Was Ali-Liston fixed?

[SalimShady1212]

The fht was straight up other than the odds and very few thought that Clay could go the distance. Lots of inside people thought he's go atleast 7 or 8 because he sparred with Liston in the Miami gym a year or two prior and Liston had a hard time reaching him.
If you watch the first fight Liston ewas struggling with Clays speed and distance. Sonny was barely 6'1" and Clay used Everlast leather bottom boots that gave him almost an added 1/2" so at 6'4" and his 80+ reach Sonny was
a full step behind. He got battered and then they slipped liniment in Clays eyes to give Liston a chance to catch him. Dundee got his eyes cleared and oncve Clay was ok he pounded the hell out of Liston and lumped him up and made him quit on the stool. No fix! The bookies took a little beating but remember there wasn't alot of money on Clay to begin with.

The second fight was different, no way Liston thought he could win and I think the "controlling interests" wanted Liston to dump but they forgot that Sonny wasn't exactly an accomplished actor! I do believe the right hand over
his jab dropped him but there wasn't enough there to keep him down and hurt.
Could be the so-called Mob (whatever that is) or might be the ******s (who ever they are) that collaberated with friends of Listons.
I doubt the then Ali had anything to do with the outcome other than train to win.

Ali's performance in the first Liston bout was a great performance that no one was expecting, especially Sonny Liston!

Ray

I feel the same way as you Ray

[MRBOOMER]

Most things seem to point to it being fixed.

[Weltschmerz]

There was so much mystery surrounding Liston in general, nothing would surprise really.

[Ray Corso]

Just watch the first fight, its real!

[Weltschmerz]

Just watch the first fight, its real!

What about the second one?

[Ray Corso]

qouted from Ray Corso..............."The second fight was different, no way Liston thought he could win and I think the "controlling interests" wanted Liston to dump but they forgot that Sonny wasn't exactly an accomplished actor! I do believe the right hand over
his jab dropped him but there wasn't enough there to keep him down and hurt.
Could be the so-called Mob (whatever that is) or might be the ******s (who ever they are) that collaberated with friends of Listons.
I doubt the then Ali had anything to do with the outcome other than train to win".

Don't you read before commenting?

[Ben Bolt]

"The second fight was different, no way Liston thought he could win and I think the "controlling interests" wanted Liston to dump but they forgot that Sonny wasn't exactly an accomplished actor! I do believe the right hand over
his jab dropped him but there wasn't enough there to keep him down and hurt.
Could be the so-called Mob (whatever that is) or might be the ******s (who ever they are) that collaberated with friends of Listons.
I doubt the then Ali had anything to do with the outcome other than train to win".

Of all I read and heard about the 2nd fight, I believe Liston’s wife is nearest the truth (we pick our own theory): that Sonny knew this was a fight he couldn’t win, and after getting caught by the ‘phantom punch’, found a way out of it.

Liston was training hard for the rematch scheduled for the autumn of ’64, which was postponed when Ali fell ill.
But several sources say he became depressed later in the winter, and was far from top shape when the fight took place.

[rockybone]

No it was preordained!

[Ben Bolt]

No it was preordained!

So, you have the evidence solving a 51 year riddle. I'm eager to listen ..

[Humean]

Neither fight was fixed.

In the first fight Liston went into it with an injured shoulder (where have we heard of that before?) and Ali boxed his ears off and in the second fight Ali landed a brilliant and freakish punch that landed perfectly in which Liston just didn't see.