Sonny Liston vs. George Johnson

Sonny Liston 217 lbs beat George Johnson 212 lbs by TKO at 2:55 in round 7 of 10

• Date: 1969-05-19
• Location: Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
• Referee: Harold Krause

"Sonny Liston stopped durable George 'Scrap Iron' Johnson of Los Angeles in seven rounds Monday night at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Liston knocked Johnson to the canvas in the opening round with a barrage of punches for the only knockdown of the night. Referee Harry Krause halted the bout at 2:55 of the 7th with Johnson unable to defend himself. Benny Conyers, Johnson's manager, signalled for the referee to stop the fight." -United Press International

• Purses - Liston - $20,000, Johnson - $8,000

Post fight comments

• "All we want now is either Frazier or Ellis." -Dick Sadler, Liston's manager

• "That guy's (Johnson) got a lot of heart. I thought I had him in the first round." -Sonny Liston

• "Scrap Iron was hurt in the first round and never got a chance to fight his fight. But I think Frazier is a harder puncher than Liston." -Benny Conyers