The sparring partners of Sonny Liston

[Brutu]

Here is a partial list of some of the sparring partners Sonny Liston used to one degree or another during his ring career.
If anyone knows others please list them here.

Amateur days 1952-1953
Thurmond Wilson
Foneda Cox(1953-1955,1962-1965)
Steve Howlett
Nino Valdez(Liston just about to turn pro ,sparred with Valdez when Valdez was in St. Louis to fight Archie Moore)

circa 1959-1965
Ernie Terrel (for Albert Westphal fight 1961)
Lou Bailey-Aurora Downs
Chico Gardener-Aurora Downs
Jim McCarter (Patterson I)
Ben Skelton (Patterson I)
"Slim"Jim Robinson(Patterson I)
Ray Shoeninger
Jesse Smith
Howard King (Patterson II)
Leotis Martin (Patterson II)
Jesse Bowdry-Surfside Miami Beach
Richard Norden
Ollie Wilson
Jim Robertson(?Slim Jim Robinson)

1964-1965
Larry Brown
Billy Joiner
Amos"Big Train" Lincoln(1963-1965)
Leroy Green(1964 for cancelled Boston fight)
Alonzo Johnson
Lee Williams(1964 for cancelled Boston fight)
Art"Tiger"Wright
Floyd Joiner
Chauncey Hudson(170 lbs)
Don Smith(239 lbs)
Curtis"Honey Boy"Bruce(1965)
Willie Richardson

1966-1969
Tommie Simms
Art Swiden
Wayne Heath(for Billy Joiner fight also public exibitions 1968)
Mac Foster
Freddie Little(middleweight)
Charlie Shipes(welterweight)
George Foreman
Clarence Williams
Chester Walton
Cornell Nolen
Johnny Mac

[Brutu]

It was reported in the newspapers during August 1964 when Liston was training for the scheduled second fight with Ali that was to take place in Boston .
Liston had difficulty finding sparring partners.
Reportly his camp offerd potential sparring partners
$40.00 for each three minute round,
(plus room,board and transportation)
and they could potentially make as much as $800.00 a day.
(however they the sparring partners were responsible to pay their own hospital bills).

[Brutu]

Here are the names of a few more,however I wasnt able to find out for which fights they sparred with Liston for.

Dorsey Burnette(middlewieght c.1953)
Sonny Ray
Ron Coleman
Art Mayorga

[Jan]

George Foreman was a sparringspartner of liston? Didnt know that?

[Goodnight, Irene]

George Foreman was a sparringspartner of liston? Didnt know that?

It's quite well-known. For a brief time, they were stablemates, like Ali & Ellis.

[Brutu]

Possibly Liston sparred with Ezzard Charles,around early 1956.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Possibly Liston sparred with Ezzard Charles,around early 1956.

What leads you to consider that?

[BoxBuzz]

There was a great picture posted here of Liston and Foreman in a ring during one of Liston's Training camps. I just can't find it now.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I remember that pic. I saved it, & it graced my screen as a wallpaper at the time. If someone can tell me how to post images from your PC's memory, as opposed to a link, I can put it up for those who've not seen it.

It certainly is a grand image.

[raylawpc]

Frank Baltazar can probably tell you how to do it. PM "kikbalt."

[Goodnight, Irene]

Done & dusted. Just have to wait for him to reply.

Great picture, that one. One for the ages

[Goodnight, Irene]

[Goodnight, Irene]

Bugger it, I'll fix it later. The shot is worth the wait

[Collins2000]

Here's some dude who claims he was a sparring partner for Liston

http://www.bostonmuaythai.com

[Collins2000]

[Collins2000]

[BoxBuzz]

Sonny and George posing in a Liston training camp photo.

Cheers GI....

[Goodnight, Irene]

No, thank you for posting it on my technologically-incompatible behalf

Thanks also to Kikibalt for his sincere attempts to help this ole knucklehead out

Glad to see the pic is up. As a life-long fan of Foreman, & someone who's always been as curious as anyone about Liston, what I wouldn't give to have been in the gym that day...

[Ezzard]

Sorry to be a cynic but that photo has always looked fake to me. I've seen it many times and it's like neither man is reacting to the other being so close. The perspective doesn't look right either.

I'd love it if someone could prove me wrong.

I'm not saying they didn't spar just that the photo doesn't look right.

[BoxBuzz]

it was not a "posed" moment other than they were both in the ring at that moment in time.

With that said, I've gone over it for pixel oddities based on your concern.....nothing interesting showed up. These guys for that millisecond in time were doing just what the photo depicts.

[raylawpc]

Sorry to be a cynic but that photo has always looked fake to me. I've seen it many times and it's like neither man is reacting to the other being so close. The perspective doesn't look right either.

I'd love it if someone could prove me wrong.

I'm not saying they didn't spar just that the photo doesn't look right.

Of course its posed. Those guys wouldn't have boxing in handwraps.

But there isn't any question they sparred. They were stablemates, both managed by Dick Sadler, and Foreman has commented on sparring with Liston in several interviews. I haven't read his bios, but I'm told he writes about it in his bios.

[Ezzard]

My point is that it looks like someone has cut and pasted Foreman in - a photo-shop job!

[raylawpc]

It doesn't to me. From the cast of the shadows, it looks like Liston and Foreman were under the same light source.

[Goodnight, Irene]

My point is that it looks like someone has cut and pasted Foreman in - a photo-shop job!

I do know what you mean --- it appears awkward. Only thing I can tell you is to keep in mind it's an instant in time. Anything can happen in a split-second.

[BoxBuzz]

raylaw....."posed" for my meaning is that they weren't smiling and facing the camera. They were likely just moving around the ring looking a bit aloof. Foreman and Liston looking aloof? Imagine that.

the "light source" in this case appears to be from the flash of the camera and is consistent. and there are no pixel anomalies. It's authentic.