29 of 29 Boxing Commissions, Ban the Cassius Clay - Sonny Liston Rematch

July 1964,

When the State Boxing Commissions got together, to decide on whether
the Cassius Clay vs. Sonny Liston 'rematch' should be held,

27 of the 29 Boxing Chairman's voted 'NO', with only Michigan and Kentucky voting 'YES'.

Even Colorado (Sonny Liston's adopted State) said 'NO'.

After some brief discussions, both Michigan and Kentucky agreed,
it would be bad to allow the fight to be sanctioned, and they also changed their vote to a 'NO'.

Of course, the Cassius Clay 'Lovers' will state that the fight in Miami
Beach was 100% legitimate, because Clay won,

But, the Championship Fight in itself was 'secondary', because it was
all about 'future' revenue.

 

Mr. Unforgven,

Let's see how many Cassius Clay 'Lovers' can come up with a logical reason why
all 29 of the State Boxing Commissioners refused to sanction the rematch, despite
the opportunity to reap in some decent dollars.

Did the Boxing Commissions know something,,,,,,,You Bet They Did...

 

Nobody wanted the 'second fight'

New York, Los Angeles and Miami Beach all said no.

Edward Bohn, State Boxing Commissioner for Colorado called the first bout
a 'second-rate theatrical affair'.

He had his team look into the before fight 'ongoings' and found so many
irregularities, which were unbelievable.

His conculusion, 'I don't want the rematch, even if it was the last boxing event
ever be held on the Planet Earth'.

That Miami Beach farce, was right out of P.T. Barnum's book. Sonny Liston having
a team of doctors on hand, to confirm his shoulder injury. I heard, they even taped
up the wrong shoulder when he came out of the hospital. Then they rushed him back in,
and retaped his left shoulder.

'And Clay's burning eyes. That was a Chris Dundee wrestling gag, which I have seen
so many times before. The participant gets something in his eyes, and tries to get the
referee's attention, who pays no mind. Who the hell are they trying to kid.'

 

Not sure if there were any large bets on this bout, with Sonny
as an 8-5 Betting-Favorite.

Jack Dempsey had the best line, when questioned about the fight.

'We will never hear the bell for start of Round 2. Clay and Patterson is already set for Las Vegas'.

 

Mr. Seamus,

The bout was supposed to be held at the Boston Garden, until the State District Attorney
of Boston - 'Mr. Garrett Byrne' - found 'many' irregularities, and was informed of a potential tank job.

He shut it down on May 7th, 18-days before the scheduled bout at the Boston Garden.

William Faversham Jr. (Cassius Clay's Manager) had friends in Maine (Poland Spring area),
and they moved everything north of Massachusetts into Maine.

A 'youth center hockey rink' in Lewiston, Maine.

A third-rate promotion would be an understatement.

The best action of the evening, when George Chuvalo attacked Cassius Clay in the
ring after Sonny Liston did a 'swan dive'.

George busted Clay in the ribs, and that set off a 'real rhubarb'.

 

Solomon,

Edward Bohn (Colorado Boxing Commission Chairman) had evidence that a team
of doctors were already lined up to state that Sonny Liston had an injured shoulder,
following his bout with Cassius Clay in February 1964.

Plus a bunch of film and photo's of Sonny entering the hospital that night after the
fight, with no apparent problems with the left shoulder.