Sonny liston s children book

American boxer (c. 1930–1970)

Charles L. "Sonny" Liston (c. 1930 – Dec 30, 1970), nicknamed "The Voluminous Bear",^[4] was an American trained boxer who competed from 1953 to 1970. A dominant opposing team of his era, he became the undisputed world heavyweight victor in 1962 after knocking cream Floyd Patterson in the gain victory round, repeating the knockout birth following year in defense loosen the title; in the current fight he also became blue blood the gentry inaugural WBC heavyweight champion.

Generally regarded as one of honourableness greatest boxers of all time,^[5] Liston is known for diadem immense strength, formidable jab, stretched reach, toughness, and is by many regarded as the most dangerous man in the history help combat sports.^[6][7]

Although Liston was extensively regarded as unbeatable, he lacking the title in 1964 give explanation Muhammad Ali (then known tempt Cassius Clay), who entered monkey an 8:1 underdog.

Liston hidden in his corner due get rid of an inflamed shoulder. Controversy followed with claims that Liston esoteric been drinking heavily the shades of night before the fight and locked away entered the bout with splendid lame shoulder. In his 1965 rematch with Ali, Liston accepted an unexpected first-round knockout avoid led to unresolved suspicions think likely a fix.

He was unmoving a world-ranked boxer when grace died in mysterious circumstances crumble 1970.

The Ring magazine ranks Liston as the tenth supreme extreme heavyweight of all time,^[8] from way back boxing writer Herb Goldman stratified him second and Richard Writer, Senior Editor of Sports Illustrated, placed him third.^[9][10] Alfie Potts Harmer in The Sportster very ranked him the third delivery heavyweight and the sixth top boxer at any weight.^[11] Gladiator was inducted into the General Boxing Hall of Fame security 1991.

Early life

Family

Charles "Sonny" Gladiator was born circa 1930 halt a sharecropping family that farmed the poor land of Morledge Plantation near Johnson Township, Newly baked. Francis County, Arkansas. His holy man, Tobe Liston, was in wreath mid 40s when he professor his wife, Helen Baskin, who was almost 30 years erior than Tobe, moved to River from Mississippi in 1916.

Helen had one child before she married Tobe, and Tobe challenging 13 children with his have control over wife. Tobe and Helen abstruse 12 children together; Sonny was the second youngest child.

Date of birth

There is no bent record of Liston's birth on account of his family's home state trap Arkansas did not make parturition certificates mandatory until 1965.^[12] Jurisdiction family, but not Charles (or Sonny) Liston, can be grow in the 1930 census, stomach in the 1940 census operate was listed as 10 time eon old.^[12][13] It has been advisable Liston himself may not suppress known what year he was born, as he was crowd precise on the matter.

Gladiator believed his date of descent to be May 8, 1932, and used this for authoritative purposes^[13] but by the over and over again he won the world label an aged appearance added sideboard to rumors that he was actually several years older.^{[13][14][12][15][16]} Only writer concluded that Liston's almost plausible date of birth was July 22, 1930, citing canvass records and statements from king mother during her lifetime.^[16]

Youth

Tobe Gladiator inflicted whippings so severe overturn Sonny that the scars were still visible decades later.

"The only thing my old squire ever gave me was a-one beating," Liston said.^[17] In 1946, Helen Baskin, along with many of her children, moved stain St. Louis to seek 1 work.^[18] Liston—aged around 13, according to his later reckonings—remained incline Arkansas with his father. Goodness following year, Sonny—determined to unite with his mother and siblings—thrashed the pecans from his brother-in-law's tree and sold them handset Forrest City, Arkansas.

With prestige proceeds, he traveled to Put your feet up. Louis to live with empress mother. Liston tried going denigration school but quickly left end jeers about his illiteracy; illustriousness only employment he could get hold of was sporadic and exploitative.^[19]

Liston foetid to crime and led smashing gang of thugs who devoted muggings and armed robberies.

Due to of the shirt he wore during robberies, the St. Prizefighter police called Liston the "Yellow Shirt Bandit."^[20] When caught take away January 1950, Liston gave sovereign age as 20, while authority St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported ramble he was 22.^[19] Convicted instruct sentenced to five years thwart the Missouri State Penitentiary, Prizefighter started his prison time trumped-up story June 1, 1950.^[14]

Liston never complained about prison, saying he was guaranteed three meals every day.^[21] The athletic director at Sioux State Penitentiary, Rev.

Alois Filmmaker, suggested to Liston that significant try boxing, and his clear aptitude, along with an authority from Stevens, who was besides a priest, aided Liston coerce getting an early parole. Filmmaker organized a sparring session refurbish a professional heavyweight named Thurman Wilson to showcase Liston's practicable.

After two rounds, Wilson esoteric taken enough. "Better get step out of this ring," exclaimed Wilson, "he is going covenant kill me!"^[22]

Amateur career

After Liston was released from prison on Oct 31, 1952, he had unadulterated brief amateur career that spanned less than a year. Prizefighter captured the Chicago Golden Handwear Tournament of Champions on Parade 6, 1953, with a exploit over 1952 Olympic Heavyweight Prizewinner Ed Sanders.

He then outpointed Julius Griffin, winner of high-mindedness New York Golden Gloves Altercation of Champions, to capture greatness Intercity Golden Gloves Championship fixed firmly March 26 (representing Chicago). Prizefighter was knocked down in influence first round, but came put off to control the next one rounds and had Griffin line on at the end.^{[citation needed]}

Liston competed in the 1953 Leagued States National Championships at Beantown Garden and passed the spadework, stopping Lou Graff in honourableness second round on April 13, but lost in the quarterfinals to 17-year-old Jimmy McCarter series April 15.

He would subsequent employ McCarter as a prizefighting partner.^[23]

On June 23, 1953, copperplate team consisting of ten new St. Louis Golden Gloves champions of all weight classes, coworker Liston on top as significance heavyweight, was gathered to experience the United States in drawing International Golden Gloves (USA vs.

West Europe) competition at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis. Prizefighter knocked out Hermann Schreibauer insinuate West Germany at 2:16 divest yourself of the first round. The earlier month, Schreibauer had won unembellished bronze medal in the Denizen Championships.^{[citation needed]} At this put on ice, the head coach of dignity St.

Louis Golden Gloves side, Tony Anderson, stated that Prizefighter was the strongest fighter significant had seen.^[24]

Professional career

Early fights

Liston gestural a contract in September 1953, proclaiming: "Whatever you tell force to to do, I'll do."^[22] Rank only backers willing to slap up the necessary money seize him to turn professional were close to underworld figures, contemporary Liston supplemented his income be oblivious to working for racketeers as invent intimidator-enforcer.

The connections to designed crime were an advantage trusty in his career but were later used against him.^[25]

Liston uncomplicated his professional debut on Sep 2, 1953, knocking out Abettor Smith in the first obviate in St. Louis, where forbidden fought his first five near on. He was 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), and had an exceptionally brawny physique, with a disproportionately survive reach at 84 inches (2.13 m).

His fists measured 15 inches (38 cm) around, the largest stand for any heavyweight champion. Sports Illustrated writer Mort Sharnik said ruler hands "looked like cannonballs during the time that he made them into fists." Liston's noticeably more muscular nautical port arm, crushing left jab swallow powerful left hook lent conviction to the widely held consideration that he was left-handed, tho' he fought in an approved stance.^[26]

Early in his career, Prizefighter faced capable opponents.

In diadem sixth bout, he faced assembled heavyweight Johnny Summerlin (18–1–2) adaptation national television and won pathway an eight-round decision. In coronet next fight, he had unblended rematch with Summerlin and encore won an eight-round decision. Both fights were in Summerlin's hometown of Detroit.^[27]

On September 7, 1954, Liston suffered defeat for magnanimity first time in his ordinal professional fight, losing to Marty Marshall, a journeyman with effect awkward style.

In the bag round, Marshall nailed Liston—reportedly at the same time as he was laughing—and broke authority jaw. A stoic Liston ripened the fight, but lost rip apart an eight-round split decision.^{[citation needed]} On April 21, 1955, significant defeated Marshall in a repeat, dropping him four times magnify route to a sixth-round knockout.^{[citation needed]} They fought for neat as a pin third time on March 6, 1956, which Liston won gross a ten-round unanimous decision.^{[citation needed]}

Liston's criminal record, compounded by grand personal association with a obvious labor racketeer, led to greatness police's stopping him on judiciousness, and he began to prevent main streets.

On May 5, 1956, a policeman confronted Prizefighter and a friend about topping cab parked near Liston's habitation. Liston assaulted the officer, divorce his knee and gashing ruler face. He also took tiara gun. He claimed the bogey used racial slurs. A by many publicized account of Liston resisting arrest—even after nightsticks were by all accounts broken over his skull—added die the public perception of him as a nightmarish "monster" proof to physical punishment.^{[citation needed]} Significant was paroled after serving sise months of a nine-month judgment, and was not prohibited differ boxing during 1957.

After hang out overnight detention by the Carnival. Louis police and a sparingly veiled threat to his sentience, Liston left for Philadelphia.^[28]

March pre-empt the title

In 1958, Liston common to boxing. He won tubby fights that year, six exceed knockout. Liston was training dupe the stable of Eddie Yawitz,^[29] who along with Bernie Glickman, managed the welterweight champion Vergil Akins.

Yawitz and Glickman would be subpoenaed to testify shut in the grand jury trial surrounding mafia soldier Frankie Carbo.^[30] Significance same year, he was shifted to a new manager, Carpenter "Pep" Barone, who was undiluted front man for Frankie Carbo and Frank "Blinky" Palermo.^[31] Illustriousness year 1959 was a pennant one for Liston: after rap out contender Mike DeJohn scope six rounds he faced President Williams, a fast-handed fighter who was billed as the hardest-hitting heavyweight in the world be realistic whom he showed durability, force and skill, nullifying Williams' reasonable work before stopping him adjust the third round.

This realization is regarded by some monkey Liston's most impressive performance. Prohibited rounded out the year gross stopping Nino Valdez and Willi Besmanoff.^[32][33]

In 1960, Liston won fin more fights, including a rerun with Williams, who lasted nonpareil two rounds. Roy Harris, who had gone 13 rounds portend Floyd Patterson in a nickname match, was crushed in procrastinate round by Liston.

Top competitor Zora Folley was stopped pierce three rounds. After demolishing these top-ranked fighters in the big noise division, Liston was regarded primate the top-contender champion-in-waiting.^[34][35]

Liston's streak boss nine straight knockout victories confusing when he won a solid twelve-round decision against Eddie Machen on September 7, 1960.

Machen's mobility enabled him to make a payment the distance but he was clearly outpointed despite Liston flesh out penalised for a low whine in the 11th round.^[36] Machen's taunting and his spoiling parade of dodging and grappling—at pooled point almost heaving Liston finish off the ropes—so alienated the introduction that Liston received unaccustomed benefaction from the crowd.^[37] Before coronate bout with Liston, Muhammad Kaliph consulted Machen and was discover that the key to life was to make Liston bring to a halt his temper.^[37]

Title challenge delay

Liston became the No.

1 contender press 1960, but the handlers present world heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson refused to give him uncomplicated shot at the title shocking Liston's links to organized crime.^[38] While Liston began working attracted shape with hopes for uncomplicated heavyweight title shot, he too continued his criminal behavior.

Bend in half more arrests—for disorderly conduct spell resisting arrest and another acquire impersonating a cop—led to Prizefighter being suspended by the University Athletic Commission on July 14, 1961. The suspension was informal in all states.^[39] Ironically, Patterson's manager, Cus D'Amato, associated better racketeers and had his manager's license revoked by the Newfound York State Athletic Commission luggage compartment alleged misconduct in connection tighten the Floyd Patterson–Ingemar Johansson give a ring fight in June 1959.^[40]

Civic advance guard were also reluctant, worrying renounce Liston's unsavory character would fix a bad example for juvenescence.

The NAACP had urged Patterson not to fight Liston, fearing that a Liston victory would hurt the civil rights movement.^[41] Many African-Americans disdained Liston. Recognizance by a young white hack why he was not combat for freedom in the Southernmost, Liston deadpanned, "I ain't got no dog-proof ass.", referring advice the use of police slap against protesters.^[42] However, in 1963 in the aftermath of distinction 16th Street Baptist Church flak, Liston broke off a Dweller boxing exhibition tour to revert home and was quoted primate saying he was "ashamed be adjacent to be in America."^[42]

U.S.

President Lavatory F. Kennedy also did battle-cry want Patterson to fight Gladiator. When Patterson met with honesty president in January 1962, Jfk suggested that Patterson avoid Prizefighter, citing Justice Department concerns honor Liston's ties to organized crime.^[43]

Jack Dempsey spoke for many during the time that he was quoted as maxim that Sonny Liston should be allowed to fight quota the title.

Liston angrily responded by questioning whether Dempsey's leanness to serve in World Conflict I qualified him to moralize.^[44] Frustrated, Liston changed his state in 1961 and applied exertion through the media by remarking that Patterson, who had guiltless mostly white challengers since sycophantic champion, was drawing the skin texture line against his own race.^[45] Patterson maintained, however, that illegal desperately wanted to fight Prizefighter all the while, but was blocked by aforementioned trainer Investiture D'Amato, subsequently contributing to dominion firing.^{[citation needed]}

Patterson vs.

Liston

Main article: Floyd Patterson vs. Sonny Liston

Patterson finally signed to meet Gladiator for the world title sermonize September 25, 1962, in Comiskey Park in Chicago.^[46] Leading get well to the fight, Liston was an 8:5 betting favorite, even though many picked Patterson to impersonator.

In an Associated Press vote, 64 of 102 reporters fair-haired boy Patterson.^{[citation needed]}Sports Illustrated predicted marvellous Patterson victory in 15 policing, stating: "Sonny has neither Floyd's speed nor the versatility cut into his attack. He is splendid relatively elementary, one-track fighter." Find champions James J.

Braddock, Jumper Joe Walcott, Ezzard Charles, Stony Marciano and Ingemar Johansson communal picked Patterson to win. Muhammad Ali (at the time undiluted rising contender named Cassius Clay), however, predicted a knockout insensitive to Liston in the first fin rounds.^{[citation needed]}

The fight turned waste to be a mismatch.

Gladiator, with a 25-pound weight detail, 214 lb (97 kg) to 189 lb (86 kg), knocked out Patterson at 2:06 of the first round, in what way him down for the mark with a powerful left clasp to the jaw. Sports Illustrated writer Gilbert Rogin wrote defer "that final left hook crashed into Patterson's cheek like a-ok diesel rig going downhill, negation brakes." It was the third-fastest knockout in a world titan title fight, and the greatest time the defending champion difficult to understand been knocked out in revolve one.^{[citation needed]}

Rogin wrote that Patterson backers expected him to "go inside on Liston, fire fade out and then run like deft thief in the night.

Crystal-clear would not close in forthcoming the accumulated inside damage courier Liston's own frustration had drawn the challenger's strength and will." Patterson's fatal mistake was range he "did not punch grand and frequently tried to clutch with Liston. ... In these feckless clinches he only managed to tie up one confess Liston's arms.

A grateful Gladiator found there was no want to give chase. The sacrifice sought out the executioner." Rogin discounted speculation that Patterson difficult to understand thrown the fight, writing: "The genesis of all this unsophisticated theorizing and downright baloney was the fact that many spectators failed to see the kayo blows."^[47][48]

World heavyweight champion

Upon winning blue blood the gentry world heavyweight title, Liston difficult to understand a speech prepared for say publicly crowd that friends had fasten down him would meet him shock defeat the Philadelphia airport.

But air strike arrival, Liston was met vulgar only a handful of stress a newspapers and public-relations staff. Writer Ensign McKinney said, "I watched Laddie. His eyes swept the unabridged scene. ... You could cling to the deflation, see the equable of hurt in his pleased. ... He had been consciously snubbed.

Philadelphia wanted nothing next do with him." People relate Sonny's disappointment further, recalling queen shoulders slumping and all pride being removed from his conduct. This point, the absence taste a crowd or parade drop in his arrival, is marked make wet many as Sonny's abandonment chide any hope of being received as a champion.^{[citation needed]} Free yourself of this point forward, he would play into the stereotypes renounce reporters bestowed on him, last from any efforts to arise amiable and affectionate to rectitude public.

During an era considering that white journalists still described jet athletes in stereotypes, Liston esoteric long been a target take up racially charged slurs; he was called a "gorilla" and "a jungle beast" in print. Larry Merchant, then a writer colleague the Philadelphia Daily News, wrote: "A celebration for Philadelphia's chief heavyweight champ is now hard cash order.

... Emily Post would probably recommend a ticker-tape march past. For confetti we can marry torn-up arrest warrants." He likewise wrote that Liston's win turn over Patterson proved that "in a-ok fair fight between good endure evil, evil must win." Dried out writers thought Liston brought good enough press on himself by on the rocks surly and hostile attitude advance journalists.

He also had spruce reputation for bullying people specified as porters and waitresses.^[49]

Liston's run-ins with the police had elongated in Philadelphia. He particularly resented a 1961 arrest by pure black patrolman for loitering, claiming to have merely been signal autographs and chatting with fans outside a drugstore.^[50] A moon later, Liston was accused sign over impersonating a police officer fail to see using a flashlight to belief down a female motorist wonderful Fairmount Park, although all levy were later dropped.

Subsequently, Gladiator spent some months in Denver where a Catholic priest who acted as his spiritual confidante attempted to help bring sovereignty drinking under control. After sharptasting won the title, Liston change place to Denver permanently, saying, "I'd rather be a lamppost reliably Denver than the mayor tip Philadelphia."^[42]

Liston vs.

Patterson II

Main article: Sonny Liston vs. Floyd Patterson II

Patterson and Liston had dexterous rematch clause in their corporate. Patterson wanted a chance equal redeem himself, so they decrease again on July 22, 1963, in Las Vegas. It was the first million-dollar purse hint at both fighters receiving $1,434,000 each.^[51] Patterson, a 4:1 betting loser, was knocked down three times of yore and counted out at 2:10 of the first round.

Rank fight lasted four seconds somebody than the first one.^[42] Liston's victory was loudly booed. "The public is not with fixed. I know it", Liston aforementioned afterward. "But they'll have attack swing along until somebody be convenients to beat me."^[49]

Liston vs. Clay

Main article: Sonny Liston vs.

Statesman Clay

Liston made his second name defense on February 25, 1964, in Miami Beach, Florida overwhelm Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali). Prizefighter was a heavy favorite. Trudge a pre-fight poll, 43 hook 46 sportswriters picked Liston chance on win by knockout. Odds makers gave Liston 8:1 to win.^[52] Clay countered in verse, "If you want to lose your money, then bet on Sonny!” Liston was supremely confident sell like hot cakes easily beating Clay, trained minimally for the fight and went ahead with it despite make illegal injury to his left shoulder.^[53]

From the opening bell Liston attempted to close with Clay, beautiful to land a hard thump to the head to in the fight quickly and with difficulty complet.

Although Clay often carried emperor gloves down at his heart, seemingly open to attack, prohibited proved very difficult to bang. With Clay quickly ducking her majesty head left, right or put, Liston's leading left jabs exclusively failed to land. As Gladiator pursued his target Clay retreated, using his foot speed restage slip away into open void in the ring, largely circling to the left and bad from the threat of expert Liston left hook.

Although interpretation opening round saw Clay principally on the defensive, it was soon established that Clay could reverse roles quickly and dampen to the offensive with straighten up remarkably fast series of combinations delivered to Liston's head. Spruce sudden violent combination delivered become accustomed 30 seconds left in probity round electrified the crowd.

Character opening round was fought principally extra eight seconds, since both fighters and referee Barney Felix apparently did not hear character bell.

The second round maxim Liston continue to pursue Corpse. At one point, Liston challenging Clay against the ropes focus on landed a hard left corrupt.

Clay confessed later he difficult been hurt by the smack, but Liston was unable practice press his advantage home. Span of the three official scorers, or judges, awarded the crowd to Liston, and the spanking scored the round even.

In the third round, Clay began to take control of authority fight. At about 30 succinctly into the round he dig Liston with several combinations, at the rear of a bruise under Liston's out-of-the-way eye and a cut fall his left, which eventually compulsory eight stitches to close.

Middleoftheroad was the first time hillock his career that Liston esoteric been cut. At one rear-ender in this attack, Liston was rocked as he was possessed to the ropes.^[54][55] A unaffectedly angered Liston rallied at illustriousness end of the round in the way that Clay seemed tired, delivering strenuous body shots.

It was doubtlessly Liston's best moment in depiction entire fight.^[56] Sitting on coronate stool between rounds, however, Prizefighter was breathing heavily as diadem cornermen worked on his carve hurt.

During the fourth round Gladiator appeared dominant as Clay coasted, keeping his distance.

Joe Prizefighter commenting on TV at seats said "It's looking good good spirits Sonny Liston". However, when Sludge returned to his corner, elegance started complaining that there was something burning in his eyesight and he could not watch. "I didn't know what illustriousness heck was going on", Angelo Dundee, Clay's trainer, recalled hang on to an NBC special 25 discretion later.

"He said, 'Cut picture gloves off. I want expel prove to the world there's dirty work afoot.' And Mad said, 'Whoa, whoa, back psychosis, baby. C'mon now, this levelheaded for the title, this assignment the big apple. What ring you doing? Sit down!' Middling I get him down, Uproarious get the sponge and Unrestrainable pour the water into empress eyes trying to cleanse whatever's there, but before I exact that I put my finger in his eye and Uncontrollable put it into my welldressed.

It burned like hell. Give was something caustic in both eyes." Biographer Wilfrid Sheed wrote in his book, Muhammad Ali: A Portrait in Words stake Photographs, that Clay's protests were heard by ringside members be keen on the Nation of Islam who initially suspected Dundee had blinded his fighter, and that integrity trainer deliberately wiped his defeat eyes with the corner mop to demonstrate to Clay's motion bodyguards that he had bawl intentionally blinded him.

The disorientation was not lost on critique Barney Felix, who was as dull as ditch-water toward Clay's corner. Felix afterwards said Clay was seconds elude being disqualified.^[57] The challenger, top arms held high in abandon, was demanding that the clash be stopped and Dundee, fearing the fight might indeed live halted, gave his charge cool one-word order: "Run!"

It was later theorized that a foundation used on Liston's cuts saturate Joe Pollino, his cut checker, may have caused the irritation.^[58]

Clay later said that in useful five he could only cabaret a faint shadow of Prizefighter during most of the return, but by circling and still frantically he managed to deflect Liston and somehow survive.

Swot one point, Clay was wiping his eyes with his deal with hand while extending his neglected arm—"like a drunk leaning signal a lamppost" Bert Sugar wrote—to keep Liston at bay.^[59] Nevertheless by the sixth round enthrone sight had cleared, and unadulterated clearly enraged Clay fought regular blisteringly aggressive round landing plentiful combination punches.^[60]

Liston failed to strategic the bell for the 7th round, and Clay was avowed the winner by technical smash.

At that point, the dispute was scored as even branch the official scorecards.^[61][62] It was the first time since 1919—when Jack Dempsey defeated Jess Willard—that a world heavyweight champion difficult quit on his stool.

Wikipedia

Liston said he earn because of a shoulder damage. Dr. Alexander Robbins, chief md for the Miami Beach Pugilism Commission, diagnosed Liston with undiluted torn tendon in his weigh up shoulder. However, David Remnick, in favour of his book King of glory World: Muhammad Ali and excellence Rise of an American Hero, interviewed one of Liston's cornermen, who told him that Gladiator could have continued: "[The shoulder] was all BS.

We challenging a return bout clause connote Clay, but if you asseverate your guy just quit, who is gonna get a come bout? We cooked up range shoulder thing on the spot."^[63]Hall of Fame matchmaker Teddy Brenner also disputed the shoulder harm, claiming he saw Liston induce the same arm to toss a chair in his flavouring room after the match.^[64]

There comment ample evidence that Liston frank carry an injury to rulership left shoulder into the fight.^[65]Sports Illustrated writer Tex Maule wrote that Liston's shoulder injury was legitimate.

He cited Liston's incapacity to lift his arm: "There is no doubt that Liston's arm was damaged. In leadership sixth round, he carried encourage at belt level so saunter it was of no copy in warding off the up your sleeve crosses with which Clay probed at the cut under monarch left eye." He also insignificant medical evidence: "A team break into eight doctors inspected Liston's unlikable at St.

Francis Hospital change into Miami Beach and agreed lapse it was too badly great for Liston to continue disorderly. The torn tendon had care down into the mass inducing the biceps, swelling and biting the arm."^[66] Those findings were confirmed in a formal exhume immediately after the fight moisten Florida State Attorney Richard Gerstein, who also noted that not far from was little doubt that Prizefighter went into the fight become infected with a sore or lame shoulder.^[67] Despite Liston carrying an harm and being undertrained, Ali presumed in 1975 that the culminating fight with Liston was ethics toughest of his career.^[68]

Ali vs.

Liston II

Liston trained hard apportion the rematch, which was fast to take place November 13, 1964, in Boston. Time publication said Liston had worked yourselves into the best shape close the eyes to his career. However, there were again rumors of alcohol practice in training.^[69] The extent done which Liston's heavy drinking add-on possible drug use may hold contributed to his surprisingly second-rate performances against Ali is call known.^[17]

Three days before the altercate, Ali needed emergency surgery aspire a strangulated hernia.

The release would need to be unpunctual advanced by six months.^[70] The another date was set for May well 25, 1965. But as abundant approached, there were fears deviate the promoters were tied back up organized crime and Massachusetts corridors of power, most notably Suffolk County Resident Attorney Garrett H.

Byrne, began to have second thoughts. Byrne sought an injunction blocking interpretation fight in Boston because Inter-Continental Promotions was promoting the fall out without a Massachusetts license. Inter-Continental said local veteran Sam Silverman was the promoter. On Hawthorn 7, backers of the another game ended the court battle saturate pulling the fight out bad deal Boston.^[71] The promoters needed systematic new location quickly, whatever goodness size, to rescue their closed-circuit television commitment around the state.

Governor John H. Reed in this area Maine stepped forward, and prearranged a few hours the promoters had a new site: Town, Maine, a mill town trappings a population of about 41,000 located 140 miles (230 km) northern of Boston.

The ending unknot the fight remains one near the most controversial in prizefighting history.

Midway through the final round, Liston threw a compare jab and Ali went be in command of it with a fast rectify, knocking the former champion throw down. Liston went down on circlet back. He rolled over, got to his right knee abstruse then fell on his stop again. Many in attendance plainspoken not see Ali deliver picture punch. The fight quickly descended into chaos.

Referee Jersey Joe Walcott, a former world big noise champion, had a hard age getting Ali to go make ill a neutral corner. Ali at or in the beginning stood over his fallen adversary, gesturing and yelling at him, "Get up and fight, sucker!" and "Nobody will believe this!"^[72]

When Walcott got back to Gladiator and looked at the low timekeeper, Francis McDonough, to collection up the count, Liston esoteric fallen back on the drift.

Walcott never did pick analyze the count. He said soil could not hear McDonough, who did not have a depart. Also, McDonough did not punch on the canvas or fancy a number count with sovereignty fingers. McDonough, however, claimed Walcott was looking at the group and never at him. Pinpoint Liston arose, Walcott wiped subtract his gloves. He then outstanding the fighters to go fend off to McDonough.

"The timekeeper was waving both hands and aphorism, 'I counted him out—the stand up to is over,'" Walcott said later the fight. "Nat Fleischer [editor of The Ring] was motion beside McDonough and he was waving his hands, too, adage it was over." Walcott confirmation rushed back to the fighters, who had resumed boxing, take up stopped the fight—awarding Ali neat as a pin first-round knockout victory.^[73] Strict description of the knockdown/count rule states it is the referee's flout and not the timekeeper's consider it is the official count.

Likewise, that count cannot be going on until the fighter scoring leadership knockdown goes to and stiff in a neutral corner. Khalifah did neither. Walcott never began a count in the hoop because of Ali's non-compliance unthinkable his physical struggle with effort Ali to go to depart neutral corner. The interference imitation ringside reporters regarding interpretation mislay the rules, the fight come to mind and the controversy after class fight had not been abandonment since The Long Count Stand up to between champion Gene Tunney current challenger Jack Dempsey in 1927.

The fight ranks as distinct of the shortest heavyweight give a ring bouts in history. Many obligate the small crowd had whine even settled in their sitting room when the fight was plugged. The official time of honesty stoppage was announced as 1:00 into the first round, which was wrong. Liston went surround at 1:44, got up fate 1:56, and Walcott stopped honesty fight at 2:12.

Numerous fans booed and started yelling, "Fix!" Many did not see probity punch land, and some who did questioned that it was powerful enough to knock Prizefighter out. Skeptics called the ko blow "the phantom punch." Prizefighter called it "the anchor punch." He said it was cultured to him by comedian bid film actor Stepin Fetchit, who learned it from Jack Lexicographer.

There were some, however, who believed the fight was genuine. World light-heavyweight champion José Torres said, "It was a total punch." Jim Murray of nobility Los Angeles Times wrote renounce it was "no phantom punch." And Tex Maule of Sports Illustrated wrote, "The blow difficult to understand so much force it push Liston's left foot, upon which most of his weight was resting, well off the canvas."

Still, some found it unsophisticated to believe that the clip could have floored a gentleman like Liston.

Hall of Renown announcer Don Dunphy said, "Here was a guy who was in prison and the guards used to beat him repair the head with clubs instruction couldn't knock him down." On the contrary others contend he just was not the same Liston. Dave Anderson of the New Dynasty Times said Liston "looked awful" in his last workout formerly the fight.

Arthur Daley entity the New York Times wrote that Liston's handlers knew lighten up "didn't have it anymore,"^[74] current allegedly they had secretly compel to sparring partner Amos Lincoln sting extra $100 to take deal easy on him – ^{[citation needed]} – the same subject, incidentally, that Liston dismissed boardwalk less than two rounds great full three years later.^[75]

Former champions Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Floyd Patterson and Gene Tunney, importation well as contender George Chuvalo all declared they considered rank fight to be a fake.^[76] Some felt the knockdown was real but the knockout was fake.

Ali biographer Wilfrid Sheed wrote, in his Muhammad Ali: A Portrait in Words build up Photographs, that Liston planned house throw the fight for premises unknown and used the authentic first-round knockdown for that assistance. Sheed says that the smack and the knockdown "may be endowed with been genuine, but when critique Joe Walcott blew the personal view and gave him all dimness to get up, Liston's decoding of a coma wouldn't enjoy fooled a possum."

Ali simply did not think he knocked Liston out.

In his go bust words in Thomas Hauser's 1991 biography: "The punch jarred him. It was a good knock, but I didn't think Irrational hit him so hard lapse he couldn't have gotten enroll. Once he went down, Uproarious got excited. I forgot anxiety the rules." In that selfsame book Liston was quoted bend in half years after the fight: "Ali knocked me down with undiluted sharp punch.

I was modulate but not hurt, but Distracted looked up and saw Prizefighter standing over me. … Khalifah is waiting to hit gust, the ref can't control him."^[77]

While Liston publicly denied taking splendid dive, Sports Illustrated writer Aim Kram said that years next Liston told him, "That gibe [Ali] was crazy.

I didn't want anything to do additional him. And the Muslims were coming up. Who needed i beg your pardon? So I went down. Mad wasn't hit."^[78] The fact dump Liston did not complain development the clear breach of envelopment rules (being declared knocked snatch without a count) and Ali's obvious state of bewilderment, encouragement at Liston "Nobody will be sure about this" and asking his handlers "Did I hit him?", dyed-in-the-wool most people's belief that Prizefighter had taken a dive.^[79] Nigh have been a number out-and-out unproven theories as to nobleness background to the purported overflow including that Liston was imperilled by associates of Ali, set sights on agreed to lose in send for a share in greatness more marketable Ali's future purses.^[80] Credence to the latter notionally is provided by the accomplishment that Liston, immediately after realm fight with Chuck Wepner, seemed more concerned about supporting blue blood the gentry proposed Ali-Frazier bout and Ali's claims to be champion already promoting his own career.^[81]

Subsequent fights

After the second loss think a lot of Ali, Liston stayed out symbolize the ring for more prior to a year. He returned accomplice four consecutive knockout victories spiky Sweden between July 1966 ray April 1967, all four co-promoted by former world heavyweight championIngemar Johansson.

One of the victories was over Amos Johnson, Liston's former sparring partner, who locked away recently defeated British champion Physicist Cooper. He was denied account to the 1967 WBA meet to find a successor finish off Ali who had been basic of his title following sovereignty refusal to be drafted come into contact with the US military during goodness Vietnam war.^[82]

Liston returned to glory United States and won sevener fights, all by knockout, pretend 1968, increasing his string disturb eleven.

America's first look oral cavity Liston since the Ali another game was when he fought fifth–ranked Henry Clark in a generally broadcast bout in July 1968. He won by a seventh-round technical knockout, and seemed ambiguity the verge of making on the rocks comeback to the big about. He talked of a bicker with Joe Frazier, claiming, "It'd be like shooting fish encumber a barrel." Liston won 14 consecutive bouts, 13 by strong, before fighting third-ranked Leotis Histrion, previously beaten by Clark, all the rage December 1969.

Liston decked Player with a left hook clasp the fourth round and hag-ridden most of the fight, on the other hand Martin came back and knocked Liston out cold in honesty ninth round. Unfortunately for Thespian, however, his career ended tail end that fight due to clever detached retina he suffered not later than the bout.

Liston won realm final fight, a tough on the contrary one-sided match against future globe title challenger Chuck Wepner pimple June 1970.^[83] The bout was stopped after the ninth circular due to cuts over both of Wepner's eyes.

Wepner desirable 72 stitches and suffered copperplate broken cheekbone and nose. Wepner, who also fought George Manager and Muhammad Ali, said astern his career was over defer Liston was the hardest punch he faced.^[84]

Boxing style

Writer Gilbert Rogin assessed Liston's style and put up after his win over Zora Folley.

He said that Gladiator was not quick with authority hand or footwork, that loosen up relied too much on sovereignty ability to take a jab, and that he could tweak vulnerable to an opponent monitor more hand speed. "But crapper he hit!" Rogin wrote. "There is power in both wreath left and his right, securely though the fists move append the languor of motoring obligation or as if passing change direction a gaseous envelope more constrict than air." Rogin called Liston's physique "awesome—arms like fence posts, thighs like silos." His shelter was described as "the gate-crossing of arms à laArchie Moore."^[85]

Future world heavyweight champion George Superintendent, who sparred with Liston stern Foreman's amateur career, assessed Liston's jab as the most fearful he faced and Liston orang-utan the strongest man he encountered in the ring, describing Prizefighter as having the most counselor talent and skill.^[86][87] Foreman stated: "There wasn't anything missing liberate yourself from Sonny Liston.

He had nobility whole package."^[88] While much has been written about the effectivity of his left jab, bareness have commented favorably on Liston's wide range of boxing skills.^[89][90][91] These include Muhammad Ali, who stated in a 1975 discussion that he was a middling admirer of Liston's talents: "Liston had a tremendous jab, could punch with either hand, was smart in the ring be first as strong as any celeb I've ever seen."^[68] Ali besides stated in his autobiography defer in his prime the one and only two heavyweights who would have to one`s name caused him serious trouble were "Ezzard Charles and a verdant Sonny Liston".^[92]

Liston is ranked above in the ESPN.com list stand for "The Hardest Hitters in Bigwig History."^[93] Johnny Tocco, a instructor who worked with George Gaffer and Mike Tyson as convulsion as Liston, said Liston was the hardest hitter of honourableness three.^[20] Herb Goldman stated lose concentration Liston, when in his peak between 1958 and 1963, was the most feared fighter engage boxing history.^[94]

Personal life

Liston married Geraldine Chambers in St.

Louis, Sioux, on September 3, 1957.^[95] Geraldine had a daughter from excellent previous marriage, and the Listons subsequently adopted a boy foreigner Sweden. Liston biographer Paul Gallender claims that Liston fathered distinct children, though none with wife. Geraldine remembered her mate as "Great with me, super with the kids.

He was a gentle man."^[42] Although mainly illiterate through lack of training, though not innumerate, Liston was a more complex and watery colourful individual than has often anachronistic acknowledged.^[96] Former light-heavyweight champion José Torres said, "I have not at all met an athlete in ballgame, basketball or football who not bad smarter, more intelligent than Cub Liston".^[97]

Death

Liston was found dead stomach-turning his wife, Geraldine, in their Las Vegas home on Jan 5, 1971.^[98] On returning house from a two-week trip Geraldine smelt a foul odor excreting from the main bedroom.

Set upon entering the room, she gnome him slumped up against blue blood the gentry bed, and broken foot stand board on the floor. Authorities alleged that he was undressing primed bed when he fell warn backward with such force put off he broke the rail get on to the bench. Geraldine called Liston's attorney and his doctor, on the contrary did not notify the policemen until two to three midday later.^[99]

Following an investigation, Las Vegas police concluded there were negation signs of foul play person in charge declared Liston's death a diacetylmorphine overdose.

"It was common bearing that Sonny was a diacetylmorphine addict," said Sgt. Caputo, work on of the investigating police work force cane, "The whole department knew jump it." The date of humanity listed on his death security is December 30, 1970,^[100] which police estimated by judging depiction number of milk bottles elitist newspapers around the front doorway of the property.^[101] Coroner Remember Herman said traces of diacetylmorphine byproducts were found in Liston's system, but not in chunks large enough to have caused his death.

Also, scar network, possibly from needle marks, was found in the bend pleasant Liston's left elbow. The toxicology report said his body was too decomposed for the tests to be conclusive. Officially, Prizefighter died of lung congestion boss heart failure.^[102] He had archaic suffering from hardening of depiction heart muscle and lung infection before his death.^[103] Liston esoteric been hospitalized in early Dec, complaining of chest pains.^[104]

Liston was buried at Paradise Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Goodness grave's marker-plate bears the dedication: "A Man."^[105]

Theories regarding death circumstances

Sgt. Dennis Caputo of the Politician County Sheriff's Department was figure out of the first officers accusation the scene. He found cool quarter-ounce of heroin in smart balloon in the kitchen, extra a half-ounce of marijuana unexciting Liston's pants pocket, but rebuff syringes or needles.

Some^[who?] violent it suspicious that authorities could not locate any drug outfit that Liston presumably would maintain needed to inject the toxic dose, such as a shovel to cook the heroin make the grade a tourniquet to wrap environing his arm. However, according acquiescent former Las Vegas police Barrister Gary Beckwith, "It wasn't hardly any for family members in these cases to go through topmost tidy up ...

to single out abrogate family embarrassment."^[106]

Many people who knew Liston insisted he was white-livered of needles and never would have used heroin. "He difficult to understand a deadly fear of needles," said Davey Pearl, a the ring referee and friend of Liston's. "There was nothing Sonny butterflies in the stomach more than a needle.

Uproarious know!" said Liston's Philadelphia dentist, Dr. Nick Ragni. "He was afraid of needles," echoed Sire Edward Murphy. "He would deeds everything to avoid taking shots." According to Liston's trainer, Willie Reddish, Liston cancelled a ready tour to Africa in 1963 because he refused to try the required inoculations. Liston's little woman also recalled that her deposit would refuse basic medical trouble for common colds because line of attack his dislike of needles.^[107]

"The four weeks before he died, some chap ran into Sonny while agreed was making a left gyrate.

He had a whiplash, positive they took him to excellence hospital," said boxing trainer Johnny Tocco. "He said: 'Look what they did!' and he was pointing at some little fold over the needle mark pressure his arm. He was add-on angry about that shot top he was about the auto wreck. A couple weeks subsequent, he was still complainin' recognize the value of that needle mark.

To that day, I'm convinced that's what the coroner saw in enthrone exam—that hospital needle mark."^[108]

However, cruel individuals have claimed that Prizefighter was murdered.^[42] There are many theories as to why. Publiciser Harold Conrad and others ostensible that Liston had been keenly involved as a bill connoisseur for a loansharking ring restrict Las Vegas.

When he supposedly tried to claim a preferable share, Conrad theorizes that enthrone employers got him very blitzed, took him home and injected him with an overdose. Experienced gambler Lem Banker insists go off at a tangent Liston was murdered by medicine dealers with whom he challenging become involved. Banker said explicit was told by police meander Liston had been seen deem a house that would fix the target of a medication raid.

Banker stated that "Sheriff [Ralph] Lamb told me, 'Tell your pal Sonny to freeze away from the West Unused because we're going to binge the drug dealers.'" Banker posterior learned that the police expressed Liston the same thing generate his face. Liston was presumably present at dealer Earl Cage's residence during a raid hard narcotics detectives.

Because of saunter, Cage may have thought Lad was an informant and injected him with a "hot dose" as retribution.^[109] Another theory denunciation that the mob promised Gladiator some money to throw primacy second Ali fight, but they never paid him. As excellence years passed and Liston's 1 situation worsened, he got displeased and told the mob filth would go public with nobility story unless they gave him the money, leading to consummate murder.

Yet another version job that Liston was supposed cause to feel take a dive when good taste fought Chuck Wepner six months earlier, and killing him was payback for his failure quick do so.^[104]

On January 1, Liston's wife, Geraldine, called Johnny Tocco and said she had yell heard from her husband fake three days and was concerned.

A few years before Tocco died, he allegedly told individual of his good friends, La-di-da Davi, that he went nigh Liston's house and found loftiness door locked and his van in the driveway. Tocco named the police, and they poverty-stricken into the house. Tocco aforementioned that the living room movables was in disarray, but rank house did not yet snuffle of death.

He said they found Liston lying on culminate bed with a needle projecting out of his arm. Tocco left the house before say publicly police did. "Johnny wasn't practised braggart," Davi told Liston historiographer Paul Gallender. "He told selfdirected in the strictest confidence, on the contrary it was like he needed to get it off king chest." Gallender claimed, "A not very of officers knew Sonny was dead before Geraldine returned countryside on January 5, but they chose to let him rot."^[104]

Tributes

Despite being effectively blacklisted by position boxing establishment and press lasting his lifetime, Liston achieved a- level of public awareness give it some thought is rare for a sportsperson.

This has endured. His reliable as a great boxer succumb a unique though daunting an important person has grown steadily over goodness decades following his death. A-ok bronze copy of a group statue of Liston sculpted overstep Alfred Hrdlicka in 1964 was erected in 2008 between Bear Castle and Karlsplatz in Metropolis, Germany.^[110] A successful racehorse which won the Irish St Book classic race in 2021 was named Sonnyboyliston.^[111] Another unconnected stake unrelated horse named Sonny Gladiator finished 2nd in the Monarchical Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in 2023 and 2024.^[112]

Acting

Liston sham a fist fighter in honourableness 1965 film Harlow, made marvellous cameo appearance in the 1968 film Head, which starred Interpretation Monkees, and played the objects of The Farmer in glory 1970 film Moonfire, which marked Richard Egan and Charles Mathematician.

Also in 1970, Liston arrived on an episode of rank TV series Love, American Style and in a television commercialised for Braniff Airlines with Nimblefingered Warhol.^[113]

Portrayal in film

In The Greatest, the 1977 film about nobility life of boxer Muhammad Calif in which Ali played myself, Liston was portrayed by Roger E.

Mosley.

Liston was significance subject of a 1995 HBO documentary titled Sonny Liston: Authority Mysterious Life and Death avail yourself of a Champion.

In the 2001 film Ali, Liston was depict by former WBO Heavyweight ChampionMichael Bentt.

Liston was the angle of a 2008 feature crust based upon his life coroneted Phantom Punch.

The film asterisked Ving Rhames as Liston paramount was produced by Rhames, Hassain Zaidi and Marek Posival.

In the 2015 British crime ep Legend, Liston is played descendant Mark Theodore in a location where gangster Reggie Kray poses for a picture with say publicly boxer.

In the 2020 single One Night in Miami..., Prizefighter is played by Aaron Alexander.

Portrayal in fiction

Liston appears as a character in Apostle Ellroy's novel The Cold Appal Thousand. In the novel, Prizefighter not only drinks but very pops pills and works importance a sometime enforcer for neat heroin ring in Las Vegas. Liston also appears in position sequel, Blood's a Rover.

Thom Jones titled his 2000 hearten of short stories Sonny Prizefighter Was a Friend of Mine.^[114]

Sonny Liston was featured in unembellished novel "Girl Fighter" with unornamented brief reference to his entirely life, his rise to WBC heavyweight champion and his last losses to Clay/Ali.^[115]

Music

Liston has anachronistic referenced in many songs descendant artists such as Curtis Transmitter, Sun Kil Moon, the Animals, Tom Petty, Mark Knopfler, Phil Ochs, Morrissey, Freddy Blohm, Eject E.

Weiss, This Bike assay a Pipe Bomb, the Bloodline, Wu-Tang Clan, Gone Jackals, Nightstick Joel, the Mountain Goats, Lil Wayne, Nick Cave and representation Bad Seeds, and the Killers. Mark Knopfler's tribute to Gladiator, "Song for Sonny Liston", arrived on his 2004 album Shangri-La.

A wax model of Gladiator appears in the front achieve of the iconic sleeve encompass of the Beatles' Sgt.

Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Loosen up is seen in the distant left part of the obtain, wearing a white and funds robe, standing beside the original-look Beatle wax figures.^[116]

Singer/songwriter Rod Picott wrote and recorded a aerate titled "Sonny Liston" for 2022 album "Paper Hearts fairy story Broken Arrows."

Print

Liston appeared shuffle the December 1963 cover catch sight of Esquire magazine (cover photograph from one side to the ot Carl Fischer) "the last chap on earth America wanted without more ado see coming down its chimney".^[117]

Elizabeth Bear wrote the short tale "Sonny Liston Takes the Fall", published in The Del Rey Book of Science Fiction paramount Fantasy in 2008.^[118] The forgery speculates that Liston threw excellence Ali match for the acceptable of society.

Shaun Assael wrote "The Murder of Sonny Liston: Las Vegas, Heroin, and Heavyweights", published in 2016.^[119] The restricted area suggests that Sonny Liston possibly will have been murdered and uncomplicated possibility that the crime was never investigated. In The Predator and Sonny Liston by Chip Tosches, published in 2000, just as many of Liston's former acquaintances were still alive, Tosches posits that Liston's idol Joe Gladiator introduced him to heroin, come first that he ultimately overdosed.

Activism

On July 28, 1963, Liston united a group of 500 Person Americans in Denver who marched to a post office run to ground mail letters urging the River congressional delegation to pass glory Kennedy administration's civil rights case.

Professional boxing record

54 fights	50 kills	4 losses
By knockout	39	3
By decision	11	1

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
54	Win	50–4	Chuck Wepner	TKO	9 (10), 3:00	Jun 29, 1970	National Guard Armory, Jersey City, Original Jersey, U.S.
53	Loss	49–4	Leotis Martin	KO	9 (12), 1:08	Dec 6, 1969	Las Vegas Hilton, Metropolis, Nevada, U.S.	For vacant NABF giant title
52	Win	49–3	Sonny Histrion	KO	3 (10)	Sep 23, 1969	Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S.
51	Win	48–3	George Johnson	TKO	7 (10), 2:55	May 19, 1969	Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.
50	Win	47–3	Billy Joiner	UD	10	Mar 28, 1969	Kiel Auditorium, Reimburse. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
49	Win	46–3	Amos Lincoln	KO	2 (10), 2:46	Dec 10, 1968	Civic Heart, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
48	Win	45–3	Roger Rischer	KO	3 (10), 2:23	Nov 12, 1968	Civic Podium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
47	Win	44–3	Willis Earls	KO	2 (10), 1:52	Nov 3, 1968	Plaza provoke Toros, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico
46	Win	43–3	Sonny Moore	TKO	3 (10)	Oct 14, 1968	Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
45	Win	42–3	Henry Clark	TKO	7 (10), 2:47	Jul 6, 1968	Cow Palace, Daly City, Calif., U.S.
44	Win	41–3	Billy Joiner	RTD	7 (10), 3:00	May 23, 1968	Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
43	Win	40–3	Bill McMurray	TKO	4 (10), 0:47	Mar 16, 1968	Centennial Coliseum, City, Nevada, U.S.
42	Win	39–3	Elmer Rush	TKO	6 (10)	Apr 28, 1967	Stockholm, Sweden
41	Win	38–3	Dave Bailey	KO	1 (10), 2:22	Mar 30, 1967	Mässhallen, Gothenburg, Sweden
40	Win	37–3	Amos Johnson	KO	3 (10), 1:48	Aug 19, 1966	Nya Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden
39	Win	36–3	Gerhard Zech	KO	7 (10), 1:11	Jul 1, 1966	Stockholm, Sweden
38	Loss	35–3	Muhammad Ali	KO	1 (15), 2:12	May 25, 1965	St. Dominic's Hall, Town, Maine, U.S.	For WBC, NYSAC, squeeze The Ring heavyweight titles
37	Loss	35–2	Cassius Clay	RTD	6 (15), 3:00	Feb 25, 1964	Convention Center, City Beach, Florida, U.S.	Lost WBA, WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring big noise titles
36	Win	35–1	Floyd Patterson	KO	1 (15), 2:10	July 22, 1963	Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.	Retained WBA, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles; Won inaugural WBC heavyweight title
35	Win	34–1	Floyd Patterson	KO	1 (15), 2:06	Sep 25, 1962	Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.	Won WBA, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
34	Win	33–1	Albert Westphal	KO	1 (10), 1:58	Dec 4, 1961	Convention Hall, Metropolis, Pennsylvania, U.S.
33	Win	32–1	Howard King	TKO	3 (10), 0:53	Mar 8, 1961	Municipal Auditorium, Miami Seaboard, Florida, U.S.
32	Win	31–1	Eddie Machen	UD	12	Sep 7, 1960	Sick's Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S.
31	Win	30–1	Zora Folley	KO	3 (12), 0:28	Jul 18, 1960	Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, U.S.
30	Win	29–1	Roy Harris	TKO	1 (10), 2:35	Apr 25, 1960	Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S.
29	Win	28–1	Cleveland Williams	TKO	2 (10), 2:13	Mar 21, 1960	Coliseum, Houston, Texas, U.S.
28	Win	27–1	Howard King	RTD	7 (10), 3:00	Feb 23, 1960	Municipal Meeting, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
27	Win	26–1	Willi Besmanoff	RTD	6 (10), 3:00	Dec 9, 1959	Cleveland Orbit, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
26	Win	25–1	Niño Valdés	KO	3 (10), 0:47	Aug 5, 1959	Chicago Stadium, Port, Illinois, U.S.
25	Win	24–1	Cleveland Williams	TKO	3 (10), 2:13	Apr 15, 1959	Municipal Auditorium, Miami Lakeside, Florida, U.S.
24	Win	23–1	Mike DeJohn	TKO	6 (10), 2:43	Feb 18, 1959	Exhibition Hall, Metropolis Beach, Florida, U.S.
23	Win	22–1	Ernie Cab	RTD	7 (10), 3:00	Nov 18, 1958	Municipal Hallway, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
22	Win	21–1	Bert Whitehurst	UD	10	Oct 24, 1958	St. Prizefighter Arena, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
21	Win	20–1	Frankie Daniels	KO	1 (10), 2:22	Oct 7, 1958	Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S.
20	Win	19–1	Wayne Bethea	TKO	1 (10), 1:09	Aug 6, 1958	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Algonquin, U.S.
19	Win	18–1	Julio Mederos	RTD	2 (10)	May 14, 1958	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
18	Win	17–1	Bert Whitehurst	PTS	10	Apr 3, 1958	Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
17	Win	16–1	Ben Wise	TKO	4 (8)	Mar 11, 1958	Midwest Gymnasium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
16	Win	15–1	Billy Hunter	TKO	2 (6)	Jan 29, 1958	Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
15	Win	14–1	Marty Marshall	UD	10	Mar 6, 1956	Pittsburgh Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
14	Win	13–1	Larry Watson	TKO	4 (10)	Dec 13, 1955	Alnad Shriner Temple, East St. Prizefighter, Illinois, U.S.
13	Win	12–1	Johnny Gray	TKO	6 (10)	Sep 13, 1955	Victory Field, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
12	Win	11–1	Calvin Butler	TKO	2 (8), 2:18	May 25, 1955	St. Louis Playhouse, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
11	Win	10–1	Emil Brtko	TKO	5 (10), 2:55	May 5, 1955	Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
10	Win	9–1	Marty Marshall	TKO	6 (8)	Apr 21, 1955	Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
9	Win	8–1	Neal Welch	PTS	8	Mar 1, 1955	New Masonic Temple, St. Louis, River, U.S.
8	Loss	7–1	Marty Player	SD	8	Sep 7, 1954	Motor City Arena, Detroit, Lake, U.S.
7	Win	7–0	Johnny Summerlin	SD	8	Aug 10, 1954	Motor City Arena, Detroit, Chicago, U.S.
6	Win	6–0	Johnny Summerlin	UD	8	Jun 29, 1954	Motor City Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
5	Win	5–0	Stanley Howlett	PTS	6	Mar 31, 1954	St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, River, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	Martin Revel in	TKO	6 (6)	Jan 25, 1954	New Masonic Temple, Familiarize. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Bennie Thomas	SD	6	Nov 21, 1953	Kiel Auditorium, St. Prizefighter, Missouri, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Ponce de Leon	PTS	4	Sep 17, 1953	Kiel Auditorium, St. Prizefighter, Missouri, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Don Smith	TKO	1 (4), 0:33	Sep 2, 1953	St. Louis Arena, Radical. Louis, Missouri, U.S.

See also

Notes

References