Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, 1991. Family Please try again. New York: Skyhorse, 2011. Served a prison sentence at Missouri State Penitentiary for robbing a gas station at age 18. Inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame, 1990. He knocked out Floyd Patterson in 1962 to become world heavyweight champion. He continued fighting until June 29, 1970, when he knocked out Chuck Wepner, but he never got another title shot. Username and password are case sensitive. Liston was beholdin' to the mob and everybody knew it. Steen, Rob. Sonny Liston Wife According to our records, Sonny Liston married to Geraldine Seithel. The place had a name, but it was not to be found on any map. His mother worked several jobs to support her children. After being unable to reach Liston for 12 days, his wife Geraldine returned to their Nevada home on January 5, 1971, at which time she discovered Liston's dead body. At 13, he escaped from his father's control and hitchhiked to Liston continued to fight in the ring until June 1970. During that same period, he got married (in 1957 to Geraldine Clark), moved from St. Louis to Philadelphia, and was questioned by a congressional committee about the takeover of his management by mob elements in 1960. Robert B. Cochran Liston was the second last in a family of twenty-five siblings. Soon caught (his crimes were inept, spur-of-the-moment, strong arm jobs) and charged with first-degree robbery and larceny, he was sentenced in 1950 to five years in the Missouri State Penitentiary. Owing to his bold physique and strict upbringing, Liston loved training. (LogOut/ Cruel Beginnings. His epitaph reads: A Man.. Nine years of steady fighting later, and following additional scrapes with the law, Liston fought Floyd Patterson for the Heavyweight Championship. Mee, Bob. Tosches, who hails from Newark, writes in an engaging style that is as beautifully stylish as a Liston left jab and as savagely straightforward. New York: Blue Rider Press, 2016. Outside of the ring, Liston had a charming personality. Official Sites. WebParents and Siblings Charles L. "Sonny" Liston 19321970 Geraldine Chamber 19252005 Spouse and Children Charles L. "Sonny" Liston Male19321970 Male On September 25, 1962, Liston made history by becoming the heavyweight champion. Sonny Liston has been died on Dec 30, 1970 ( age 38). View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. He had earned the title shot with an impressive string of 195960 victories over top contenders Cleveland Williams, Nino Valdes, Roy Harris, Zora Folley, and Eddie Machen (all knockouts except for Machen). Liston continued to box until the time of his death. Liston was arrested more than 20 times. Reverend Stevens arranged the match for him. He put himself under the care of still another Catholic priest, Father Edward P. Murphy, a kindly Jesuit who was the pastor of a predominantly black church in Denver. He kept fighting and kept winning against a progressively better grade of opponents. Sonny Liston - Trivia, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays Sonny Liston has been died on Dec 30, 1970 ( age 38). Check back often as we will continue to update this page with new relationship details. He only served six. Helen Liston Tosches, Nick. On this date in 1964, a heavily favored Liston lost his title to upstart Cassius Clay, soon to be Muhammad Ali. He quickly destroyed all the leading heavyweight contenders--Roy Harris, Zora Folley, Cleveland Williams--to earn a title shot against Floyd Patterson. His time at the summit was brief. That hurt him deeply, though he instinctively hid the scars behind a scowl. He continued fighting until June 29, 1970, when he knocked out Chuck Wepner, but he never got another title shot. Sonny Liston Liston, who posted a career record of 50 wins and 4 losses with 39 knockouts, reveled in this role of the fighter America loved to hate. Liston won 26 consecutive bouts, moving inexorably toward the heavyweight championship. Deceased persons are not concerned by this provision. Education: Sonny Liston Net Worth: Sonny Liston net worth or net income is estimated to be between $1 Million $5 Million dollars. George Foreman was his sparring partner from 1969 to 1970. That inbred struggle for survival often produces champions. Introduced to boxing by Father Stevens in the St. Louis City Jail during 1950. WebHe had seven siblings. Along with his many siblings, Liston grew up Sonny Liston existed, and, Ali bouts or no Ali bouts, he was one of the greatest fighters to ever lace on a glove. He was one of many aged 38years old. Armed robbery. Additional support provided by the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation Inc. In 1950, he was convicted of two counts of larceny and two counts of first-degree robbery and spent more than two years in the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. The son of tenant farmer Tobey Liston and his second wife, Helen, Liston was the 24th of his fathers 25 children. Black Pioneers: Sonny Liston - Arkansas Soul | Black and In the films the good guy always wins, but this is one bad guy who ain't gonna lose. Folley knocked down twice in 2nd round; 9 count and saved by the bell at 9 count. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2000. Best Known For: Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing while serving time in a Missouri State Penitentiary. Twenty-two-year-old Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, defeated reigning world boxing champ Sonny Liston on this day in history, Feb. 25, 1964, in Miami, Florida. His trademark shirt during his illegal raids was yellow. Celebrating Sonny Liston Even as champion, Liston was never able to escape his prison beginnings or the allegations of mob connections. Ironically, by the time Liston finally became champ in September of that year with his 1-round KO of Patterson, the mob was beginning to lose its iron grip on the sport and on Liston himself. Liston won 26 consecutive bouts, moving inexorably toward the heavyweight championship. Sonny Liston is a 4 year old colt and has raced in 2022. He organized a criminal gang that robbed and mugged locals. Heavyweight Boxer Sonny Liston An error has occured while loading the map. Known for his powerful punch, the majority of his victories were knockouts. Sonny Liston was born on May 8, probably 1932, to Tobe and Helen (Baskin) Liston, African-American. When Liston died, he was rated 7th in the world heavyweight rankings by Ring Magazine. Liston scored another knockout in a rematch with Patterson, but his 17-month reign as heavyweight champion ended at the hands of a brash fighter named Cassius Clay. Even as a grown up, the physical scars were still visible. He is one of the Richest Boxer who was born in AR. | He became a professional fighter in 1953. He was still a fringe contender at the age of 40 or so when he died under mysterious circumstances in December of 1970 at his house in Las Vegas. (There is some speculation about his year of birth, but most sources state sometime from 1929 to 1932.) He was caught and charged with first-degree robbery and larceny, and was sentenced in 1950 to 5 years in the Missouri State Penitentiary. Lets take a look at Sonny Liston past relationships, ex-girlfriends and previous hookups. By all accounts, Liston had a woeful childhood. in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, This form allows you to report an error or to submit additional information about this family tree: Sonny LISTON (1932), Copyright Wikipdia authors - This article is under licence CC BY-SA 3.0. They called it Sand Slough. Sonny Liston was featured in a novel "Girl Fighter" with a brief reference to his early life, his rise to WBC heavyweight champion and his eventual losses to Clay/Ali. Sonny Liston keeps his personal and love life private. A Champion of Something New - by Eli Jones - The Riverside Gambling. At the age of 13, he ran away to St. Louis, following his mother who had left earlier. According to Wikipedia, Forbes, IMDb & Various Online resources, famous Boxer Sonny Listons net worth is $82 Million before He died. Sonny Liston He died circa December 30, 1970, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sonny Liston Biography - Life of American Boxer - Totally History Liston, one of 25 children by his father, is reputed to have been born in May 1932, yet prison records show various birth dates, among them 1928. He knocked out the reigning world champion in the first round. 2023 Encyclopedia of Arkansas. lis! But there is another side. He was accused of stealing an officers gun. Liston was raised on heavy farm work, many beatings and with virtually no schooling. Unfortunately, the same dark forces that forged Liston's destructiveness in the ring also fueled a distrust for the police and a bent toward criminal activity that would lead to two stints in the Missouri state prison system. The Devil and Sonny Liston. Listons career was interrupted for nine months beginning in December 1956, when he was sent to the St. Louis workhouse for assaulting a policeman and stealing the officers gun. Served time in prison for robbery and later for assaulting a police officer. Charles L. Sonny Liston was born in St. Francis County, Arkansas, to Tobe Liston and Helen Baskin. His father was 30 years older than his mother. Trivia He was convicted of robbery and larceny. He was caught and charged with first-degree robbery and larceny, and was sentenced in 1950 to 5 years in the Missouri State Penitentiary. In Michael Mann's Ali, Liston was portrayed by famous boxer Michael Bentt, with whom he shares a strong resemblance. On this day in history, Feb. 25, 1964, a young Muhammad Ali Along with his many siblings, Liston grew up working in the local cotton fields. He earned the money being a professional Boxer. Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing while serving time in a Missouri State Penitentiary. From the start, Liston was a devastating puncher. In 1950, he was arrested by the police. Those dark forces were also at work when Liston willingly placed himself in the hands of the mob that ran the fight game during the time of Liston's ascendancy to the crown. Is mentioned in the song "Swinging" by Tom Petty. In October 1952, Liston was released on parole. There were also times when he showed surprising compassion for the less fortunate. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Donations made to the CALS Foundation are tax-deductible for United States federal income tax purposes. With the help of a farsighted, black St. Louis businessman and some other backers who were aware of Sonny's potential, Liston pursued a ring career after leaving the joint and rejoining society at large. The most noticeable being his win over Ed Sanders. Sonny, who was known by his proper name Charles while growing up, rarely attended school and never learned to read or write, a fact that haunted him as an adult and fed a lifelong problem with insecurity. (LogOut/ Give a donation in someones name to mark a special occasion, honor a friend or colleague or remember a beloved family member. Boxer Charles L. Sonny Liston was bornin St. Francis County, Arkansason May 8, 1932. At the age of 16, Listonmore than 6 feet tall and weighing 200 poundsbecame a menacing presence in his neighborhood, occasionally working as a strike-breaking labor goon. It was scandal on top of scandal; Listons reputation, already tainted by prison time, allegations of mob connections, and charges of sexual assault, never recovered. His heavyweight title-winning victory on September 25, 1962, was indicative of his powerful style: After a mere two minutes, he knocked out Floyd Patterson, which marked the first time in history that a reigning heavyweight champion was counted out in the first round. Wrong side of history: Sonny Liston (Which isn't to say that Liston took advantage of Father Murphy, or that he had a disregard for what Father Murphy had to say. Geraldine married Sonny Liston in 1950 During his two-plus years in the state penitentiary, Liston attained a new nickname, "Sonny," and a new vocation, boxing. Sonny Liston Biography, Life, Interesting Facts - Famous The continual conflicts with the police. World heavyweight boxing champion, 1962-1964. He never shied away from street fights. His father was an abusive alcoholic, and Liston eventually left the house during his teens. As the top fighter in the world, Liston became an easy target for sports columnists who remarked frequently on not only his menacing demeanor and vicious punching power but also his criminal background. The official date of Charles L. Liston is given as May 8, 1932. Liston, who was viewed as nearly invincible before the fight, was unable to answer the bell for the seventh round, and Clay (soon to take the nameMuhammad Ali) was named champion on February 25, 1964. Nine years of steady fighting later, and following additional scrapes with the law (fourteen arrests between 1953 and 1958 and a conviction in 1956 for assaulting a police officer), Liston finally fought Floyd Patterson for the Heavyweight Championship. The first time you log in to our catalog you will need to create an account. In a short amount of time, he rose to prominence as a contender in the heavyweight division. Liston celebrated the speedy reinstatement of his license with an impressive 1-round knockout of German baker Albert Westphal, who was ranked No. In St. Louis, he quickly encountered problems with the local police. Along with his many siblings, Liston grew up working in the local cotton fields. He overcame tremendous odds to win the title and earn a measure of fame, but even so he was never embraced by the public. He was officially knocked out by Muhammad Ali in one minute for the fastest KO in heavyweight history up to that time. Family (1) Spouse Sonny Liston went from boxing champion and national anti-hero to a Las Vegas thug who drove around in a pink Cadillac and sold drugs. Sonny Liston was born in Sand Slough, AR on May 8, 1932. His opponent abandoned the match midway. By that time, Liston had already attracted the attention of organized crime. He, however, won in the subsequent rematch. Auspiciously, the massive man is known as The Bear then won his first nine fights before dropping an eight-round decision to Marty Marshall. If you can, provide 1-2 sources of information backing up this correction. with Cornelia Winfrey, born in April 1873 - Montgomery Co., MS, deceased. WebListon retired on his stool citing an injured shoulder; After this fight Cassius Clay changed his name to Cassius X and then to Muhammad Ali; 1964 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year. Lets check, How Rich is Sonny Liston in 2020-2022? Nous sommes tous His parents were peasant farmers who grew cotton in the south. On top of the mob issue, Liston had to overcome more problems with the law before he could be free to fight Patterson for the title. Charles L. "Sonny" Liston (19321970) FamilySearch For additional information: Clay was no debtor to the mob. Liston's purpose was to show the Pennylvania State Athletic Commission, and the world, that he was turning a new leaf. Owing to his many siblings and a brutal, hardscrabble Arkansas childhood with an abusive father (excruciatingly detailed in the movie and book), Liston had an affinity for needy children. Tobe was mean to his children, and especially to Sonny. In 1996 when Mike Tyson KO'd Bruce Seldon in one round for the WBA Heavyweight Championship, Tyson had won the WBC Heavyweight Championship six months earlier and was seeking to unify the title. Wrong username or password. His parents were Tobe Liston and Helen Baskin. Time magazine photograph of Ali standing over Liston, taunting him, is one of the most popularly published in boxing. It was a defense mechanism designed to keep people from getting too close. Liston turned professional in September 1953, earning his first paycheck in St. Louis with a first-round knockout of Don Smith. 4 among heavyweights, on Dec. 4, 1961. This is how Tosches describes Liston's birth place: "It was in the sector of Morledge Plantation that lay in Johnson Township, St. Francis County, that Tobe Liston and his family came to live and farm, on a low patch where a rill of muddy water, a mile and a half or so long, dribbled dead to its end in a slough of sandy dirt where nothing could grow. Sonny Liston: His Life, Strife, and the Phantom Punch. Let's check, How Rich is Ivn P, Mario Daser estimated Net Worth, Biography, Age, Height, Dating, Relationship Records, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. Along with his many siblings, Liston grew up working in the local cotton fields. Very little is known about his birth and his To give back to society, he supported many children. In prison, encouraged by Catholic chaplains, Liston took up boxing, where he was an immediate and spectacular success. Additional support provided by the Arkansas General Assembly. Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing by Reverend Father Alois Stevens. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The second was a boy. Liston was raised on heavy farm work, many beatings, and with virtually no schooling. Liston was raised on heavy farm work, many beatings and with virtually no schooling. He compiled a career record of If there is a flaw in Tosches' book, it's that the author seems bent on carrying the theme of Liston and the mob beyond its logical parameters. . His relationship status is single. He became a professional fighter on September 2, 1953, when he knocked out Don Smith in a single round in St. Louis. Liston had a huge physique. Sonny Liston However, his career was marred by criminal activity and, later, accusations of mob connections and throwing fights. Liston, Sonny - Encyclopedia of Arkansas He won 11 consecutive fights by knockout in 1968 and added three more wins in 1969 before losing a brutal bout to Leotis Martin. Before his sentencing, Liston had been arrested more than twenty times. TM & 2023 BoxingScene.All Rights Reserved. Liston is another. As Liston made himself a serious challenger to Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight title, Liston made his alliance with the Devil, as Tosches refers to the mob. WebAnswer (1 of 2): At anytime in their careers Clay / Ali would have been too fast and elusive for Sonny. sonny liston We are all related! He became a professional fighter on September 2, 1953, when he knocked out Don Smith in a single round in St. Louis. Tosches does a nice piece of reporting on the incident that led to Liston's arrest, objectively revealing all available viewpoints. Liston moved to Las Vegas in 1966 and was found dead there on Jan. 5, 1971, when his wife returned to their home from a Christmas visit with her mother. Copyright 2020 ARKANSAS SOUL MEDIA, All rights Reserved. Honor or memorial gifts are an everlasting way to pay tribute to someone who has touched your life. Drinking. Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing while serving time in a Missouri State Penitentiary. He was adopted when the couple was together. Was the favorite fighter of the famous Fab Four, the Beatles, and he appears on their "Sgt. Liston penalized two points for low blows. Foes like the murderous-punching Cleveland Williams, Mike DeJohn and Nino Valdez succumbed to Liston's heavy fists.
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