'Why I Took A Dive' by Sonny Liston

Ash Resnick (Thunderbird Hotel)

Sonny Liston trained at the Thunderbird Hotel (Las Vegas) in December 1963 and January 1964
in preperation for the February 25, 1964 Heavyweight Championship bout with Cassius Clay.

Sonny didn't get to Miami Beach until 2-weeks before the fight. When there, he set up his
training camp at the Surfside Community Center, where all expenses were covered by
Ash Resnick.

A notorious Las Vegas Gambler, with connections to all of the 'high-rollers'.
Ash was a ''mean tough guy' with a nasty attitude.

At the time, he was running the Thunderbird Hotel in Las Vegas, a hang-out for
the 1950's hoodlums. Old mob guys, who still liked a 'little action'.

The Thunderbord Hotel, was a favorite 'hang-out' for the Youngstown, Ohio
'mobsters and union bosses'.

Sonny Liston was Ash Resnick's 'good buddy' in 1963 and 1964. The word going around,
was that the Champion was Mr. Resnick's personal body guard.

How bad was Ash Resnick.

He was 'banned' from every 'Horse Racetrack' in Florida. Yet, he was in Sonny's
prep room before the February 1964 fight, and was at ringside near Sonny's corner
for the fight.

Ash was a 'money man', always figuring out the 'best angles'. When it came to
betting and gambling, Ash was one of the best out there.

 

Sonny Liston, with little Cassius Clay sitting on his lap.

This content is protected

 

Legend X,

One of the bizarre things, despite Sonny working out in Las Vegas and staying at the
Thunderbird Hotel, the Nevada State Athletic Commission wanted nothing to do with Sonny anymore.

He was banned from participating in any paid events, as his 'mob connections', 'multiple contracts'
and 'advisors' were too numerous to list.

 

J Dempsey 85

'48' State Boxing Commissions banned Sonny Liston (pulled his boxing license) following the
Miami Beach fight, following the irregularites in the bout and concerns regarding Sonny's ongoing
ties to the 'underworld'.

Seems that Sonny Liston had numerous contracts, and had sold more than 100% of himself.

Plus, he was getting into numerous 'police squabbles' in Denver.

The only states that didn't ban him, Massachussets and Kentucky (Cassius Clay's home state).

But, eventually, Massachussets pulled the plug on the Clay vs Liston II fight, when the
Boston District Attorney (Garrett H.. Byrne) found ties with the Sonny Liston Group and 'mob connections' in
Youngstown, Ohio and Chicago, Illinois dating back to 1963.

The State of Maine (Lewiston) got the fight, only because of Sam Michael (a small-time wrestling and boxing promoter),
who begged the Maine State officials to sanction the bout.

Sam Michael told the State of Maine Athletic Commission that the Heavyweight Championship bout
would put Lewiston, Maine on the map.

'It Sure Did'

 

The original plan was to have the rematch in Las Vegas, where the 'big money' was -

But the Nevada State Boxing Commission put a 'squash on that', and sent everybody
scrambling, without a place to stage 'Act II'.

 

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Because in Febraury 1964,,,,,,,

Cassius Clay was considered 'A Joke'.

A weak punching, dancing 'fancy boy'.

What exactly 'did you see' between June 18, 1963 (when Clay fought Henry Cooper) and
February 24, 1964 (8-months later) that told you Cassius Clay would defeat Sonny Liston on February 25, 1964.

Look it up.

Please don't tell everybody you knew Cassius Clay was that good in February 1964.

And that you knew Sonny Liston was that far gone.