Liston, "Sonny" (Charles)
Boxing
b. May 8, 1932, Forest City, AR
d. Dec. 30, 1970
Titled "The Heavyweight Champion Nobody Wanted" by his biographer, Liston learned to box while serving a five-year prison sentence for robbery. He won the U. S. and international Golden Gloves heavyweight championships in 1953.
The 6-1, 220-pound Liston turned professional shortly afterward and knocked out Don Smith with his first punch as a pro. He won 14 of 15 fights before serving a nine-month sentence for assaulting a police offer in 1957.
Early in his career, Liston came under the control of two racketeers, Frankie Carbo and Blinky Palermo. He was denied a Pennsylvania boxing license until he hired an independent manager, George Katz, in 1961. However, New York turned down his license application with the statement, "The history of Liston's past associations provides a pattern of suspicion."
As a result, his fight with heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson took place in Chicago rather than New York. On September 25, 1962, Liston won the title by knocking out Patterson in the first round and a rematch in Las Vegas on July 22, 1963, had the same result.
After an exhibition tour of Europe, Liston fought the lightly regarded Cassius Clay in Miami Beach on February 25, 1964. Clay won when Liston failed to come out for the 7th round, claiming a shoulder injury. They met again on May 25, 1965, in Lewiston, ME, and Liston was knocked out in the first round by a phantom punch that few observers saw. His criminal background and associations led many to think both fights were fixed.
Liston fought Leotus Martin for the vacant North American Boxing Federation title on December 6, 1969, and was knocked out in the 9th round. He was found dead in the swimming pool of his home several months after his last fight, a 10th-round knockout of Chuck Wepner.
Liston won 50 professional fights, 39 by knockout. He lost 4, 3 by knockout.
