The best punch trackers on the market
8th May 2020
By: Noah Abrahams
Arguably the most feared heavyweight in history and perhaps the most talented, Big Bear Sonny Liston had even the greatest of all-time quaking in their boots.
Often remembered as Muhammad Ali’s most famous opponent, Liston rose from humble beginnings to stardom, a reputation built off cannon ball fists, brutal knockouts and sheer intimidation.
On the wrong side of the law throughout his life, the American discovered his passion for boxing when serving time at the Missouri State Penitentiary in 1950. Introduced to the sport by the prison’s Athletic Director, Reverend Alois Stevens, Liston once released, began a short spell as an amateur.
Crafting a strong non-professional record, Liston’s first notable win came against the 1952 Olympic heavyweight champion Ed Sanders. A string of victories after just under a year at amateur level resulted in a call up to represent his country in an International Golden Gloves (USA vs. West Europe) competition.
Signing a professional contract in 1953, Liston knocked out Don Smith in the first round of his pro-debut, fighting in an orthodox stance, despite a powerful left hand. Whilst complications outside of the ring prevented bouts between 1956 and 1958, the International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee continued to graft hard for a world title shot. Comfortably conquering Cleveland Williams in 1959 – a masterclass performance against a man widely considered as one of the finest boxers to never win a title – Liston began the 1960’s as a heavyweight champion-in-waiting.
Beginning 1962 with 34 victories from 35 contests, it was inevitable that Liston would fight for the world championship. Initially refused his opportunity to challenge the at-the-time reigning world heavyweight champion, Floyd Patterson because of Liston’s supposed links to organized crime, Big Bear eventually received his chance.
Despite mounting pressure on Patterson not to fight Liston (mostly for political reasons, from those as high as US President John F. Kennedy), it was agreed that under new management, Liston could challenge the athlete known as ‘The Gentleman of Boxing’.
Meeting for the world title on September 25th, 1962 in Chicago, Liston, the bookies favourite, knocked out Patterson after just over two minutes in the first round. That was the first time that a defending champion had ever been stopped by knock out in round one of a fight.
A world champion, Liston’s problems away from sport intensified whilst at the top of the boxing pyramid. Racially targeted by press and still battling personal demons, life inside the ring ensured that Liston stayed on the straight and narrow. Even if only to an extent.
Retaining his belt 10 months later in an invoked Patterson rematch, the second contest lasted just four seconds longer than the first. A round one knockout in Las Vegas solidified his title and strengthened his odds against Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay).
Defending the title for the second time, the heavy favourite met his challenger, Ali on February 25th 1964 in Florida. The odds stacked heavily against ‘The Greatest’ at 7-1, a Liston victory was expected by experts and fans alike.
With minimal training and whilst carrying a shoulder injury, Liston was confident that he would beat ‘The People’s Champion’. Taking little consideration to Ali’s speed, agility and technical skill, Liston largely failed to land punches, his powerful left hand leaving no impact on Ali, ‘The Louisville Lip’ countering his opponent with a series of quick, dangerous and violent combinations.
A battle of the ages, the first round lasted longer than it should have done, an electric atmosphere preventing the referee from hearing the bell. Hurting Ali on the ropes with a hard-left hook in the second round, the significance of the match up meant that Liston had to do better than applying just a short spell of pressure.
Driven to the ropes, cut under his left eye, bruised underneath the other and angered, the tables had turned in round three, Ali on top, Liston retaliated with body shots – a highlight when watching back the contest.
Convincingly losing the fourth round to Ali, controversy was rife as the two warriors returned to their corners. With referee Barney Felix admitting post bout that Ali was seconds away from disqualification after claiming irritation in his eye, the fifth round commenced.
Ali’s sight restricted, he demonstrated his greatness as he avoided the faint shadow that he made out to be Liston in the fifth. His vision cleared for the sixth round, Ali fought with blistering aggression, enraged by his opponent and landing lethal combinations.
The fight scored as even going into round seven, Liston failed to answer the bell, Ali declared the winner by technical knockout. Quitting in his corner, Liston was the first heavyweight champion to so do since 1919.
A legendary re-match, Ali v Liston 2 remains one of the shortest title bouts in heavyweight history. Rife with controversy, allegation and conspiracy, the fight lasted under two minutes. Refereed by former world champion Jersey Joe Walcott in Boston, November 13th, 1964 will forever go down in the record books. Liston may have been in the best shape of his career, but Ali was stronger.
The end of the fight debated over, Liston threw a left jab and Ali went over it with a fast right, knocking the former champion down mid-way through the first round. Dropping to the canvas like a tonne of bricks, Liston fell on his back, several in the venue certain that Ali didn’t deliver a punch at all. Regardless of the chaos unfolding, only added to when Jersey Joe failed to keep time due to miscommunication with his team, the moment Ali stood over Liston remains an iconic one.
Following a second loss to Ali, Liston remained out of the ring for over a year. Eventually returning, the Big Bear enjoyed victory on 15 occasions before his retirement.
His life tragically cut short, Liston died aged 39 in 1970. Ranked by The Ring magazine as the tenth greatest heavyweight of all time, Liston leaves behind a legacy as an activist, icon and legend.
On what would have been Sonny Liston’s 88th birthday, we all at Boxing Guru remember a true boxing legend.
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