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December 30, 1970: Sonny Liston Was Found Dead!
Posted: 30 Dec 2025, 10:04
by elmersalsa
About 55 years ago, in his house in Las Vegas, Sonny Liston, one of the most feared and greatest heavyweight boxers ever, was found dead of a drug overdose.
Did Liston committed suicide? Or did the Mob killed him?
Liston was 38 years old. His final fight was a win against Chuck Wepner. Your comments, please.
Re: December 30, 1970: Sonny Liston Was Found Dead!
Posted: 02 Jan 2026, 20:58
by Expug
Interesting question and one that’s been asked a lot My thoughts are, obviously Sonny was involved with shady characters and dabbled in nefarious activities.
It’s hard to get past the fact that he was supposedly terrified of needles.
But, at the same time, who did he piss off from the mob that warranted him getting whacked in the manor that he was found? These things make the situation complicated in my opinion.
Re: December 30, 1970: Sonny Liston Was Found Dead!
Posted: 23 Jan 2026, 18:11
by gilgamesh
I just went through all of Sonny Liston's bouts, and even though I know this has nothing to do with the original subject of the thread as in "his death" but since this thread is about Sonny Liston, I just wanted to say.
What a quote machine this guy was. Some of the best one liners in Boxing came from this dude.
After he got knocked out by Leotis Martin. He's asked by Howard Cosell what happened? His answer was "If I'd known that it wouldn't have happened"
When he was going to face Eddie Machen. At the weigh in. In the pre fight staredown. Eddie Machen says to Sonny Liston "I'm not scared!" and Sonny replied "You will be"
I'm sure there's a lot of others, but I really loved those. What a guy.
Re: December 30, 1970: Sonny Liston Was Found Dead!
Posted: 23 Jan 2026, 19:34
by Expug
gilgamesh wrote: ↑23 Jan 2026, 18:11
I just went through all of Sonny Liston's bouts, and even though I know this has nothing to do with the original subject of the thread as in "his death" but since this thread is about Sonny Liston, I just wanted to say.
What a quote machine this guy was. Some of the best one liners in Boxing came from this dude.
After he got knocked out by Leotis Martin. He's asked by Howard Cosell what happened? His answer was "If I'd known that it wouldn't have happened"
When he was going to face Eddie Machen. At the weigh in. In the pre fight staredown. Eddie Machen says to Sonny Liston "I'm not scared!" and Sonny replied "You will be"
I'm sure there's a lot of others, but I really loved those. What a guy.
And the classic line :
A reporter asked how old he was.
Liston said “My Mother says I’m 30. “
The reporter says “ people say you’re older than that.
Liston says” my mother says I’m 30. Are you calling my mother a fuc.in liar?