His death certificate states his death as December 30, 1970, based on milk deliveries at his doorstep. Clay is certainly to be counted among the greatest heavyweights of all time. He climbed back into the ring on June 29, 1970, registering a 10th-round technical knockout against Bayonne Bleeder Chuck Wepner. He is from AR. Liston emptied his pockets of bills and returned to the car with all of the women's pencils. Nine years of steady fighting later, and following additional scrapes with the law, Liston fought Floyd Patterson for the Heavyweight Championship. Liston was buried in the Paradise Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas under the simplest of epitaphs: A MAN.. Joe Louis rated Liston's jab one of the best in boxing history. His ring style was the essence of simplicity; he displayed little finesse but much raw power, especially in his left hand. Sand Slough, Arkansas, United States of America, Sonny Liston is still regarded as the best heavyweight boxer with a taste of violence. After a rough upbringing, with little formal education, Liston found himself in trouble with the law. He was one of many Known for scowling at opponents, he combined an intimidating ring presence with awesome power. His father was an abusive alcoholic, and Liston eventually left the house during his teens. When Sonny KO'd Floyd Patterson in 1962 for The World Heavyweight Championship,he became the only challenger to win that title by a first round KO. Boxer Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was born in St. Francis County, Arkansas on May 8, 1932. Foes like the murderous-punching Cleveland Williams, Mike DeJohn and Nino Valdez succumbed to Liston's heavy fists. He was still a fringe contender at the age of 40 or so when he died under mysterious circumstances in December of 1970 at his house in Las Vegas. Additional support provided by the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation Inc. Liston would later claim his birth date to be May 8, 1932, but that is off by at least two years. As with the date of Liston's birth, no one knows for sure. Tosches' explanation, of course, is that Liston was again dutifully following orders given by the mob. New York: Blue Rider Press, 2016. WebAsuncin "Sunny" Cummings Hostin (/ h s t n /; born October 20, 1968) is an American lawyer, journalist, and television host.Hostin is co-host on ABC's morning talk show The Charles Sonny Liston was a noted boxer who briefly reigned as Heavyweight Champion after a first-round knockout against Floyd Patterson. Introduced to boxing by Father Stevens in the St. Louis City Jail during 1950. His mother separated from his father and went to St. Louis in Missouri. He had earned the title shot with an impressive string of 195960 victories over top contenders. But the champ went down in a hurry: two minutes and six seconds in the first round. His alcoholic and violent father was thirty years older than Sonnys mother. Liston didn't find gainful employment in St. Louis. (LogOut/ Sonny Liston: His Life, Strife, and the Phantom Punch. He became a professional fighter in 1953. There were rumors of drug peddling, heroin use, and murder, but no answers. His wife found his lifeless body in their home on January 5, 1971. Get in on the latest boxing conversations in our Forum and comment on articles. He died in Vegas as mysteriously as he had lived, a man bent under a great shadow, afflicted by a legion of personal demons that no one could exorcise. Tosches insists that films of Liston losing to Clay reveal that Liston was missing punches intentionally. At the age of thirteen, he ran away to St. Louis, Missouri, following his mother, who had left earlier. Sonny Liston was born on May 8, probably 1932, to Tobe and Helen (Baskin) Liston, African-American sharecroppersin rural St. Francis County. Liston on his age: "I'm like Jack Benny, I never tell my age.". He was friendly with his fans and had a soft spot for children. WebSonny Liston is 6 feet 0 inches tall. Tired of being exploited as a manual laborer, Sonny Liston turned to crime. Along with his many siblings, Liston grew up working in the local cotton fields. Assael, Shaun. It was there in Sand Slough that Charles L. Liston was born, on the 50 acres that Tobe rented from the Man.". Liston was buried in Paradise Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas, Nevada, beneath a simple gravestone. In the end, one can't help feeling some sympathy for Liston. Maybe Liston realized that he couldn't beat the youthful Clay/Ali, and he opted not to get up off the canvas in round one instead of absorbing another beating. Sonny Liston: The Real Story behind the Ali-Liston Fights. Liston was the 12th of 13 children born to Tobe and Helen Liston (and one of 25 children sired by Tobe). Liston turned professional in September 1953, earning his first paycheck in St. Louis with a first-round knockout of Don Smith. Liston scored another knockout in a rematch with Patterson, but his 17-month reign as heavyweight champion ended at the hands of a brash fighter named Cassius Clay. Some suspect foul play; others believe Liston died of a self-inflicted drug overdose. Former World Heavyweight Champion who learned to fight while in jail. Charles "Sonny" Liston's life and death began and ended in the same manner: as a mystery. . His 17-year ring log was an impressive 50-4 with 39 knockouts. In St. Louis, he quickly encountered problems with the local police. Tosches believes the latter. He was one of many children one account lists 22 siblings and half-siblings. George Foreman was his sparring partner from 1969 to 1970. Astrological Sign: Taurus, Death Year: 1970, Death date: December 30, 1970, Death State: Nevada, Death City: Las Vegas, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Sonny Liston Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/sonny-liston, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: April 23, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. The rematch in Las Vegas on July 22, 1963, was another first-round knockout. 72201. (There is some speculation about his year of birth, but most sources state sometime from 1929 to 1932.) He put himself under the care of still another Catholic priest, Father Edward P. Murphy, a kindly Jesuit who was the pastor of a predominantly black church in Denver. Liston was inducted into the international Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991. Charles "Sonny" Liston was born circa 1930 into a sharecropping family who farmed the poor land of Morledge Plantation near Johnson Township, St. Francis County, Arkansas. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Sonny Liston keeps his personal and love life private. Geraldine married Sonny Liston in 1950 Sanders was the reigning Olympic heavyweight champion. Pressure resulting from appearing before the committee, and from the diatribes of Patterson's manager Cus D'Amato, caused Liston to buy out the contract of his manager, Pep Barone, who was considered to be an undesirable, and name old-time Philadelphia political hack George Katz as his manager. His trademark shirt during his illegal raids was yellow. In his next fight he bounced back to TKO Chuck Wepner shortly before his mysterious death in 1970. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2000. If there is a flaw in Tosches' book, it's that the author seems bent on carrying the theme of Liston and the mob beyond its logical parameters. At least two sexual assaults. In June of the following year, Liston won the rematch with another knockout. Charles "Sonny" Liston was pronounced dead at the scene. DAmato went on to coach another great boxer in Mike Tyson. Charles Sonny Liston was a noted boxer who briefly reigned as Heavyweight Champion after a first-round knockout against Floyd Patterson. Lets take a look at Sonny Liston past relationships, ex-girlfriends and previous hookups. Charles Sonny Liston was a noted boxer who briefly reigned as Heavyweight Champion after a first-round knockout against Floyd Patterson. . Ali and Liston: The Boy Who Would Be King and the Ugly Bear. Though it appeared that Liston had barely been grazed by Clay's right fist, the boxer went down just one minute and 45 seconds into the first round. Folley knocked down twice in 2nd round; 9 count and saved by the bell at 9 count. Very little is known about his birth and his He was caught and charged with first-degree robbery and larceny, and was sentenced in 1950 to 5 years in the Missouri State Penitentiary. He started boxing in prison and was likely over 30 then. His sporting agility was electrifying to watch. Because of his arrest and prison term, Liston didn't have a fight between March of 1956, when he decisioned Marty Marshall in Pittsburgh, to January of 1958, when he knocked out Bill Hunter in two rounds in Chicago. {{ mediasCtrl.getTitle(media, true) }} WebPatterson defended against Liston in Comiskey Park, Chicago, on September 25, 1962, and the rest is history. Liston was raised on heavy farm work, many beatings and with virtually no schooling. The most noticeable being his win over Ed Sanders. Pacific Grove, CA: Park Place Publications, 2012. Knocked out #2-rated heavyweight contender Roy Harris (27-1) in one round. His epitaph reads: "A Man.". He started boxing in prison and was likely QUICK FACTS. James Ellroy portrayed Sonny Liston as a fight loser, a heroin addict, a black racist, and a Mafia jawbreaker in his novel "The Cold Six Thousand.". His parents were peasant farmers who grew cotton in the south. World heavyweight boxing champion, 1962-1964. He won 11 consecutive fights by knockout in 1968 and added three more wins in 1969 before losing a brutal bout to Leotis Martin. He is one of the Richest Boxer who was born in AR. Check back often as we will continue to update this page with new relationship details. Liston continued to fight in the ring until June 1970. Even as champion, Liston was never able to escape his prison beginnings or the allegations of mob connections. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album cover. The place had a name, but it was not to be found on any map. Cruel Beginnings. With the proceeds he traveled to St. Louis and reunited with his mother and siblings. He compiled a career record of He was adopted when the couple was together. Drinking. With Cus DAmato as his coach, Liston reigned as champion for seventeen months. As Liston made himself a serious challenger to Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight title, Liston made his alliance with the Devil, as Tosches refers to the mob. His opponent abandoned the match midway. Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Sonny Liston, Birth Year: 1932, Birth date: May 8, 1932, Birth State: Arkansas, Birth City: St Francis County, Birth Country: United States. Relationship with Timothy Michael Dowling (Sosa/Ahnentafel #1), Relationship with Geraldine Clark (spouse), Browse using this individual as Sosa/Ahnentafel #1, , born in1872 - Choctaw Co., MS, deceased, , born inApril1873 - Montgomery Co., MS, deceased, Sources: Dowling Family Tree - Tim Dowling - rootsweb, 2001-2015 - - electronic - I435533, Marriage (with Geraldine Clark) - St. Louis, MO, List of all individuals in the family tree, {{ 'gw_downgraded_access_back_to_max'|translate }}, Born 8May1932 - Sand Lough, St. Francis Co., AR, Deceased 30December1970 - Las Vegas, Clark Co., NV, Liston, who posted a career record of 50 wins and 4 losses with 39 knockouts, reveled in this role of the fighter America loved to hate. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). For those interested in knowing more about the life and times of one of the most enigmatic and troubled heavyweight champs, the book "The Devil and Sonny Liston," by Nick Tosches (Copyright 2000, published by Little, Brown and Company), is a wealth of knowledge. The son of tenant farmer Tobey Liston and his second wife, Helen, Liston was the 24th of his fathers 25 children. Liston and Geraldine had no children, but Liston loved kids and enjoyed being in their company. Liston was the second last in a family of twenty-five siblings. Was the favorite fighter of the famous Fab Four, the Beatles, and he appears on their "Sgt. Liston, in fact, had great respect for Father Murphy and behaved admirably around him. His alcoholic and violent father was thirty years older than Sonnys Username and password are case sensitive. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. (There is some speculation about his year of He quickly destroyed all the leading heavyweight contenders--Roy Harris, Zora Folley, Cleveland Williams--to earn a title shot against Floyd Patterson. Paroled in 1952, he had a brief amateur career, winning several Golden Gloves championships and defeating 1952 Olympic heavyweight champion Ed Sanders. The subsequent rematch with Clay on May 25, 1965, included the infamous phantom punch. Though it appeared that Liston had barely been grazed by Clays right fist, the boxer went down just one minute and 45 seconds into the first round. After his release, Liston relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his career quickly flourished again. Liston is another. Hardly. Gallender, Paul. His relationship status is single. At 6 feet 1 inch and 217 pounds, Liston had devastating punching power, an iron chin, and lightning reflexes, along with a powerful jab. The dark side is evident. . Sonny Liston was born in Sand Slough, AR on May 8, 1932. By that time, Liston had already attracted the attention of organized crime. Twenty-two-year-old Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, defeated reigning world boxing champ Sonny Liston on this day in history, Feb. 25, 1964, in Miami, Florida.
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