Liston emptied his pockets of bills and returned to the car with all of the women's pencils. He became a professional fighter on September 2, 1953, when he knocked out Don Smith in a single round in St. Louis. For additional information: 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. 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. Sonny Liston was born in Sand Slough, AR on May 8, 1932. Sonny Liston, hard-luck son of Arkansas sharecroppers, was champion of the world. It was just a matter of semantics, though. Official Sites. Sonny had to put the proper face forward to the public. Liston celebrated the speedy reinstatement of his license with an impressive 1-round knockout of German baker Albert Westphal, who was ranked No. First heavyweight title challenger to earn a purse of $1,000,000. Auspiciously, the massive man is known as "The Bear" then won his first nine fights before dropping an eight-round decision to Marty Marshall. He became a professional fighter in 1953. Profile: Sonny Liston (1932 1970) Black Art Story . As Liston made himself a serious challenger to Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight title, Liston made his alliance with the Devil, as Tosches refers to the mob. On this date in 1964, a heavily favored Liston lost his title to upstart Cassius Clay, soon to be Muhammad Ali. He was one of many Before his sentencing, Liston had been arrested more than twenty times. His father was an abusive alcoholic, and Liston eventually left the house during his teens. He was friendly with his fans and had a soft spot for children. Is mentioned in the song "Swinging" by Tom Petty. The map below shows the places where the ancestors of the famous person lived. In the same interval, he had gotten married (in 1957 to Geraldine Clark), moved from St. Louis to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1958, and been questioned by a congressional committee about the takeover of his management by mob elements in 1960. 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. In September of 1953, he knocked out Don "Toro" Smith in two rounds in St. Louis, setting in motion a career which would span 17 years and bring Sonny to the pinnacle of success in his sport. Mee, Bob. WebHalf-siblings. 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. Boxer Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was born in St. Francis County, Arkansas on May 8, 1932. Copyright 2020 ARKANSAS SOUL MEDIA, All rights Reserved. He went on to win several amateur matches. 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. Survived by his wife Geraldine and a step-daughter. Scroll below and check our most recent updates about Sonny Liston Net Worth, Salary, Biography, Age, Tosches is admirably objective in his presentation of Liston. Username and password are case sensitive. The second was a boy. Lets take a look at Sonny Liston past relationships, ex-girlfriends and previous hookups. An error has occured while loading the map. Time magazine photograph of Ali standing over Liston, taunting him, is one of the most popularly published in boxing. Sonny Liston - Death, Muhammad Ali & Children - Biography Liston was buried in the Paradise Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas under the simplest of epitaphs: A MAN.. Least of all, Sonny himself. In St. Louis, he quickly encountered problems with the local police. He has ranked on the list of those famous people who were born on May 8, 1932. Tosches, Nick. World heavyweight boxing champion, 1962-1964. The place had a name, but it was not to be found on any map. The son of tenant farmer Tobey Liston and his second wife, Helen, Liston was the 24th of his father's 25 children. Owing to his many siblings and a brutal, hardscrabble Arkansas childhood with an abusive father (excruciatingly detailed in the movie and book), Liston had an affinity for needy children. He was one of many children one account lists 22 siblings and half-siblings. Gallender, Paul. He was a victim before he was ever a brute. Thus, cloaking the heavyweight champion of the world--the epitome of masculinity and male supremacy--in a Santa Claus hat was the height of irony at the time. This is how Tosches describes Liston's birth place: "It was in the sector of Morledge Plantation that lay in Johnson Township, St. Francis County, that Tobe Liston and his family came to live and farm, on a low patch where a rill of muddy water, a mile and a half or so long, dribbled dead to its end in a slough of sandy dirt where nothing could grow. Liston destroyed the champion in one round and destroyed him again in the rematch. She had been away on holiday. 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. The subsequent rematch with Clay on May 25, 1965, included the infamous "phantom punch." 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. He continued fighting until June 29, 1970, when he knocked out Chuck Wepner, but he never got another title shot. 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. He was accused of stealing an officers gun. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album cover. His parents were Tobe Liston and Helen Baskin. It was a defense mechanism designed to keep people from getting too close. Introduced to boxing by Father Stevens in the St. Louis City Jail during 1950. He also has a position among the list of Most popular Boxer. Read our Privacy Policy. 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At least two sexual assaults. Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing while serving time in a Missouri State Penitentiary. Black Pioneers: Sonny Liston - Arkansas Soul | Black and Or it would be history, if boxing historians would stop sweeping the legacy of Sonny Liston under the ring canvas. For all his womanizing, Liston had a respect for his wife Geraldine and was faithful to her in his own way. contient des milliers de photos et GeneaStars. He only served six. Wrong username or password. Copyright 2020, ARKANSAS SOUL MEDIA. Celebrating Sonny Liston Aligning himself with the Devil. He earned the money being a professional Boxer. contient des milliers de photos et GeneaStars. WebAnswer (1 of 2): At anytime in their careers Clay / Ali would have been too fast and elusive for Sonny. The son of tenant farmer Tobey Liston and his second wife, Helen, Liston was the 24th of his fathers 25 children. In a short amount of time, he rose to prominence as a contender in the heavyweight division. After his release, Liston relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his career quickly flourished again. Liston won 13 of his first 14 bouts before trouble with the law cost him his freedom a second time. Sonny Liston was born in Sand Slough, AR on May 8, 1932. Clay, later to be known as Muhammad Ali, may have had the fastest hands of any heavyweight ever to lace on a pair of gloves. He compiled a career record of 50-4, competing against such boxing legends as Muhammad Ali and Floyd Patterson. Gambling. Sonny Liston 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 was raised on heavy farm work, many beatings and with virtually no schooling. Along with his many siblings, Liston grew up working in the local cotton fields. Liston was arrested more than 20 times. In 1996 when Mike Tyson KO'd Bruce Seldon in one round for the WBA Heavyweight Championship, Tyson had won the WBC Heavyweight Championship six months earlier and was seeking to unify the title. His relationship status is single. His final record as a professional was fifty wins, thirty-nine by knockout, and four losses. His epitaph reads: "A Man.". Made a comeback in 1968-1969 and won 14 straight before losing to Leotis Martin. 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. Sonny Liston lost his title to the little known Cassius Clay in the seventh round in February 1964. boxer had the look of a champion. As Toches brings out, Liston's brooding temperament can be explained in part by his insecurity. WebSonny Liston is 6 feet 0 inches tall. As the top fighter in the world, Liston became an easy target for sports columnists who remarked frequently on not only his menacing demeanor and vicious punching power but also his criminal background. Get in on the latest boxing conversations in our Forum and comment on articles. Sonny Liston existed, and, Ali bouts or no Ali bouts, he was one of the greatest fighters to ever lace on a glove. Tosches believes the latter. Liston was the 12th of 13 children born to Tobe and Helen Liston (and one of 25 children sired by Tobe). With Cus DAmato as his coach, Liston reigned as champion for seventeen months. Sonny Liston Sonny Liston Those dark forces were also at work when Liston willingly placed himself in the hands of the mob that ran the fight game during the time of Liston's ascendancy to the crown. Liston was the second last in a family of twenty-five siblings. Geraldine married Sonny Liston in 1950 The dark side is evident. Following his release from the workhouse, Liston quickly returned to the ring against Hunter and got his career back on track. When Liston died, he was rated 7th in the world heavyweight rankings by Ring Magazine. Sand Slough, Arkansas, United States of America, Sonny Liston is still regarded as the best heavyweight boxer with a taste of violence. Tosches here betrays an ignorance of boxing that no doubt hurts his credibility with those know know the sport. Sanders was the reigning Olympic heavyweight champion. He put himself under the care of still another Catholic priest, Father Edward P. Murphy, a kindly Jesuit who was the pastor of a predominantly black church in Denver. He maintained a winning streak in eight matches. There, he committed various muggings and robberies. There were rumors of drug peddling, heroin use, and murder, but no answers. Cox, who was interviewed extensively by Tosches, went as far as to say that Liston would still be alive if he had "spent more time with Father Murphy."). Sonny Liston has been died on Dec 30, 1970 ( age 38). His final record as a professional was 50 wins, 39 by knockout, and four losses. Tired of being exploited as a manual laborer, Sonny Liston turned to crime. Ward, who resides today in Forrest City, Ark. Deceased persons are not concerned by this provision. In accordance with the legal provisions, you can ask for the removal of your name and the name of your minor children. Sunny Hostin - Wikipedia He managed to turn his cruel past to his advantage. Helen Liston Give a donation in someones name to mark a special occasion, honor a friend or colleague or remember a beloved family member. He was referred to as the man with the steel punch and an iron chin.. Liston was the 12th of 13 children born to Tobe and Helen Liston (and one of 25 children sired by Tobe). By all accounts, Liston had a woeful childhood. He knocked out the reigning world champion in the first round. Tosches, who hails from Newark, writes in an engaging style that is as beautifully stylish as a Liston left jab and as savagely straightforward. gnalogique Dowling avec plus d'un demi-million de parents, 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. As a young man in 1949, Liston left Arkansas for good and followed his mother's footsteps to St. Louis. Paroled in 1952, Liston quickly captured the local Golden Gloves championship. General Melvin Krulewitch, chairman of the New York Boxing Commission in the 1950s, refused to issue Liston a license to fight in New York because he was guilty of associating with "questionable" characters. Sonny Liston was born on May 8, probably 1932, to Tobe and Helen (Baskin) Liston, African-American. His father was an abusive alcoholic, and Liston eventually left the house during his teens. If it was truly a fix, then Liston would have found a way to avoid taking the punishment that he received at Clay's hands before retiring on his stool after the sixth round. In a short amount of time, those felonious deeds cost Sonny Liston his freedom. His death certificate states his death as December 30, 1970, based on milk deliveries at his doorstep. (There is some speculation about his year of birth, but most sources state sometime from 1929 to 1932.) His death certificate states his death as December 30, 1970, based on milk deliveries at his doorstep. On Popular Bio, He is one of the successful Boxer. Liston was buried in Paradise Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas, Nevada, beneath a simple gravestone. Creating an account gives you access to all these features. Major children and living persons must directly contact the. All Rights Reserved. In his next fight he bounced back to TKO Chuck Wepner shortly before his mysterious death in 1970. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Liston started boxing at the age of 14 because there were no sports available in Florida at the time. He died circa December 30, 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sonny Liston is a 4 year old colt and has raced in 2022. Liston had a short and successful amateur career, following which he turned pro. The official cause of his death was given as cardiac arrest and lung congestion. Major support provided through a partnership with the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism. aged 38years old. 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 Liston would later claim his birth date to be May 8, 1932, but that is off by at least two years. Sonny Liston was born on May 8, 1932 in Sand Slough, AR. Armed robbery. 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. He was sired by Lawman out of the Galileo mare Stars In Your Eyes. Due to the poverty in the family, Sonny never went to school. Sonny Liston Biography - Life of American Boxer - Totally History WebHe had seven siblings. in Sand Slough, Arkansas, USA , United States, Died on December 30, 1970 Sonny Liston 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. He had earned the title shot with an impressive string of 195960 victories over top contenders Cleveland Williams, Nino Valdes, Roy Harris, Zora Folley, and Eddie Machen (all knockouts except for Machen). That inbred struggle for survival often produces champions. He is from AR. They called it Sand Slough. QUICK FACTS. Charles L. "Sonny" Liston (19321970) FamilySearch He was arrested twice in a period of months in Philadelphia in the summer of 1961. Appeared in a Santa Claus hat on the cover of the December 1963 edition of Esquire Magazine. Sonny Liston was born on May 8, probably 1932, to Tobe and Helen (Baskin) Liston, African-American sharecroppers in rural St. Francis County. Sonny never really had a Prime. Even Sonny's mother, who was called Big Hela, didn't know, though she believed him to be born during the month of January. He was one of many 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. His opponent abandoned the match midway. The CALS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. 1932-1970 Sonny Liston was the heavyweight boxing champion from 1962 to 1964. Liston didn't find gainful employment in St. Louis. The author begins appropriately at the beginning with his subject, providing more comprehensive information about Sonny's childhood than probably even Sonny himself knew. If you can, provide 1-2 sources of information backing up this correction. In 1956, he found himself on the wrong side of the law again. On this date in 1964, a heavily favored Liston lost his title to upstart Cassius Clay, soon to be Muhammad Ali. | Liston was raised on heavy farm work, many beatings and with virtually no schooling. Tosches does a nice piece of reporting on the incident that led to Liston's arrest, objectively revealing all available viewpoints. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2000. Sonny Liston Biography, Life, Interesting Facts - Famous 4 among heavyweights, on Dec. 4, 1961. Early Life and Family: Before he was famous, He sold pecans from his brother-in-laws tree in order to reunite with his mother and his siblings. 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. The official date of Charles L. Liston is given as May 8, 1932. Folley knocked down twice in 2nd round; 9 count and saved by the bell at 9 count. At the age of thirteen, he ran away to St. Louis, Missouri, following his mother, who had left earlier. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! This project is funded in part by a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant award. Tosches' explanation, of course, is that Liston was again dutifully following orders given by the mob. When a tribute gift is given the honoree will receive a letter acknowledging your generosity and a bookplate will be placed in a book. When Liston became the top challenger to champion Floyd Patterson by 1960, it was a Donations made to the CALS Foundation are tax-deductible for United States federal income tax purposes. Served time in prison for robbery and later for assaulting a police officer. 2023 Encyclopedia of Arkansas. His alcoholic and violent father was thirty years older than Sonnys mother. Liston was arrested more than 20 times. Liston was beaten in his ninth match by Marty Marshall. Won his last fight on June 29, 1970, at the Jersey City Armory, stopping. He was thirty-eight years. Maybe Liston realized that he couldn't beat the youthful Clay/Ali, and he opted not to get up off the canvas in round one instead of absorbing another beating. Paroled in 1952, he had a brief amateur career, winning several Golden Gloves championships and defeating 1952 Olympic heavyweight champion Ed Sanders. In 1950, he was arrested by the police. Sonny Liston Sonny Liston: His Life, Strife, and the Phantom Punch. He married Geraldine Chambers on June 10, 1950. From the start, it was apparent that he had a future in the ring. (LogOut/ He told them that he had no education, couldn't write and worked as a child to help feed his 24 siblings. 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. Liston and Geraldine had no children, but Liston loved kids and enjoyed being in their company. Womanizing. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Touring the local hospital in a grey tweed overcoat with a black velvet collar, the intimidating, burly, 6-foot-tall, 215 lb. Please try again. Boxer Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was born in St. Francis County, Arkansas on May 8, 1932. Full body measurements, dress & shoe size will be updated soon. Served a prison sentence at Missouri State Penitentiary for robbing a gas station at age 18. Liston was buried in Paradise Memorial Gardens in Las Vegas, Nevada, beneath a simple gravestone. Even as a grown up, the physical scars were still visible. At the age of 13, he ran away to St. Louis, following his mother who had left earlier. Liston excelled in his newfound love, boxing, and, after a short amateur career, turned professional. 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. He became a professional fighter in 1953. In October 1952, Liston was released on parole. Liston penalized two points for low blows. A Champion of Something New - by Eli Jones - The Riverside Biography, Net Worth, Gossips, Salary, News & Much More. His 17-year ring log was an impressive 50-4 with 39 knockouts. Charles "Sonny" Liston's life and death began and ended in the same manner: as a mystery. Liston, Sonny - Encyclopedia of Arkansas