Sonny Liston's slow start to his career

[Controversial]

Liston's first 9 fights went 8-1 (2 ko's), with two of his points wins being by split decision.

He then went 27-0 (23 ko's) before Clay/Ali beat him.

Was there any particular reason for the shaky start and poor stoppage record?

[raylawpc]

In 1953, Liston won the Golden Gloves heavyweight title, and was a quarterfinalist for the National AAU heavyweight title. One of the opponents he defeated was Ed Sanders, the 1952 Olympic Heavyweight Gold Medalist. I suspect he would not have been able to accomplish those feats on strength alone and without being able to throw a decent one-two . . .

Here is what I have of his record:

1953
St. Louis Golden Gloves
Feb 13 Luther Corder St. Louis, MO KO 2
Feb 13 LLoyd Willis St. Louis, MO W 3 - Finals.

Feb 23-Mar 7: 26th Chicago Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions,
Feb 24 Donnie Fleeman of Fort Worth, TX KO 3
Feb 24 Carl McClure of Oklahoma City, OK W 3
Feb 25 Tullos Lee Mead of Memphis, TN KO 2 - Quarterfinals.
Mar 6 Ben Bankhead of Kansas City, MO W 3 - semi-finals.
Mar 6 Ed Sanders of Los Angeles, CA W 3 - Finals.

Chicago-NY Intercity, Chicago, IL
Mar 26 Julius Griffin of New York W 3 - press reports said Liston "wore Griffin down with a body attack in the second round and then banged away at the New Yorker's chin in the closing round."

65th National AAU Tournament, Boston, MA
Apr 14 Lou Graff KO 1 (0:50)
Apr 15 James McCarter L 3 - Quarterfinals

International Golden Gloves at St. Louis, MO
Jun 23 Herman Schreibauer (RFA) TKO 1

By the way, press reports indicated he was 20-years-old.

[raylawpc]

But back to your original question, Controversial, if you read the newspapers from St. Louis when Sonny was starting his career, his initial opponents were pretty good fighters. He did not get any set ups like many fighters when they are starting out.

[witherspoon]

I heard it said, and read that Sonny did not become a real ko artist until he learned to tone down his jab. Apparently he was hitting guys so hard with a straight left that they were knocked out of range of the follow up right!
I can easily believe this, from what I have seen of Liston.

[raylawpc]

Sonny's name does not show up in the 1930 U.S. Census record with the rest of his family. However, he shows up in the 1940 census and he is listed as 10 years old. This means Sonny was born in 1930 (sometime after the census taker came by, apparently), meaning he was 33 or 34 when Cassius Clay challenged him for the heavyweight title.

[raylawpc]

What is your source for these Luther Smith fights? I have a client whose father was a guard at the Missouri State Penitentiary when Sonny was behind The Walls. He told his son NOBODY behind the Walls ever defeated Liston.

[raylawpc]

What is your source for these Luther Smith fights? I have a client whose father was a guard at the Missouri State Penitentiary when Sonny was behind The Walls. He told his son NOBODY behind the Walls ever defeated Liston.

Nobody ever defeated Charles Liston in the Missouri State Penitentiary in 1950..........Are Your Sure ?

That would be 'news', because Charles said that he got his 'butt' kicked when he first started
boxing while incarcerated.

In a Television Interview, in Sonny Boy's own words "I got the tar beat out of me."

The son of the guard at the Walls was sure. What's your source?

[raylawpc]

I look forward to seeing it.

[evrenb]

I look forward to seeing it.

Hi

Don't wait around for it. If it turns up I will forgive the Duck..

Evren

[evrenb]

I look forward to seeing it.

Hi

Don't wait around for it. If it turns up I will forgive the Duck..

Evren

Just for that 'snide remark' I will not post it.........

See what you've done Evren B. You've screwed another member again.........

Lol Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Onnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn !!!!

What a schmuck doofus worthless clown. 'Get ya shine box!' Quote from Goodfellas . . .

[Giancarlo]

Any sign of that article yet?

[Giancarlo]

Any sign of that article yet?

Yes, I'm reading it now.......

A very good in depth article about Luther Smith boxing Charles Liston, and his 5-Bouts with the burly St. Louis Bad Boy.

Can you render it totally useless by posting it here with yours and Big Jim's moronic comments embedded?

Thanks in advance.

[Giancarlo]

The St. Louis Dispatch put together great articles.

You should get a copy Giancarlo........

Luther 'Rockman' Smith

Why would I bother with the banalities of fact when I can read the ravings of a bonafide lunatic like yourself?

Have you ever considered adding to my fun by posting in the "Off Topic" section? I'd love to hear your views on things other than boxing.

[raylawpc]

I look forward to seeing it.

Hi

Don't wait around for it. If it turns up I will forgive the Duck..

Evren

Just for that 'snide remark' I will not post it.........

See what you've done Evren B. You've screwed another member again.........

Didn't screw me. I don't really believe the article existed. You just proved it.