Sonny Liston's Title Reign
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Sonny Liston Title Reign Boxing History Heavyweight Champion 1960s Sports Muhammad Ali

Eps 22: Sonny Liston's Title Reign

— LACE UP THE LEATHERS

This podcast talks about Sonny Liston's title reign as a heavyweight champion and his rise to fame in the boxing world. Liston was known for his powerful punches and intimidating demeanor, but also faced criticism and controversy surrounding his past criminal background. Despite these issues, Liston went on to win the world heavyweight title and successfully defended it against various challengers. However, his reign was eventually ended by Muhammad Ali in a historic upset. Despite his defeat, Liston's legacy as a dominant and respected boxer lives on.

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Byron Dunn

Byron Dunn

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In the history of boxing, few fighters have had the impact of Sonny Liston. Born into poverty, Liston escaped his troubled childhood by taking up boxing and quickly displayed a natural talent for the sport. However, it was not until he entered the professional ranks that he became truly dominant. His title reign, which lasted from 1962 to 1964, was marked by stunning knockouts and controversy both in and out of the ring.

Liston first gained national attention in 1958, when he knocked out then-world heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson in the first round of their fight. Despite his impressive victory, Liston struggled to gain public acceptance due to his checkered past. He had spent time in prison and had been barred from fighting in several states due to alleged connections to mobsters.

Despite his reputation, Liston continued to rise through the ranks of the heavyweight division. He won several high-profile fights, including a rematch against Patterson in 1963, and was widely recognized as the top heavyweight in the world. However, controversy continued to follow him.

In the lead-up to Liston's fight against Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali) in 1964, rumors circulated that Liston had thrown his previous fight against Clay in order to set up a more lucrative rematch. These rumors were fueled by Liston's strange behavior in the ring during the first fight, in which he appeared to lack his usual aggression.

The rematch between Liston and Clay, held in May 1965, was one of the most hotly-anticipated fights in boxing history. However, the bout ended in controversy. In the first round, Clay (who had changed his name to Muhammad Ali by this point) landed a hard right hand that sent Liston sprawling to the canvas. Liston, who was widely believed to have one of the best chins in boxing history, lay on the mat for several seconds before finally getting up. However, the referee declared the fight over, as he believed Liston had been knocked out.

The ending of the fight sparked fierce debate among boxing fans and experts. Many claimed that Liston had taken a dive in order to avoid a longer bout with Ali. Others argued that the knockout had been legitimate, as Liston had been caught off guard by a perfectly-timed punch.

Regardless of the controversy, Liston's reign as heavyweight champion had come to an end. He would never again fight for a world title, and his career would go into decline in the years that followed. However, his legacy as one of the most feared and controversial fighters in boxing history would persist for generations to come.