Sonny Liston vs Marty Marshal - First fight

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by mr. magoo, Jun 21, 2016.


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  1. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I really don't know much about this match except for little bits and pieces of what people have said over the years, so please feel free to correct me where needed. Sonny was in his 8th pro bout and dropped an 8 round split decision to the 17-6 Marshall. But apparently ( from what i've heard ) there was some clowning around in this fight, and Liston was laughing and goofing off when he got clocked in the face and sustained a broken jaw.

    Could Liston have won this fight if he stayed focus and didn't get caught up in the nonsense?
     
    mr. magoo, Jun 21, 2016
    mr. magoo, Jun 21, 2016
    #1
  2. Azzer85

    Azzer85 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Wasn't it Marty Marshall who was goofing around which caused Sonny to laugh? And then Marshall cracked him and broke his jaw?

    I couldn't picture Sonny clowning around in the ring. That wasn't his forte.
     
    Azzer85, Jun 21, 2016
    Azzer85, Jun 21, 2016
    #2
  3. Mr.DagoWop

    Mr.DagoWop Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    I couldn't even picture sonny liston so much as smiling in the ring.
     
    Mr.DagoWop, Jun 21, 2016
    Mr.DagoWop, Jun 21, 2016
    #3
  4. Pugilist_Spec

    Pugilist_Spec Hands Of Stone Full Member

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    Yes. Marhsall was goofing around, and while Liston was laughing at him Marshall broke his jaw.
     
    Pugilist_Spec, Jun 21, 2016
    Pugilist_Spec, Jun 21, 2016
    #4
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  5. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Yeah that's what I heard as well.
     
    mr. magoo, Jun 21, 2016
    mr. magoo, Jun 21, 2016
    #5
  6. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    http://www.si.com/vault/1964/02/10/608210/the-four-who-baffled-liston

    Everything you need to know is in this article. The myth about Sonny laughing to get his jaw broken us utter hogwash.

    Martin says he decked Liston in their second fight and Sonny admitted Marshal "almost had him out" in the seventh round of their third fight.

    Martin fought Liston short notice.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2017
    choklab, Jun 21, 2016
    choklab, Jun 21, 2016
    #6
    Rock0052 likes this.
  7. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    mr. magoo, Jun 21, 2016
    mr. magoo, Jun 21, 2016
    #7
  8. SolomonDeedes

    SolomonDeedes Active Member Full Member

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    Not exactly an unbiased article since it's Marshall's own account. Certainly no one else who was there seems to remember Marshall decking Liston in the second fight or nearly having him out in the third.
     
    SolomonDeedes, Jun 21, 2016
    SolomonDeedes, Jun 21, 2016
    #8
  9. Hookandjab

    Hookandjab Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Martin? I guess you mean Marty.
     
    Hookandjab, Jun 21, 2016
    Hookandjab, Jun 21, 2016
    #9
  10. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Yes, I meant Marty. Good article isn't it?
     
    choklab, Jun 21, 2016
    choklab, Jun 21, 2016
    #10
  11. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Im not sure it's anti Liston, it was written just before the Clay fight when Sonny was seen as an unbeatable monster worthy of being a 7-1 favourite over his #1 contender. The perspective then would be to look at and research how on earth anyone was going to beat him. I remember articles like this about Tyson. I think back in February 1964 it would have taken more effort to locate these guys than it would do today.
     
    choklab, Jun 21, 2016
    choklab, Jun 21, 2016
    #11
  12. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    The article quotes the Detroit Free Press take on the first fight. There is no mention of Liston getting hit while laughing. This from An actual report of the fight.
     
    choklab, Jun 21, 2016
    choklab, Jun 21, 2016
    #12
  13. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Interesting the article is dated 2/10/1964.....about 2-1/2 weeks before the Clay-Liston Fight #1.
     
    Longhhorn71, Jun 21, 2016
    Longhhorn71, Jun 21, 2016
    #13
  14. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    This is what interests me. If it was a hindsight thing done AFTER Clay beat Liston you can imagine all these guys coming forward saying they would have liked to fight Liston again for the title and that they always knew how to do it. These guys go into great technical detail to describe how they troubled Sonny BEFORE he lost to Clay.
     
    choklab, Jun 21, 2016
    choklab, Jun 21, 2016
    #14
    Rock0052 likes this.
  15. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    I think Marty is a nickname for Martin, so you could be correct technically.
     
    red cobra, Jun 21, 2016
    red cobra, Jun 21, 2016
    #15
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