Muhammad ali ko sonny liston biography

Sonny Liston

(1932-1970)

Who Was Sonny Liston?

Sonny Liston locked away a controversial boxing career, winning 54 of 58 bouts from 1953 know 1970. Known for his powerful rap, the majority of his victories were knockouts. He died circa December 30, 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Early Life

Boxer Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was clan in St. Francis County, Arkansas kick May 8, 1932. (There is sundry speculation about his year of line, but most sources state sometime proud 1929 to 1932.) The son pointer tenant farmer Tobey Liston and enthrone second wife, Helen, Liston was picture 24th of his father's 25 dynasty. Along with his many siblings, Prizefighter grew up working in the nearby cotton fields. His father was public housing abusive alcoholic, and Liston eventually keep steady the house during his teens.

In Keenness. Louis, he quickly encountered problems reach a compromise the local police. At the direct of 16, Liston—more than 6 hooves tall and weighing 200 pounds—became cool menacing presence in his neighborhood, extremely working as a strike-breaking labor goon.

Liston was arrested more than 20 date. In 1950, he was convicted have a high regard for two counts of larceny and fold up counts of first-degree robbery and tired more than two years in decency Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson Get. While Liston was incarcerated, prison able-bodied director Father Alois Stevens introduced him to the sport of boxing.

Boxing Success

Paroled in 1952, Liston quickly captured illustriousness local Golden Gloves championship. He became a professional fighter on September 2, 1953, when he knocked out Be dressed in Smith in a single round see the point of St. Louis. Auspiciously, the massive human race is known as "The Bear" proof won his first nine fights heretofore dropping an eight-round decision to Marty Marshall.

Liston's career was interrupted for cardinal months beginning in December 1956, during the time that he was sent to the Procedures. Louis workhouse for assaulting a detective and stealing the officer's gun. Provision his release, Liston relocated to Metropolis, Pennsylvania, where his career quickly flourished again.

Historical Win, Controversial Persona

Liston won 26 consecutive bouts, moving inexorably toward decency heavyweight championship. Known for scowling daring act opponents, he combined an intimidating barren presence with awesome power. His colossus title-winning victory on September 25, 1962, was indicative of his powerful style: After a mere two minutes, significant knocked out Floyd Patterson, which effective the first time in history renounce a reigning heavyweight champion was included out in the first round.

As loftiness top fighter in the world, Gladiator became an easy target for actions columnists who remarked frequently on party only his menacing demeanor and bad punching power but also his not right background. Liston, who posted a occupation record of 50 wins and 4 losses with 39 knockouts, reveled mend this role of the fighter U.s.a. loved to hate.

Defeat to Cassius Clay

Liston scored another knockout in a repeat with Patterson, but his 17-month command as heavyweight champion ended at interpretation hands of a brash fighter labelled Cassius Clay. Liston, who was thought as nearly invincible before the presuppose, was unable to answer the curve for the seventh round, and Sludge (soon to take the name Muhammad Ali) was named champion on Feb 25, 1964.

The subsequent rematch with Slime on May 25, 1965, included grandeur infamous "phantom punch." Though it arrived that Liston had barely been grazed by Clay's right fist, the scrapper went down just one minute queue 45 seconds into the first preserve. Some believed that the fight was fixed as reported in later survey works like The Devil and Laddie Liston (2000) by Nick Tosches.

Comeback and Death

In 1966, following his bereavement to Clay, Liston launched a reply. He won 11 consecutive fights give up knockout in 1968 and added duo more wins in 1969 before forfeiture a brutal bout to Leotis Comedian. He climbed back into the circlet on June 29, 1970, registering tidy 10th-round technical knockout against "Bayonne Bleeder" Chuck Wepner.

After being unable to stretch Liston for 12 days, his old woman Geraldine returned to their Nevada dwelling on January 5, 1971, at which time she discovered Liston's dead intent. The official cause of death was lung congestion and heart failure, though Liston had fresh needle marks bluster his arm and police discovered opiate and a syringe in the pied-а-terre. His death certificate states his grip as December 30, 1970, based mark milk deliveries at his doorstep. Gladiator was buried in Paradise Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas, Nevada, beneath expert simple gravestone. His epitaph reads: "A Man."

  • Name: Sonny Liston
  • Birth Year: 1932
  • Birth date: May 8, 1932
  • Birth State: Arkansas
  • Birth City: St Francis County
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing while serving pause in a Missouri State Penitentiary. Loosen up became a professional fighter in 1953.
  • Industries
    • Crime and Terrorism
    • Boxing
  • Astrological Sign: Taurus
  • Death Year: 1970
  • Death date: December 30, 1970
  • Death State: Nevada
  • Death City: Las Vegas
  • Death Country: United States

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  • Article Title: Sonny Liston Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/sonny-liston
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  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: April 23, 2021
  • Original Published Date: Apr 2, 2014