"Sonny Liston: The Real Story behind the Ali-Liston Fights"

[yancey]

Paul Gallender.

Anybody read this book?

Looks quite interesting considering the reviews at Amazon.

[loaded_gloves]

An outrageous title for a book released in 2012, really. With near everyone dead, what exactly does this writer know about the subject that hasn't been written about at length already? Do we really need to pay this writer money to discover that, as one reviewer puts it, uses "impossible to verify incidents and made up stories"?

Nothing but cash-in hack work for the writer, and confirmation bias for anyone who dislikes Ali.

[scallum]

An outrageous title for a book released in 2012, really. With near everyone dead, what exactly does this writer know about the subject that hasn't been written about at length already? Do we really need to pay this writer money to discover that, as one reviewer puts it, uses "impossible to verify incidents and made up stories"?

Nothing but cash-in hack work for the writer, and confirmation bias for anyone who dislikes Ali.

Exactly

[BoxBuzz]

FINALLY what the east coast knew all along will be shared with the rest of us.

[Senya13]

With near everyone dead, what exactly does this writer know about the subject that hasn't been written about at length already?

Not counting multiple newspapers, magazines and books quoted in the book, here's the introduction, where he lists people he interviewed (it can be previewed at Amazon for free, so I don't suppose I'm violating any copyrights here):

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thirty-five years is a long time to spend writing a book and this biography is a large portion of my life’s work. My passion for telling Sonny’s story has grown over the years and it has never been greater than it is now.

I’ve asked everyone I’ve interviewed the same question: Apart from Ali, who could have beaten Liston? Almost everyone has responded in one of two ways; they’ve either said “that’s a good question,” or they said nothing at all. I spoke with very few sportswriters about Sonny because I decided that the time to debate them would be after the publication of this book, rather than before. I’ll win those debates because the case I can make for Sonny Liston is as powerful as he had been, in and out of the ring.

Nevertheless, I must pay homage to several writers whose work I greatly admire. Jimmy Breslin, Marshall Smith and Bruce Jay Friedman wrote great pieces about Liston. And I would be remiss if I did not express my admiration for the superb work of several Sports Illustrated writers in the 1960s. The journalistic talents of Mark Kram, Jack Olsen, Gilbert Rogin and Barbara La Fontaine clearly outshine mine.

Some of my most important interviews occurred early on. Robert “Barney” Baker, Davey Pearl, Irving “Ash” Resnick and Morris Shenker generously helped me understand the heavyweight champ in a very personal way. Conversing with the great fight historian Jimmy Jacobs showed me that I could indeed hold my own in a discussion about the history of boxing’s heavyweight division.

Former champs Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Jose Torres were gracious in the time they gave me and forthright in their comments and recollections, as were promoters Don Chargin, Truman Gibson, Henry Winston, and Mickey Duff. Speaking with the great trainers Eddie Futch and George Gainford, for me was both informative and exhilarating.

I want to thank Philadelphian George Hansen Jr. for introducing me to Liston’s son, William Wingate. William introduced me to Tommy Manning and Mitchell Allen, both of whom knew Sonny well. Getting to know Willie Reddish Jr., whose father trained Sonny, was an absolute pleasure. Thanks also to the Hon. Joseph Casciato and Paul Abdoo Jr. for sharing memories of their fathers with me.

In St. Louis, Jesse Bowdry’s daughter, Kim, was responsible for my getting to know two of Sonny’s nieces and one of his nephews: Helen Long, Fannie Mae Hopkins and Henry Page all basically welcomed me into their families by sharing their intimate stories, which helped me form an even more indepth picture of this great man.

In Las Vegas, I came to know many fine people including Sonny’s sparring partner, Ben Skelton. Tony Davi was a confidante of Liston’s good friend, Johnny Tocco, and Lem Banker was one of the few people who could tell the ex-champ when he was out of line. Gary Bates sparred with Sonny and became one of his best friends, and if I had the inclination to write another biography, he would be my subject. Ali’s former business manager, Gene Kilroy, told me some heartfelt stories about his boss. Former police officer Dennis Caputo was one of the few law enforcement officials who never had an ax to grind with Sonny.

By the time she was four years old, Dana Gentry was dear friends with Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis and Sonny. I’m grateful to the great Esquire photographer, Carl Fischer, for allowing me to use a photo he took of Dana and a Santa Claus-clad Liston. Dana’s mother, Marilyn Resnick, was close to Geraldine and Sonny Liston, and Martha and Joe Louis, and Marilyn’s memories of the Ali rematch in Lewiston were central to my being able to tell the real story about that bout.

Finally, I am indebted to Philadelphia promoter and boxing historian, J. Russell Peltz, for meticulously fact-checking my manuscript. Russell found several errors and for that, my hat is off to the man.

[montrealsuper]

Big George Foreman was friends wit Liston and sparred and trained with him, in his book By George, he discussed what Liston told him about the Ali fights. I'll try to find it and post it.