What was Liston's age when he fought Ali?

[MartialMind]

Officially he was 34 but some people speculate he was years older in his 40s actually.

What do you think?

[_Rexy_]

Late thirties would be my guess. Even Liston didn’t know his actual age.

[QueensburyRules]

- -Recall when the census records were released that first recorded Sonny, that reference would have made him mid 30s, but what we don't know is the margin of errors in recording those data.

These were very remote places often hidden in the woods of an impoverished agricultural peoples wary of sharing any info with govt agents.

The few literate folk would record births and deaths in the family bible. Don't think any of the Listons were literate though Sonny eventually became literate enough to scan the sports and front pages to get the gist of what was going on.

In short, nobody can really know when he was born or how he died. Tragic figure in boxing for sure.

[OctoberRed]

Late thirties would be my guess. Even Liston didn’t know his actual age.

My guess as well.

[GhostofDempsey]

By most accounts he was already late 30's.

[The Old LefHook]

His IQ was higher than his age since birth.

[JAB5239]

- -Recall when the census records were released that first recorded Sonny, that reference would have made him mid 30s, but what we don't know is the margin of errors in recording those data.

These were very remote places often hidden in the woods of an impoverished agricultural peoples wary of sharing any info with govt agents.

The few literate folk would record births and deaths in the family bible. Don't think any of the Listons were literate though Sonny eventually became literate enough to scan the sports and front pages to get the gist of what was going on.

In short, nobody can really know when he was born or how he died. Tragic figure in boxing for sure.

Wow, an actual post without the heebie heebie text! And while I'm inclined to agree I will still play devil's advocate.

If they were that illiterate, what says they didn't fudge his name later in life? Not that I believe that, but I do believe he was closer to thirty than forty. Of course that is a matter of opinion besides what is actually listed.