was liston a converted southpaw?

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 02 Apr 2003, 16:59

Ezzard Charles told me he thought Liston might have been a converted southpaw...that he may have seen him spar from this stance.

If so, it would fit into Liston's style...the strong left jab and the left hook. His right hand was powerful, but except for some shots to the body (he almost broke patterson in half with it in fight number two) he didn't throw it as a straight power shot to the chin as often ; usually he clubbed with it when he had his guy in the corner.

I admit I saw most of his fights after Ezz told me this,and when I watch the tapes I see them with this in mind,so maybe I'm infuenced in that direction, but it appears to me that it's true.

Anybody got any info or opinion, pro or con?

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 03 Apr 2003, 09:03

Rumour has it that Liston developed his powerful left arm from cotton-picking. By all accounts, the left arm was used to pick cotton and the strongest arm used to hold the sack over one's shoulder, which would explain things.

wsbuf · Post by **wsbuf** » 03 Apr 2003, 09:36

In the book "The Champ Nobody Wanted", it said that the first time in ring (While in Prison) he through hard left jabs. So seems he was always a righty.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 03 Apr 2003, 09:52

Yes, I have never heard of Liston being a converted southpaw. His left was always better than his right for sure, and I assume many fighters of his era assumed he had been turned around as a consequence (which was quite common back then). And most talented fighters can fight effectively in the southpaw stance if they want to, certainly in the gym. The sensible ones stick to their natural stance in the ring though.
As for the reason behind his stronger left arm, I have heard the cotton-picking thoery cited many times. It does make sense. The sack would get heavier and heavier, so the naturally stronger arm would have been initially used to support the sack over the shoulder (i.e, the right arm). But over time, the left arm would develop due to the cotton picking. When Sonny quit on his stool against Cassius Clay he cited a shoulder injury in his left shoulder and many of the press believed him, given how swollen the shoulder looked in comparison to the right shoulder. But his left shoulder was always bigger due to the cotton picking. And the real pros knew that.

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 03 Apr 2003, 15:24

found the left arm info in Boxing Babylon re; the cotton picking theory and in another Liston book. thanks for helping out. I recall a picture of Liston signing an autograph but don't remember with which hand, and he was mostly illiterate anyway, so it might have been just a pose.

Terap..will be glad to write some recollections of conversations with Ezzard Charles. I've been working on them along with other memoirs of show business years, pr years, journalism strories etc...and will pick out the Ezzard ones as soon as I can pull them together. Conversations ranged over a period of years, and more about music (Ezz played bass..sat in with jazz groups) and other things than boxing..especially his career. Just a few than come to mind. He said Marciano wasn't the hardest hitter he ever fought but was the strongest. Bob Satterfield had him almost out on his feet in the first round of their fight, which he won by one punch kayo in second round. Joe Louis' jab "really puffed up my face....stronger than most guys straight right hands. like a ball bat being poked at you.'

Will write more as I get them together.