Sonny Liston

Who Was Sonny Liston?

Sonny Liston was an American professional boxer whose powerful presence and controversial life left an indelible mark on the sport. Between 1953 and 1970, he won 54 of his 58 bouts, with many of his victories coming via knockout. He passed away around December 30, 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Early Life

Charles L. “Sonny” Liston was born on May 8, 1932, in St. Francis County, Arkansas, though his birth year is disputed, with some sources suggesting dates between 1929 and 1932. Liston was the son of Tobey Liston, a tenant farmer, and Helen Liston, his second wife. He was the 24th of his father’s 25 children and grew up in poverty, working in cotton fields alongside his many siblings. Enduring an abusive father, Liston left home in his teens and soon found trouble with the law. At 16, standing over 6 feet tall and weighing 200 pounds, he became a feared figure in his St. Louis neighborhood, often involved in criminal activity.

Liston was arrested over 20 times, and in 1950, he was convicted of larceny and first-degree robbery, serving over two years in the Missouri State Penitentiary. During his incarceration, Father Alois Stevens, the prison athletic director, introduced him to boxing.

Boxing Success

Following his parole in 1952, Liston won the local Golden Gloves championship and turned professional the following year. He made a striking debut on September 2, 1953, knocking out Don Smith in the first round. After an early loss, Liston’s career was briefly derailed when he was jailed for assaulting a police officer. Upon his release, he relocated to Philadelphia, where he resumed his rise in the boxing world, winning 26 consecutive bouts.

Championship Glory and Controversy

Liston earned a fearsome reputation for his intimidating demeanor and ferocious punching power. On September 25, 1962, he knocked out Floyd Patterson in just two minutes to claim the heavyweight championship, marking the first time a reigning champion was knocked out in the first round. Despite his success, Liston’s criminal past and menacing persona made him a divisive figure in the sport.

Defeat to Cassius Clay

Liston defended his title against Patterson but lost it in 1964 to the young and confident Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali. After dominating for six rounds, Liston failed to return for the seventh, surrendering the title to Clay. Their rematch in 1965 was marred by controversy when Liston went down in the first round from what many believe to be a barely noticeable punch, sparking allegations of a fixed fight.

Comeback and Death

Despite his losses, Liston mounted a comeback, winning 11 consecutive knockout victories in 1968. However, his career effectively ended with a brutal loss to Leotis Martin in 1969. His final fight took place in June 1970, when he scored a technical knockout against Chuck Wepner.

In January 1971, after being unreachable for 12 days, Liston was found dead in his Las Vegas home by his wife, Geraldine. Though the official cause was listed as heart failure, evidence of drug use raised suspicions about the true circumstances of his death. He was buried in Paradise Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas, with a simple epitaph that reads: “A Man.”