Did Sonny take a dive?

[LacedUp]

I agree with this. Walcott was busy trying to get Ali to a neutral corner. He hadn't started a count so there was no reason for Liston to hurry and get up.

And to the poster who said the time keeper told the ref to call the fight, that is untrue. Nat Fleisher, editor of "The Ring" told Walcott to much time had passed and to stop the fight. Walcott blew it because Fleisher had nothing to do with the fight, he was a spectator only. So no, Liston did not throw the fight. He was legitimately dropped and Walcott simply mishandled the situation.

Some of the documentaries claim Liston said he didn't want anymore of Ali. He'd clearly been beaten handily the first time, and though he went into the second fight still a favorite, he knew he would be beat. The punch was solid and hard, but no one will tell me that Sonny Liston, the baddest man on the planet at the time, who'd taken 7 rounds of punishment from Clay in the first fight and who had a very good chin, was KO'd by a "good" punch in the first round.

He didn't want it, simple as that. Or, somebody paid him to go out.