With the help of a farsighted, black St. Louis businessman and some other backers who were aware of Sonny's potential, Liston pursued a ring career after leaving the joint and rejoining society at large. Even as a grown up, the physical scars were still visible. He never shied away from street fights. James Ellroy portrayed Sonny Liston as a fight loser, a heroin addict, a black racist, and a Mafia jawbreaker in his novel "The Cold Six Thousand.". Liston went back to the ring. Liston had a huge physique. Liston excelled in his newfound love, boxing, and, after a short amateur career, turned professional. Sonny Liston had a controversial boxing career, winning 54 of 58 bouts from 1953 to 1970. After being unable to reach Liston for 12 days, his wife Geraldine returned to their Nevada home on January 5, 1971, at which time she discovered Listons dead body. Because of this alliance, which was public knowledge, Liston was called before the committee investigating organized crime that had been established by Tennessee Democratic Senator Estes Kefauver. On this date in 1964, a heavily favored Liston lost his title to upstart Cassius Clay, soon to be Muhammad Ali. In 1966, following his loss to Clay, Liston launched a comeback. Liston was arrested more than 20 times. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. He kept fighting and kept winning against a progressively better grade of opponents. WebSonny Liston Photo Gallery. In 1950, Liston was arrested at his apartment at 1006 O'Fallon Street for robbing the Unique Cafe on 1502 Market Street in St. Louis for 37 dollars. Charles Sonny Liston was a noted boxer who briefly reigned as Heavyweight Champion after a first-round knockout against Floyd Patterson. Liston emptied his pockets of bills and returned to the car with all of the women's pencils. gnalogique Dowling avec plus d'un demi-million de parents, Underrepresented Students Gain Early Access to Ag and STEM through Innovative Program, New Screening Series Looks to Unite Communities through Films Illuminating the Black Experience, Arkansas Native on a Mission to Bring Diversity to the Toy Industry, Arkansas Mans Journey to Become Black Santa Captured in HBO Max Documentary, Controversy Erupts Over Governor Sanders Ban of Latinx in Arkansas Government, Arkansas State basketball coach Mike Balado celebrates Cuban heritage off and on the court, Teachers Call for Extra Resources to Manage the Rising Cases of Depression & Anxiety in Children, Springdale TV Show Hopes to Bridge Gap Between Spanish-Speaking Parents and School District, A Black-Led Venture Capital Firm Bets $15M on BIPOC Female Entrepreneurs, Arkansas ranks among the worst states for child well-being, especially for POC and LGBTQ+, Agreement Provides Cherokees Access to Traditional Plants in Buffalo National River Park, Trail of Tears Journey Inspires One-Woman Production, Council Seeks Arkansas Living Treasure Nominations, Indian Classical Dance Performance Shares Story of Resiliency, The Arkansas Department of Human Services Adds Materials in Spanish & Marshallese, New Health Literacy Program Connects Marshallese and Hispanics with Healthcare Resources, NWAs Double Your Dollars Food Assistance Program will Now Include Nutrition Education in Three Languages, A Constellation on LIFE: Reimagine Arkansas partners with NWACC students in the Life Program, Communities of Color Hesitant to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine, Pandemic Highlights Pre-existing Inequities in Education, SOUND OFF: Arkansans Have Mixed Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccine. Additional support provided by the Arkansas General Assembly. If there is a flaw in Tosches' book, it's that the author seems bent on carrying the theme of Liston and the mob beyond its logical parameters. The subsequent rematch with Clay on May 25, 1965, included the infamous phantom punch. Though it appeared that Liston had barely been grazed by Clays right fist, the boxer went down just one minute and 45 seconds into the first round. Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing while serving time in a Missouri State Penitentiary. Sonny Liston lost his title to the little known Cassius Clay in the seventh round in February 1964. Liston was the second last in a family of twenty-five siblings. 2023 Encyclopedia of Arkansas. World heavyweight boxing champion, 1962-1964. He started boxing in prison and was likely Sonny Liston estimated Net Worth, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. He went on to win several amateur matches. There, he became a thug, committing various muggings and robbery. 1932-1970 Sonny Liston was the heavyweight boxing champion from 1962 to 1964. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, The Man Behind the First All-Black Basketball Team, 8 Times Brothers Have Faced Off in a Championship, Every Black Quarterback to Play in the Super Bowl, Soccer Star Christian Atsu Survived an Earthquake. After winning most of his matches by knockout, he turned pro in 1951. In the end, one can't help feeling some sympathy for Liston. His epitaph reads: "A Man.". Clay is certainly to be counted among the greatest heavyweights of all time. Liston was an excellent boxer. On top of the mob issue, Liston had to overcome more problems with the law before he could be free to fight Patterson for the title. Liston scored another knockout in a rematch with Patterson, but his 17-month reign as heavyweight champion ended at the hands of a brash fighter named Cassius Clay. His mother separated from his father and went to St. Louis in Missouri. Paroled in 1952, he had a brief amateur career, winning several Golden Gloves championships and defeating 1952 Olympic heavyweight champion Ed Sanders. First World Heavyweight Boxing Champion banned from fighting in New York State by the New York Boxing Commission. Liston's career was interrupted for nine months beginning in December 1956, when he was sent to the St. Louis workhouse for assaulting a policeman and stealing the officer's gun. As with the date of Liston's birth, no one knows for sure. in rural St. Francis County. Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing while serving time in a Missouri State Penitentiary. Before his sentencing, Liston had been arrested more than twenty times. Instead, he and some friends took to robbing people on the street and robbing gas stations with a loaded pistol. Sand Slough, Arkansas, United States of America, Sonny Liston is still regarded as the best heavyweight boxer with a taste of violence. Is mentioned in the song "Swinging" by Tom Petty. Touring the local hospital in a grey tweed overcoat with a black velvet collar, the intimidating, burly, 6-foot-tall, 215 lb. Ali and Liston: The Boy Who Would Be King and the Ugly Bear. Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing by Reverend Father Alois Stevens. He maintained a winning streak in eight matches. The title fight was in Chicago, Illinois, on September 25, 1962, with a wide public pulling for the champ (including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and authors James Baldwin and Norman Mailer). The Dowling Family Tree with over half a million relatives, He has ranked on the list of those famous people who were born on May 8, 1932. He was friendly with his fans and had a soft spot for children. Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Sonny Liston, Birth Year: 1932, Birth date: May 8, 1932, Birth State: Arkansas, Birth City: St Francis County, Birth Country: United States. Publicity Listings Appeared in a Santa Claus hat on the cover of the December 1963 edition of Esquire Magazine. Charles Sonny Liston was a noted boxer who briefly reigned as Heavyweight Champion after a first-round knockout against Floyd Patterson. He had the biggest fist of any heavyweight champion: 15 inches. WebThe son of tenant farmer Tobey Liston and his second wife, Helen, Liston was the 24th of his father's 25 children. DAmato went on to coach another great boxer in Mike Tyson. His heavyweight title-winning victory on September 25, 1962, was indicative of his powerful style: After a mere two minutes, he knocked out Floyd Patterson, which marked the first time in history that a reigning heavyweight champion was counted out in the first round. Perhaps no keener insight can be gained from those early years, though, than from what Sonny himself was quoted as saying: "The only thing my old man ever gave me was a whipping.". | After the court case, he was sentenced to a five-year jail term in the Missouri State Prison. Dowling {{ mediasCtrl.getTitle(media, true) }} From the start, Liston was a devastating puncher. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Liston, who posted a career record of 50 wins and 4 losses with 39 knockouts, reveled in this role of the fighter America loved to hate. Liston lost his rematch to Ali in May 1965. Change). Some believed that the fight was fixed as reported in later biographical works likeThe Devil and Sonny Liston(2000)by Nick Tosches. The son of tenant farmer Tobey Liston and his second wife, Helen, Liston was the 24th of his father's 25 children. Creating an account gives you access to all these features. His trademark shirt during his illegal raids was yellow. By all accounts, Liston had a woeful childhood. Pressure resulting from appearing before the committee, and from the diatribes of Patterson's manager Cus D'Amato, caused Liston to buy out the contract of his manager, Pep Barone, who was considered to be an undesirable, and name old-time Philadelphia political hack George Katz as his manager. Liston was buried in Paradise Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas, Nevada, beneath a simple gravestone. Clay later changed his name to Muhammad Ali. In 1950, he was convicted of two counts of larceny and two counts of first-degree robbery and spent more than two years in the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. Known for scowling at opponents, he combined an intimidating ring presence with awesome power. Best Known For: Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing while serving time in a Missouri State Penitentiary. Nine years of steady fighting later, and following additional scrapes with the law, Liston fought Floyd Patterson for the Heavyweight Championship. His father was an abusive alcoholic, and Liston eventually left the house during his teens. L'arbre Liston continued to box until the time of his death. Survived by his wife Geraldine and a step-daughter. Why he died remains one of sport's most enduring mysteries. Liston was the second last in a family of twenty-five siblings. Liston didn't find gainful employment in St. Louis. contains thousands of pictures and GeneaStars. Very little is known about his birth and his He was born in St. Francis in the state of Missouri, USA. Liston defeated Heavyweight Champion Floyd Patterson on Sept. 25, 1962. Some suspect foul play; others believe Liston died of a self-inflicted drug overdose. He supported many in his life. He acted in a number of films, the most famous being "Harlow" with Carroll Baker. He was one of many WebHe had seven siblings. The continual conflicts with the police. Liston continued fighting following the loss of his title, mainly because it was the only legal way he knew how to make a buck. Made a comeback in 1968-1969 and won 14 straight before losing to Leotis Martin. Less than a year later in Miami Beach, Liston lost his title to Cassius Clay when he refused to answer the bell for the seventh round, claiming a shoulder industry. in Sand Slough, Arkansas, USA , United States, Died on December 30, 1970 In Michael Mann's Ali, Liston was portrayed by famous boxer Michael Bentt, with whom he shares a strong resemblance. Time magazine photograph of Ali standing over Liston, taunting him, is one of the most popularly published in boxing. On September 25, 1962, Liston made history by becoming the heavyweight champion. Family Knocked out #2-rated heavyweight contender Roy Harris (27-1) in one round. If you can, provide 1-2 sources of information backing up this correction. Auspiciously, the massive man is known as "The Bear" then won his first nine fights before dropping an eight-round decision to Marty Marshall. Owing to his bold physique and strict upbringing, Liston loved training. Former World Heavyweight Champion who learned to fight while in jail. Liston was the youngest heavyweight boxing champion to die (age 38). Liston penalized two points for low blows. He told them that he had no education, couldn't write and worked as a child to help feed his 24 siblings. Auspiciously, the massive man is known as The Bear then won his first nine fights before dropping an eight-round decision to Marty Marshall. Yet, Tosches postulates that Liston threw his first fight with Cassius Clay in Miami in February of 1964 at the behest of the mob. WebAsuncin "Sunny" Cummings Hostin (/ h s t n /; born October 20, 1968) is an American lawyer, journalist, and television host.Hostin is co-host on ABC's morning talk show The He became a professional fighter on September 2, 1953, when he knocked out Don Smith in a single round in St. Louis. Less than a year later, on February 25, 1964, in Miami Beach, Florida, a heavily favored Liston lost his title to upstart Cassius Clay (soon to be Muhammad Ali) when he refused to answer the bell for the seventh round, claiming a shoulder injury. The tactic worked. But the champ went down in a hurry: two minutes and six seconds in the first round. Dating is to describe a stage in a persons life when he or she is actively pursuing romantic relationships with different people. It was just a matter of semantics, though. Relationship with Timothy Michael Dowling (Sosa/Ahnentafel #1), Relationship with Geraldine Clark (spouse), Browse using this individual as Sosa/Ahnentafel #1, , born in1872 - Choctaw Co., MS, deceased, , born inApril1873 - Montgomery Co., MS, deceased, Sources: Dowling Family Tree - Tim Dowling - rootsweb, 2001-2015 - - electronic - I435533, Marriage (with Geraldine Clark) - St. Louis, MO, List of all individuals in the family tree, {{ 'gw_downgraded_access_back_to_max'|translate }}, Born 8May1932 - Sand Lough, St. Francis Co., AR, Deceased 30December1970 - Las Vegas, Clark Co., NV, Special thanks to the Department of Arkansas Heritage. Liston scored another knockout in a rematch with Patterson, but his 17-month reign as heavyweight champion ended at the hands of a brash fighter named Cassius Clay. For additional information: With Cus DAmato as his coach, Liston reigned as champion for seventeen months. He was caught and charged with first-degree robbery and larceny, and was sentenced in 1950 to 5 years in the Missouri State Penitentiary. . Known for his powerful punch, the majority of his victories were knockouts. He defeated heavyweight contenders Roy Harris, Zora Folley, Eddie Machen, Cleveland Williams, Mike DeJohn, Henry Clark, and Chuck Wepner. WebListon retired on his stool citing an injured shoulder; After this fight Cassius Clay changed his name to Cassius X and then to Muhammad Ali; 1964 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year. After his release, Liston relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his career quickly flourished again. Outside of the ring, Liston had a charming personality. He was trained by Charles Hills and has raced for Chelsea Thoroughbreds, and was bred in [Add Data] by [Add Data] . If two unmarried celebrities are seen in public together, they are often described as dating which means they were seen in public together, and it is not clear whether they are merely friends, exploring a more intimate relationship, or are romantically involved. (LogOut/ Jack Dempsey and Roberto Duran are two cases in point. He rose from poverty in the rural south to become one of the most dominant and feared professional fighters of the 20th century. L'arbre New York: Skyhorse, 2011. WebTogether with his 24 siblings and half siblings, Sonny grew up in the local cotton fields. However, his career was marred by criminal activity and, later, accusations of mob connections and throwing fights. (There is some speculation about his year of birth, but most sources state sometime from 1929 to 1932.) His last fight was against Chuck Wepner. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. He is from AR. He compiled a career record of 50-4, competing against such boxing legends as Muhammad Ali and Floyd Patterson. At 6 feet 1 inch and 217 pounds, Liston had devastating punching power, an iron chin, and lightning reflexes, along with a powerful jab. 100 Rock Street Liston, in fact, had great respect for Father Murphy and behaved admirably around him. He knocked out Floyd Patterson in 1962 to become world heavyweight champion. No one knows how Sonny Liston died. contient des milliers de photos et GeneaStars. The couple had two children; one was a daughter from Chambers previous marriage. There, he committed various muggings and robberies. He was referred to as the man with the steel punch and an iron chin.. QUICK FACTS. Served time in prison for robbery and later for assaulting a police officer. Liston won 26 consecutive bouts, moving inexorably toward the heavyweight championship. His death certificate states his death as December 30, 1970, based on milk deliveries at his doorstep. He was officially knocked out by Muhammad Ali in one minute for the fastest KO in heavyweight history up to that time. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2000. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). Some Thoughts on Boxing, Jake Paul, and Asking Why We Fight In 1966, following his loss to Clay, Liston launched a comeback. His death was as mysterious as his birth. He was caught and charged with first-degree robbery and larceny, and was sentenced in 1950 to 5 years in the Missouri State Penitentiary. Sonny never really had a Prime. Charles "Sonny" Liston was pronounced dead at the scene. Tosches is admirably objective in his presentation of Liston. A story is told of Liston ordering his driver to stop on a busy highway, so that Liston could go and buy some pencils from an obviously poor, old, white women whom he had observed. In October 1952, Liston was released on parole. Liston claimed he was born in 1932, yet his rap sheet for his 1950 arrest for armed robbery listed his age as 22, making him born in 1928. Major funding provided by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation. In 1950, he was arrested by the police. He only served six. Liston's purpose was to show the Pennylvania State Athletic Commission, and the world, that he was turning a new leaf. As a young man in 1949, Liston left Arkansas for good and followed his mother's footsteps to St. Louis. All Rights Reserved. At the age of 13, he ran away to St. Louis, following his mother who had left earlier. Sonny Liston was born on May 8, probably 1932, to Tobe and Helen (Baskin) Liston, African-American sharecroppers in rural St. Francis County. Scroll below and check our most recent updates about Sonny Liston Net Worth, Salary, Biography, Age, Eddie Dooley, chairman of the New York Boxing Commission in the 1960s, said that as long as he was chairman of the commission Sonny Liston would never be granted a license to box in New York State. An error has occured while loading the map. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The local police classified him as the yellow shirt bandit.. He sold pecans from his brother-in-laws tree in order to reunite with his mother and his siblings. During that same period, he got married (in 1957 to Geraldine Clark), moved from St. Louis to Philadelphia, and was questioned by a congressional committee about the takeover of his management by mob elements in 1960. Full body measurements, dress & shoe size will be updated soon. Sonny Liston turned professional in September 1953. He won in the first round against Don Smith. Introduced to boxing by Father Stevens in the St. Louis City Jail during 1950. Sonny Liston was featured in a novel "Girl Fighter" with a brief reference to his early life, his rise to WBC heavyweight champion and his eventual losses to Clay/Ali. Liston claimed he was born in He is one of the Richest Boxer who was born in AR. Official Sites. His final record as a professional was fifty wins, thirty-nine by knockout, and four losses. He died under mysterious conditions on December 30, 1970. Liston, who was viewed as nearly invincible before the fight, was unable to answer the bell for the seventh round, and Clay (soon to take the name .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Muhammad Ali) was named champion on February 25, 1964. Sonny Liston is a 4 year old colt and has raced in 2022. Liston was beholdin' to the mob and everybody knew it. Astrological Sign: Taurus, Death Year: 1970, Death date: December 30, 1970, Death State: Nevada, Death City: Las Vegas, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Sonny Liston Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/sonny-liston, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: April 23, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. Sonny Liston, hard-luck son of Arkansas sharecroppers, was champion of the world.