Sonny Liston "The Intimidator" Highlight

[NChristo]

Some say that Liston didn't try very hard for the first Ali fight. There are always conspiracy theories that the mob had Liston lose. Do any of you believe this? I personally don't believe Liston was at his best or tried super hard, but I don't believe he threw the first fight. The second fight and the Anchor Punch is another story.

It's well documented that Liston barely trained at all for the first fight.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

Liston's jab would knock any ordinary man out.
Is Listons D.O.B actually known? I have an encyclopedia which states it.

It's not known to a certainty. In fact, the actual year remains uncertain. Liston was, to many, a mysterious man, & it's perhaps fitting, in a strange manner, that he stands as the only HW Champion whose age will forever be unknown for sure. Drawing evidence from a few lines, it seems he wasn't as old as legend may've made him out to be, but he was not his official age, either --- he was older. The Census is probably the most significant line of evidence, but it only indicates Liston was not born on his official DOB, & that he was likely not yet born in 1928.

This would lead us to believe that Liston (officially born in 1932) was probably born between late-1928 & 1931, meaning he would've been pushing thirty-four or thirty-five when he fought Ali the first time.

To John L,

Nothing would truly shock me regarding the first fight with Ali. I wouldn't go so far as to say I feel the fix was in --- when Ali is blind, Liston appears to put it to him pretty frantically in spurts, for instance --- but there is room for legitimate su****ion, both looking at the fight itself, & the surrounding circumstances.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

My kind of fighter. Doesn't just go in there to win, but destroy his opponents, so that they seriously reconsider ever stepping foot in a ring again.

His pre-title KO of Albert Westphal is his most chilling victory, IMO. You see those KO's sometimes where the fella falls in the most sickening way, & you know before they even hit the deck, they're gone...utterly gone (Liston-Westphal, Pacquiao-Hatton, Hearns-Duran).

[The_Demon]

Quotes & comments like "He is not an ATG Lennox would KO him coz Lennox is too Big" will crop up soon

I see no reason too bring up Lewis in this thread i really dont

Liston was one hell of a fighter,people thought prime tyson was scary but he had nothing on liston

[SBleeder]

Some say that Liston didn't try very hard for the first Ali fight. There are always conspiracy theories that the mob had Liston lose. Do any of you believe this? I personally don't believe Liston was at his best or tried super hard, but I don't believe he threw the first fight. The second fight and the Anchor Punch is another story.

I don't think Liston threw either Clay/Ali fight. I think that Ali legitimately caught him with a shot that he didn't see coming in the rematch, and Ali was not the feather-fist that people make him out to be.

I do wonder about how Liston died, however.

[Barn]

It's not known to a certainty. In fact, the actual year remains uncertain. Liston was, to many, a mysterious man, & it's perhaps fitting, in a strange manner, that he stands as the only HW Champion whose age will forever be unknown for sure. Drawing evidence from a few lines, it seems he wasn't as old as legend may've made him out to be, but he was not his official age, either --- he was older. The Census is probably the most significant line of evidence, but it only indicates Liston was not born on his official DOB, & that he was likely not yet born in 1928.

This would lead us to believe that Liston (officially born in 1932) was probably born between late-1928 & 1931, meaning he would've been pushing thirty-four or thirty-five when he fought Ali the first time.

To John L,

Nothing would truly shock me regarding the first fight with Ali. I wouldn't go so far as to say I feel the fix was in --- when Ali is blind, Liston appears to put it to him pretty frantically in spurts, for instance --- but there is room for legitimate su****ion, both looking at the fight itself, & the surrounding circumstances.

My Encycopedia states: May 8th 1932