What They Said About Sonny...

[Il Duce]

Much depends on an authority or commissioner.
If there was a National Boxing Commissioner in the United States, it is
doubtful whether Sonny Liston would get a title shot.

Yes, he could enjoy participating in fights, but not a World Championship on
U.S. soil.

If anyone fought him under a National Commssion, the title would be declared vacant.

That would not stop a promoter from putting together a bout, but the promoter
may have had his license yanked.

[Senor Pepe']

Bill Faversham Jr. after Cassius Clay upset Sonny Liston in Miami.

'If Sonny Liston wants a rematch, I have no problem with that, we will grant him
his wish. But in no way, was that a 31 year-old man in the ring last night,
as that looked every bit of a 36 year-old man, and some.'

[McGrain]

Very interesting thread, good bump.

[bigjake]

Originally Posted by red cobra

I mean, if I was one of those greats, I'd say "to hell with Liston's past"..he won the crown as decisively as anyone in history..it wiped clean the slate of the past.

you can't get away from your past.

[Senor Pepe']

Big Jake,,,,,,,,,,,,the man from the Northeast Quadrant.

How are you sir.

Frank Mitchell, Sonny Liston's Manager 1953.

'Sonny Liston is the most ungrateful person I have ever had the displeasure of meeting.'

[johnmaff36]

Originally Posted by bigjake

you can't get away from your past.

Ya alright BJ? Still tag-teaming with peter north?


Again, yet another thread i missed first time round. Interesting quotes indeed

[Senor Pepe']

1953

Frank Mitchell, Sonny's manager.

'You know, I'm a rich man in St. Louis.,,,,,,,, But I've calculated, that if I keep
Sonny Liston as my fighter for another 18-months,,,,,,,,,,,,I will be broke.'

[Senor Pepe']

1954

Tom Tannas, Sonny's manager after Frank Mitchell.

'Frank begged me to take Sonny off his hands. He said if I didn't,
he would be arrested for murder, because he planned on shooting Liston in the head.'

[frankenfrank]

Originally Posted by johnmaff36

Ya alright BJ? Still tag-teaming with peter north?


Again, yet another thread i missed first time round. Interesting quotes indeed

i've seen almost every bit of peter north's entire career and he didn't have many tag teams in it , so d answer 4u is that he doesn't . also PN is about 54 atm , probably nearing d end of his prolific career . PN was 1 of my heroes growing up , a figure 2 look up 2 , but i don't find his style very likeable anymore . but i still appreciate him .

[frankenfrank]

Originally Posted by junior-soprano

most of the remarks where stupid........
what someone does in his personal life is is own bussiness.. if he beats up old ladys or robs banks or whatever.. that makes you a bad person but that's all.
i don't agree with the fact that sporting figures and champions are a kind of rolmodel.. or should behave like a good human being.. cause people look up to them..
if you are the best then that makes you the champ.. in any sport (mostly)..

especially the remark from gunboath smith :"you've got to have a champion with class".
what the hell for.. like i stated before.. the one who is the best becomes the champ.. and what he does in private life or did in the past is no one elses business..

Originally Posted by junior-soprano

but you don't get it. even if it is the greatest fk up a life. if he is the best he is the champ.. and he should be judged on that only. on his sport achievements.. his mistakes the law system will judge..
and why is there no such thing as a private life.. who the hell are you to decide that ?? god, superman ???
everyone has a private life...

totally agree with j-s

[red cobra]

Originally Posted by Il Duce

October 1962,

Jams J. Braddock;
'A fighter's a fighter. Character has nothing to do with it. He'll be good.
People will come to see him get beat.'

Gene Tunney;
'Sonny Liston is sure to turn over a new leaf as champion. The responsibility will
awaken him to the needs.'

Jack Sharkey;
'I liked Patterson to win, because he know's he's the champion and that makes a
difference. It remains to be seen what the other guy will do. It might create a new era in boxing,
having Sonny Liston as champion. Every fighter wants to lick a tough guy.'

Georges Carpentier;
'It's up to Sonny Liston to prove he's as big a champion as he indicates he might be.
The thing that struck me about the fight is that either Sonny Liston is terribly
strong or Floyd Patterson was imprudent. It was a completely unexpected outcome.'

Gunboat Smith;
'I was hoping that Liston would get his brains knocked out. He's got no business in
the ring. I think boxing will shut down all over the country. Maybe I shouldn't be saying this.
He might come and take a poke at me. But, I've fought bigger guys than he.
I fought Willard, and I had to look up twice to see him. He hit me, and I hit him
with everythig I had, with no detours, all the way from the dressing room. I blinded
him with footwork and got the decision. I was pulling for Patterson. You've got to have a
champion who's got class. Like Dempsey or Tunney. They got class.'

New York State Boxing Officials;
'We banned the fight from being held here because of Sonny Liston's personal history and past record.
Now we might just abolish prize-fighting completely.'

'The fight with Patterson was a complete farce, as another blow has been sent to the dying sport
of prizefighting.'

Tunney's comment was fair.

[prime]

The old-time fighters were much less in awe of Liston than the press.

Save Gunboat Smith, a product of his times, pretty fair comments from Liston's fellow fighters, who knew the price a champion must pay.

[Senor Pepe']

1962

Cleveland Williams,

'Sonny is a good a guy, as long as you don't touch his Cadillac, his Scotch and
his Women,,,,,,and if you do, you better run,,,,,,because if you don't, you're gonna be one dead motherfucker.'

[ThinBlack]

Originally Posted by Senor Pepe'

1962

Cleveland Williams,

'Sonny is a good a guy, as long as you don't touch his Cadillac, his Scotch and
his Women,,,,,,and if you do, you better run,,,,,,because if you don't, you're gonna be one dead motherfucker.'

!

[red cobra]

Originally Posted by bigjake

you can't get away from your past.

You can redeem yourself however,and I think that's the gist of what Tunney was saying.