Harold Johnson - Sonny Liston

DFW · 02-13-2011, 09:35 PM

Has anyone ever heard any accounts of Harold Johnson and Sonny Liston doing sparring sessions? I recall reading that Johnson gave Liston all kinds of trouble in the gym. That would have made for an interesting matchup. It did almost happen in the mid 1950's and again in the early 60's. Too bad it didn't become a reality.

Il Duce · 02-13-2011, 09:44 PM

Good question about sparring sessions.
Have to look into that one.

Several proposed bouts though.

GPater11093 · 02-14-2011, 06:20 AM

You'd imagine him giving him trouble akin to Eddie Machen, thing is I don;t think he is as fluid or mobile as Machen and would pose less problem in an actual bout for Liston, although he might do a bit more damage.

Il Duce · 02-14-2011, 07:30 AM

The first so-called bout was scheduled for March 1956.
Harold Johnson vs. Sonny Liston........Pittsburg, Pa.

Sparring sessions between the two supposedly happened in 1955,, (I think).

RockysSplitNose · 02-14-2011, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Il Duce

The first so-called bout was scheduled for March 1956.
Harold Johnson vs. Sonny Liston........Pittsburg, Pa.

Sparring sessions between the two supposedly happened in 1955,, (I think).

Think Harold Johnson had sparring sessions with an older Joe Louis aswell?? Can anyone confirm and/or provide and quotes from Johnson as to how the two compared??

Il Duce · 02-14-2011, 08:00 AM

Harold Johnson did spar with Sonny Liston in January and February 1956, in
Pittsburg and Philadelphia.

Sonny was sent to Pittsburg in January 1956, to Tom Tannas, for some refining.
Harold Johnson, who had not fought since May 1955, was asked to help work with Sonny. And did, in both Philadelphia and Pittsburg.

Suprisingly, a bout was scheduled between the two for March 1956. But, Harold Johnson
dropped out when the boxing commission got involved, into looking at a possible 'fix'.

Surf-Bat · 02-14-2011, 04:54 PM

Poor Emil Brtko.

He was a promising, up n coming heavyweight. He was scheduled to fight Bob Satterfield, but the PA athletic commission wouldn't sanction it as Satterfield was considered too seasoned and too dangerous for Brtko at that point in his career. So they subbed another fighter to fill in for Satterfield. Someone presumably safer and who wouldn't wreck his promising young career.

The fighter they chose as a substitute? Sonny Liston.

Oops....

Surf-Bat · 02-14-2011, 04:54 PM

Needless to say, Brtko's career was wrecked as a result

Duodenum · 02-14-2011, 05:10 PM

One of our currently inactive posters (robert ungurean) revealed knowing Harold Johnson a few years back, and mentioned in a thread that Harold told him he had no trouble with Liston in sparring. (He also said that Johnson was already having good days and bad days. Maybe a few years earlier, we could have gotten some further elaboration on those sparring sessions through he who had shared the ring with Sonny himself.)

GPater11093 · 02-14-2011, 05:15 PM

I wrote to Johnson a few months back, never did get a reply, not that I expected one. Just mentioned how fans still appreciate him and he will always be remembered. I hoep he read it.

Il Duce · 02-14-2011, 05:20 PM

What was the 'real deal' between Harold Johnson and Julio Mederos.....

Was that a high-dive or not..

GPater11093 · 02-14-2011, 05:37 PM

Apparently a posioned apple weakened Johnson, to me it seems legit, he obviously wasnt himself.

Vic-JofreBRASIL · 02-14-2011, 05:40 PM

A fight between Liston vs HJ Would be a battle of jabs....In my opinion HJ could be a real trouble with his superb ring generalship.....agreed, too bad it didn´t became a reality......

02-13-2011, 09:35 PM	#1
DFW Gatekeeper ESB Full Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 338 vCash: 1000	Harold Johnson - Sonny Liston Has anyone ever heard any accounts of Harold Johnson and Sonny Liston doing sparring sessions? I recall reading that Johnson gave Liston all kinds of trouble in the gym. That would have made for an interesting matchup. It did almost happen in the mid 1950's and again in the early 60's. Too bad it didn't become a reality.
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02-13-2011, 09:44 PM	#2
Il Duce Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 3,486 vCash: 500	Re: Harold Johnson - Sonny Liston Good question about sparring sessions. Have to look into that one. Several proposed bouts though.
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02-14-2011, 06:20 AM	#3
GPater11093 Barry East Side VIP Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 19,025 vCash: 836	Re: Harold Johnson - Sonny Liston You'd imagine him giving him trouble akin to Eddie Machen, thing is I don;t think he is as fluid or mobile as Machen and would pose less problem in an actual bout for Liston, although he might do a bit more damage.
Top

02-14-2011, 07:30 AM	#4
Il Duce Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 3,486 vCash: 500	Re: Harold Johnson - Sonny Liston The first so-called bout was scheduled for March 1956. Harold Johnson vs. Sonny Liston........Pittsburg, Pa. Sparring sessions between the two supposedly happened in 1955,, (I think).
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02-14-2011, 08:00 AM	#6
Il Duce Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 3,486 vCash: 500	Re: Harold Johnson - Sonny Liston Harold Johnson did spar with Sonny Liston in January and February 1956, in Pittsburg and Philadelphia. Sonny was sent to Pittsburg in January 1956, to Tom Tannas, for some refining. Harold Johnson, who had not fought since May 1955, was asked to help work with Sonny. And did, in both Philadelphia and Pittsburg. Suprisingly, a bout was scheduled between the two for March 1956. But, Harold Johnson dropped out when the boxing commission got involved, into looking at a possible 'fix'.
Top

02-14-2011, 04:54 PM	#7
Surf-Bat Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,589 vCash: 500	Re: Harold Johnson - Sonny Liston Poor Emil Brtko. He was a promising, up n coming heavyweight. He was scheduled to fight Bob Satterfield, but the PA athletic commission wouldn't sanction it as Satterfield was considered too seasoned and too dangerous for Brtko at that point in his career. So they subbed another fighter to fill in for Satterfield. Someone presumably safer and who wouldn't wreck his promising young career. The fighter they chose as a substitute? Sonny Liston. Oops....
Top

02-14-2011, 04:54 PM	#8
Surf-Bat Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,589 vCash: 500	Re: Harold Johnson - Sonny Liston Needless to say, Brtko's career was wrecked as a result
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02-14-2011, 05:10 PM	#9
Duodenum Champion East Side Guru Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,794 vCash: 1000	Re: Harold Johnson - Sonny Liston One of our currently inactive posters (robert ungurean) revealed knowing Harold Johnson a few years back, and mentioned in a thread that Harold told him he had no trouble with Liston in sparring. (He also said that Johnson was already having good days and bad days. Maybe a few years earlier, we could have gotten some further elaboration on those sparring sessions through he who had shared the ring with Sonny himself.)
Top

02-14-2011, 05:15 PM	#10
GPater11093 Barry East Side VIP Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 19,025 vCash: 836	Re: Harold Johnson - Sonny Liston I wrote to Johnson a few months back, never did get a reply, not that I expected one. Just mentioned how fans still appreciate him and he will always be remembered. I hoep he read it.
Top

02-14-2011, 05:20 PM	#11
Il Duce Belt holder ESB Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 3,486 vCash: 500	Re: Harold Johnson - Sonny Liston What was the 'real deal' between Harold Johnson and Julio Mederos..... Was that a high-dive or not..
Top

02-14-2011, 05:37 PM	#12
GPater11093 Barry East Side VIP Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scotland Posts: 19,025 vCash: 836	Re: Harold Johnson - Sonny Liston Apparently a posioned apple weakened Johnson, to me it seems legit, he obviously wasnt himself.
Top

02-14-2011, 05:40 PM	#13
Vic-JofreBRASIL Vic East Side Guru Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Santos Posts: 8,653 vCash: 1166	Re: Harold Johnson - Sonny Liston A fight between Liston vs HJ Would be a battle of jabs....In my opinion HJ could be a real trouble with his superb ring generalship.....agreed, too bad it didn´t became a reality......
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