Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

July 1963,

Sonny Liston stated the he would he would 'Manage and Promote' former Heavyweight Champion
- Floyd Patterson, if he would drop down to Light-Heavyweight, where he belongs.

Liston stated, that he had hit his sparring partners harder than Floyd in their July 1963 rematch
here in Las Vegas.

Sonny Liston, 'I really didn't hit Floyd that hard, and he went down from my set up punches. He's
not capable of fighting with big Heavyweights. If he wants, I will help him get the Championship at
Light-Heavyweight. I will gladly manage him and promote him if he wants me. The offer stands.'

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

Watch out Senor,

Believe it or not, there is a brigade of Patterson groupies here. They aren't as large as the Ali group. but they are just as rabid.

One of them keeps posting that fear of facing Patterson drove Marciano into retirement.

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

Sonny Liston,

'We can set Floyd up with a couple of bouts versus Rodolfo Diaz and Wayne Thorton,
and then go right after Willie Pastrano.'

'Then defenses against Harold Johnson, a rematch with Pastrano, and whoever's in the Top 10.
Floyd will be back on top within a year.'

'I just can't see Floyd in there with Cleveland Williams, Zora Folley or Ernie Terrell'.

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

Thing is, that would've been awesome :yep

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

I think Sonny was trying to get Floyd away from the Bolan Brothers,
so he could get him back where he belonged, back down to 175 lbs.

Sonny knew something. Get Floyd some confidence back. He could have
ruled the Light-Heavyweight Division for awhile.

Floyd Patterson vs. Bob Foster.........'a trilogy'

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

Floyd would have been a legendary light heavyweight. But why fight at light heavyweight as a legend when you can make a fortune as a very good maybe even great heavyweight.

Floyd made more as a heavyweight after losing the championship than he would have ever made in an entire career as a light heavyweight regardless of what success he may have had.

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

Lord Tywin,

I think Sonny was just trying to be a positive force for Floyd, who was at his
lowest after the July 1963 bout.

It may have been interesting to see Sonny manage Floyd to a Light-Heavyweight Championship,
with a few trips back up to Heavyweight.

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

I've always thought Patterson would have been one of the greatest lightheavyweights ever. Would have been cool seeing him hook up with Liston to achieve that.

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

Sonny may have taken Floyd all the way to 1970 as the Light-Heavyweight Champion.

Throw in a couple of visits to the Heavyweght Division for some 'big bucks'.

Floyd would have had opponents,
* Willie Pastrano
* Harold Johnson
* Gregorio Peralta
* Jose Torres
* Dick Tiger
* Mauro Mina
* Eddie Cotton
* Bob Foster

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

Sonny had a lot of respect and gratitude for Patterson after Patterson bucked the system and gave Liston a shot at the title when nobody wanted him to and he could have easily ducked Liston on the basis of his shady reputation.

That being said its laughable that the illiterate, non too bright Liston would have been able to manage or promote anyone much less Patterson successfully. He was a fighter, not a business man.

Its one thing to throw out names of people you would match Floyd with. Its another to navigate the mine field of contract negotiations, matchmaking, and every other facet that would being Floyd's manager/promoter would entail. Liston for all his natural fighting ability was simply not up to the task.

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

Cool info, but Fearless Floyd looks danger in the eye.

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

If Liston were fighting today, a lot of people would say that Liston, too, belongs in the light heavyweight division, and not in the heavyweight division rumbling with the 240+ pounds guys!

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

Sonny i am sure was smarter than many illterate guys..and plenty street smart..but why would you pick him as your manager?

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

Liston was rated as highly intelligent by people who knew him well.
He had his flaws, and simply hadn't the schooling to read and write well, but was apparently a very shrewd and clever man.

Some of the greatest promoters and managers have been of similar background.

Re: Sonny Liston 'I Will Manage Floyd Patterson as Light-Heavyweight'
 

You know that Liston was always much too big to be a lightheavy. Even cruiserweight when at his peak.