'Why I Took A Dive' by Sonny Liston

In the first fight with Cassius Clay.

I really wanted to get out of boxing. All my mobster friends were either dying or going to prison,
and I really didn't have many friends left.

I was tired of it all. I was getting old. I had told everybody I was born in May 1932, but truthfully,
I was born in March 1927.

When I was to fight Clay in Febrauary 1964, I was really just a month shy of 37. I was tired of it all,
and I didn't want to play the boxing game anymore.

As for my personal life, I was living hard, by boozing it up (J & B Scotch), and I really wasn't taking
care of myself. My Manager Jack Nilon, and his brother Robert (my personal advisor) had enough of
my bad behavior, and they really wanted to get out of the boxing game. I was costing them a ton of
money, and they wanted to 'cash in'.

They came to me with this 'deal' with Cassius Clay, and it sounded good. Everybody would make alot
of money, and even more in the 'rematch'.

At first, I said that nobody would believe this, can we really pull it off. But Jack told me, that William Faversham
(Cassius Clay's Management Team President) had it all worked out, to the 'finest' detail. He even had
the Miami Boxing Commission people in line and in agreement.

 

Yes, the plan was simple, throw the fight, and my life would be turned upside down
for a year or so. But, in the long run, it would be better for all of the parties involved.

William Faversham told Jack and Robert Nilon that he could have all my legal problems
corrected, if I played ball. Mr. Faversham was a smart businessman, and he had the
connections, so I did believe him. He gave the Nilon's his word, that I would be well
taken care of, but that I had to keep my mouth shut after the 1st fight.

If I did, the rematch would net me over $1,000,000 - and I could retire a wealthy man.
What I had to do was, act like I was getting in shape, but also act like Cassius
was nothing to worry about. In other words, act like I wasn't taking Clay that serious,
like most of the boxing people down in Miami Beach.

 

The Great A,,,,

This is starting with the 'first fight' in Miami Beach.

 

Correct,,,,,

Nevada Race Horse Handicapper, William Garrett

'Sonny couldn't pick a winner, if there was only one horse in the race'

'The guy was a bad gambler, a bad drinker, and a bad chooser of friends.'

 

Many facts,,

Number 1.

There were no other 'money fights out there. Nobody was willing to pay any decent money to see Sonny versus;

Sonny would have been 'lucky' to get a $200,000 fight purse versus the following list'

a) Eddie Machen
b) Floyd Patterson III
c) Cleveland Williams III
d) Ernie Terrell
e) Zora Folley
f) Robert Cleroux or George Chuvalo (Canadian Crop)
g) Doug Jones, Zora Folley or Billy Daniels
h) Willie Pastrano (Light-Heavyweight Champion)
i) Harold Johnson (35 year-old Light-Heavyweight)
j) European Heavyweights (Henry Cooper, Brian London or Karl Mildenberger)
k) Franco De Piccoli (The 1960 Olympic Heavyweight Gold Medal winner, was 'upset' in 1963)

The 'only' money fight out there was with Ingemar 'Ingo' Johansson', and he had retired.

The 'smart play' for Sonny, who had outstanding debts to pay off, and reimburse those who covered
him for many years, was to lose in a 'controversial way' to the 'Loudmouth', then the public would want a rematch,
and then cash in on the rematch, before getting out of boxing.

 

You don't think Sonny Liston could 'pull his punches'.

Plus, the young Cassius Clay could take a punch, was durable and
very adapt at slipping punches, especially 'slow ones'.

Question. 'If Sonny Liston defeats Cassius Clay by a one-sided knockout,
just what does he do next for a big money fight.

Don't forget the 1964 Marginal Rate Income Tax Laws, which would
take 77% of his fight purse.

The answer. The 37 year-old Heavyweight Champion goes,,,,,nowhere.