Sonny Liston v Roy Harris 1960

[MasterG]

Just watched this fight, Harris was down 4 times before the ref waved it off in the first.

Just got me wondering was Harris paid to lose to Liston in 1 round?

[Caractacus]

well he (Roy Harris)is still around at age 85 years old
and probably may still be living down in Cut and Shoot Texas.
why don't you ask him yourself ?
(but frankly it probably wouldn't be a good idea to ask him that question face to face when he is waiting for an elevator or something,
as punching power is the last thing to go).

[Tony1244]

Why would you even think that? Liston was a great puncher and Harris was a never was and no I wouldn't tell him that.

[Caractacus]

well I didnt say he had tremendous power,but could punch some.
he did KO 9 opponents out of 30 wins who were professional boxers,
also he had the HW Champion of the World (Floyd Patterson) on the canvas.
I'm sure he hasn't forgotten how to properly throw a punch after all these years.

[sweetsci]

Interestingly, this was kind of a big fight at the time. It was shown on closed-circuit and was, according to the AP, the biggest closed-circuit hookup for a non-title fight ever, up to that point. Liston was ranked #2 and #3 by the NBA and Ring, respectively, while Harris was #6 in both rankings. It seemed to be a competitive bout between two once-beaten top-6 contenders. While Liston was favored, I doubt anyone expected the quick blowout result.

[oogiebe]

Just watched this fight, Harris was down 4 times before the ref waved it off in the first.

Just got me wondering was Harris paid to lose to Liston in 1 round?

Harris has the look of grave concern on his face! He jabbed and grabbed, then got nabbed.

[chrisjs1985]

Liston was a killer and he had some fights won before he entered the ring.

[oogiebe]

Liston was a killer and he had some fights won before he entered the ring.

He was Tyson before Tyson. Liston's "killer" reputation, as you put it, is what made people think that Ali (Clay at the time) must've been scared to death to have acted so seemingly bizarre before the first their fight. Every sports writer was picking Liston in two or three rounds. If you can put it back into the context of its time, it is the greatest upset ever.

[MasterG]

Why would you even think that? Liston was a great puncher and Harris was a never was and no I wouldn't tell him that.

Liston was associated with the mob wasnt he? So as Harris seemed to be a decent boxer only losing once prior Its quite conceivable that looking at the footage those knock downs didnt seem that devastating, so again its quite reasonable to think due to who Liston was mixing amonst that there could have been a betting fix on that fight, or even a possible talking to in the dressing room prior.

[Tony1244]

Why would you even think that? Liston was a great puncher and Harris was a never was and no I wouldn't tell him that.

Liston was associated with the mob wasnt he? So as Harris seemed to be a decent boxer only losing once prior Its quite conceivable that looking at the footage those knock downs didnt seem that devastating, so again its quite reasonable to think due to who Liston was mixing amonst that there could have been a betting fix on that fight, or even a possible talking to in the dressing room prior.

I'm not saying it's impossible, but why waste a fix when the outcome is obvious anyway?

[MasterG]

Why would you even think that? Liston was a great puncher and Harris was a never was and no I wouldn't tell him that.

Liston was associated with the mob wasnt he? So as Harris seemed to be a decent boxer only losing once prior Its quite conceivable that looking at the footage those knock downs didnt seem that devastating, so again its quite reasonable to think due to who Liston was mixing amonst that there could have been a betting fix on that fight, or even a possible talking to in the dressing room prior.

I'm not saying it's impossible, but why waste a fix when the outcome is obvious anyway?

even though an outcome was certain some people could have made a few extra dollars out of an outcome that was played out.

I just think by watching the fight and this guy had already fought for the world title previously and took the champ to round 12 before getting beat by retirement that Sonny Liston knocked him down 3 times, well 4 but one was classed a slip in the first before losing. Just seems the guy was dispatched a little too easy.

[Tony1244]

Liston was associated with the mob wasnt he? So as Harris seemed to be a decent boxer only losing once prior Its quite conceivable that looking at the footage those knock downs didnt seem that devastating, so again its quite reasonable to think due to who Liston was mixing amonst that there could have been a betting fix on that fight, or even a possible talking to in the dressing room prior.

I'm not saying it's impossible, but why waste a fix when the outcome is obvious anyway?

even though an outcome was certain some people could have made a few extra dollars out of an outcome that was played out.

I just think by watching the fight and this guy had already fought for the world title previously and took the champ to round 12 before getting beat by retirement that Sonny Liston knocked him down 3 times, well 4 but one was classed a slip in the first before losing. Just seems the guy was dispatched a little too easy.

I'll watch it later in the day when I have more time. Perhaps it was one of these cases where Harris didn't believe he could win, so he got himself out of there like Walcott did in his 2nd Marciano fight.

[oogiebe]

Harris was scared and intimidated and looked it in the ring from the get go. He was holding and hanging on from the opening bell. No fix, no need, no way.

[Tony1244]

Just watched it, Have never seen a fight less likely to be a fix or a dive. Harris got beat up badly with left hooks.

[oogiebe]

Just watched it, Have never seen a fight less likely to be a fix or a dive. Harris got beat up badly with left hooks.

[oogiebe]

Enjoy these fake KO's!

[Caractacus]

The second fight there looked like it was a right to the forehead that dis-combobledated him then a delayed reactiion to it.