BoxRec

Sonnys wife found him deceased on January 5, 1971. The time of Listons death was placed at being 6 to 8 days prior.

The police who came to Sonnys home, found a puncture wound on Listons right arm, a syringe near his body, and a few bags of heroin in his kitchen. The authorities initially ruled his death as being caused from a heroin overdose.

The autopsy which was conducted on Listons body revealed some traces of morphine and codeine of a type produced by the breakdown of heroin in a persons body. But, the autopsy showed only a minute amount of morphine and codeine levels in Sonnys body. Too small to cause an apparent overdone.

Also, when the autopsy was conducted on Liston, his body was very decomposed. The first tests which were conducted, were ruled as being "inconclusive".

Then, the autopsy officially ruled Listons death as being from lung congestion and heart failure.

On January 5, 1971. ---- When the police showed up at Sonny Listons home. ----- Had Sonny been a drug user, he would have needed to have drug paraphernalia. Such as spoons, to cook the heroin. He would have needed an appendage to wrap around his arm. But, there were no spoons or appendages in his home.


Liston had a phobia of needles. After Sonny beat Floyd Patterson for the Heavyweight boxing championship, he at first refused to go on an exhibition boxing tour of Europe. Since he was told that he would have to get shots before he could travel overseas.


Listons wife stated that when Sonny would have just a common cold, he would even refuse just basic medical care because of his immense dislike of needles.



Liston was a drinker. But, Sonny was never known to be a substance user.

Any truth to the theory that his death was payback for not tanking as directed in the Wepner bout?