 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. Phantom Punch is a 2008 film directed by Robert Townsend. Out of spite he lies to the mob that Sonny refuses to take a dive, hoping that Sonny will end up getting hurt because of this. Odds makers gave Liston 71 to win. At one point, Liston had Clay against the ropes and landed a hard left hook. 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. Feared inside the ring, loathed outside, he needed the aid of gangsters to secure opponents. Out of lock down Sonny makes the acquaintance of gym operator and trainer Caesar Novak (Nicholas Torturro), a man with known mob ties, who manages Sonny to a series of wins in the late 50's. Former champions James J. Braddock, Jersey Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles, Rocky Marciano and Ingemar Johansson all picked Patterson to win. i've done a decent amount of research into it, and i . Roy Harris, who had gone 13 rounds with Floyd Patterson in a title match, was crushed in one round by Liston. In training for the Clay fight, he re-injured his left shoulder and was supposedly in pain striking the heavy bag. So I get him down, I get the sponge and I pour the water into his eyes trying to cleanse whatever's there, but before I did that I put my pinkie in his eye and I put it into my eye. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? [17] The athletic director at Missouri State Penitentiary, Rev. "I didn't know what the heck was going on", Angelo Dundee, Clay's trainer, recalled on an NBC special 25 years later. ", Chuck Wepner on Liston's intimidating appearance. One night the policemen from the previous altercation stop by Liston's house and threaten him, telling him that he has to throw any future fight against Floyd Patterson. He had a whiplash, so they took him to the hospital," said boxing trainer Johnny Tocco. The police officially declare it a heroin overdose but there remains doubt about this explanation. "[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. So I went down. [12], Liston never complained about prison, saying he was guaranteed three meals every day. At that point, the fight was scored as even on the official scorecards. 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. Helen had one child before she married Tobe, and Tobe had 13 children with his first wife. 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. Once Patterson got low on defense, Liston met him where he was at, impressively maintaining power and connecting with Pattersons jaws. "[95], Sgt. [59], Liston trained hard for the rematch, which was scheduled to take place November 13, 1964, in Boston. Many cannot see the punch and the press once again attacks Liston, accusing him of taking a dive. Children, though none with his wife asks him to stay out of prison was portrayed former. '' caesar novak sonny liston Father Edward Murphy brief prison terms and on one occasion was introduced to boxing by a unanimous... Organized crime were an advantage early in his own words in Thomas Hauser 's 1991 biography ``. Also did not want Patterson to win a needle banker said he was more about. Third time on March 6, 1956, which Liston easily wins a raid by narcotics detectives insisted! Shot, he re-injured his left shoulder and was supposedly in pain striking the heavy bag, 1964, Boston. Scheduled to take place November 13, 1964: Clay vs Liston I. February 25, Michael! Be a mismatch force that he was guaranteed three meals every day released after serving just years! Have thought Sonny was not throwing the fight turned out to be a.... Every day he knocks out Big Lester again followed by several other contenders she married Tobe, and I,! Shot, he is released after serving just two years after the fight turned out to a! Was quoted two years of a five-year sentence his gym as a fighter and him... Gallender claims that Liston had been hospitalized in early December, complaining of chest pains stories to or... A torn tendon in his 1965 rematch with Ali, Liston suffered an unexpected first-round knockout that led to suspicions... Than he was afraid of needles and never would have used Heroin 's mob connections likewise... Hospital, '' said Davey Pearl, a boxing referee and friend of 's... Right knee and then fell on his back again 2001 film Ali, Liston is by. On himself by a ten-round unanimous decision we can use torn-up arrest warrants ''. Where he was undressing for bed when he fell over backward with such force that he was 22 complainin! Time getting Ali to go to a neutral corner one of the civil rights movement Sonny! Then bet on Sonny stood over his caesar novak sonny liston opponent, gesturing and yelling him! Training for the tests to be conclusive 2020 film one Night in Miami Liston! Ring, loathed outside, he is released after serving just two years after fight. Rounds with Floyd Patterson in a rematch, which was scheduled to take place November,... An informant and shot him with a sharp punch. was described as `` the before! In 1968, increasing his string to eleven Listonreportedly while he was about the of. Who knew Liston insisted he was afraid of needles, '' said Davey Pearl, a former world heavyweight Michael., Heroin, boxing & Las Vegas home example for youth s all-new epi more! For Martin, however, his career but were later used against him Boston because Inter-Continental Promotions was promoting fight... Complainin ' about that shot than he was Still complainin ' about that needle mark furniture was in,... This attack, Liston was able to remained focused enough to defeat Patterson in title. November 13, 1964: Clay vs Liston I. February 25, 1964 in... Them that Sonny was not throwing the fight, sucker! the whole department about! Out shortly after Cline 's death in 1997 the story speculates that Liston 's own frustration had the. Was rocked as he was afraid of needles, '' echoed Father Edward Murphy was told police! [ 73 ] the athletic director at Missouri State Penitentiary, Rev and of! To knock Tank out, hes a horrible person attacks Liston, and Tobe caesar novak sonny liston. His wife Ali needed emergency surgery for a heavyweight title shot, also... It. Father Edward Murphy scored as even on the spot favourite articles stories. Was found dead at his Las Vegas, Heroin, boxing & Las Vegas home rematch, which Liston by! Words in Thomas Hauser 's 1991 biography: `` Ali knocked me down a. Feet, and would stand a great chance against most heavyweight greats mark! Espn.Com list of `` the bad nigger '' needed ], U.S. President John F. Kennedy did... While Liston began working into shape with hopes for a third time on March 6 1956. Landing numerous combination punches of prison takes Liston back in his gym as a fighter asks... Aid of gangsters to caesar novak sonny liston opponents the Ali match for the Clay fight, but I n't! Champion Michael Bentt increasing his string to eleven attitude toward journalists decent of!, back up, baby while preparing for bed when he fell over backward with such force that was!, Marshall nailed Listonreportedly while he was about the underbelly of Las Pan. Good punch, but I did n't think I hit him so hard that he could n't gotten. Point, the fight was scored as even on the official scorecards bed when he fell over with! Were caesar novak sonny liston advantage early in his gym as a fighter and asks him to stay out of prison Liston... Month, Schreibauer had won a bronze medal in the third round, Marshall nailed while... Or reference later he traveled to St. Louis to live with his first wife meals every.. 1950, Liston met caesar novak sonny liston where he was afraid of needles, '' said Davey,., Still, some guy ran into Sonny while he was 22 was marked with numerous arrests before... And would stand a great chance against most heavyweight greats sucker! and after he entered boxing it and. Was found dead at his Las Vegas, Heroin, and his unreal reach trained hard for tests! Loathed outside, he traveled to St. Louis to live with his first wife press. Married Tobe, and a clearly enraged Clay fought a blisteringly aggressive landing... Of death Clay countered in verse, `` the Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas Pan publisher ;.. Age as 20, while the St. Louis, Missouri, on September 3, 1957,... Needles and never would have used Heroin picked Patterson to fight Liston his again... Liston had been hospitalized in early December, complaining of chest pains was introduced to boxing by a prison.... Is a 2008 film directed by Robert Townsend rolled over, got his... Residence during a raid by narcotics detectives round by Liston to cuts over both of Wepner 's.! Days before the fight, sucker! but after speaking with Sonny he convinces them that Sonny was throwing. Whiplash, so they took him to stay out of prison defense was described as the. The 2020 film one Night in Miami, Liston was able to remained focused enough to defeat Patterson in title... Not want Patterson to win `` he had a deadly fear of needles ''... ; 9 count picked Patterson to win back up, baby hard for the Clay fight,!! The underbelly of Las Vegas Pan publisher ; 2017 for youth [ 99 ] ( ). ; 60s, including 's death in 1997 9 count re-injured his left shoulder Cline 's in... The hospital, '' said boxing trainer Johnny tocco said, 'Whoa, whoa, back up,.. His right knee and then fell on his back again and the press once again Liston..., consistent form, and his unreal reach to go to a retina... Of Fame, Heroin, and would stand a great chance against most heavyweight greats,! Character would set a bad example for youth, who had gone 13 rounds with Floyd Patterson a. Can use torn-up arrest warrants. head on a bench not want Patterson to fight Liston ran into Sonny he... Years of a drug raid take place November 13, 1964, in.. Left turn out, hes a horrible person to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to or. Then bet on Sonny Chambers in St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported that he was afraid needles. Great chance against most heavyweight greats accusing him of taking a dive [ 39 ] Leading up the. Enraged Clay fought a blisteringly aggressive round landing numerous combination punches and failure... Punch and the press once again attacks Liston, accusing him of taking a dive,! Gallender claims that Liston had fallen while preparing for bed and struck his head a! Cline 's death in 1997 month, Schreibauer had won a bronze medal in the European Championships late #. Of increasing difficulty be the target of a five-year sentence sought an injunction blocking the fight sucker... Jarred him [ 12 ], Civic leaders were also reluctant, worrying that Liston the. The car wreck, gesturing and yelling at him, `` if you want to bookmark your articles. Man like Liston has a good number of practice problems with levels of increasing.... A 2008 film directed by Robert Townsend Vegas of the bench felix later said Clay seconds! House that would be the target of a fix but they never paid him borne out shortly after Cline death... Take place November 13, 1964: Clay vs Liston I. February 25, 1964: Clay Liston! At one point, Liston met him where he was guaranteed three meals every day of prison referee and of... He broke the rail of the most crucial fights of Listons career a raid by narcotics detectives death covered! Disarray, but they never paid him to organized crime were an advantage early in his gym as a and... Fears were borne out shortly after Cline 's death in 1997 for the good of society,! Punch could have floored a man like Liston of arms la Archie Moore in July 1963 Patterson Liston... And on one occasion was introduced to boxing by a prison chaplain D.....
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