[1964 Boxing Illustrated] Marty Marshall: Liston doesn't hit harder than Bob Satterfield

Excerpt from "The Night I Beat Sonny Liston," by Marty Marshall as told to Larry Gustin, from the January 1964 Boxing Illustrated, p.25:

"Our third and last meeting, in Pittsburgh, was a very tough fight. Liston was supposed to fight Harold Johnson, but Johnson pulled out. With six days' notice, the promoters asked me to fill in. This time Al DeNapoli said nothing doing. He and I are closer than most fighters and managers because Al is my trainer, too. Although I wasn't in top form, I had been working in the gym, and I really wanted to fight Liston again. My purse was increased and I finally talked Al into okaying the fight.

Liston won the decision and I won't dispute it. [...] When it was over, he stopped into my dressing room and said, "You had me again, in the seventh." He was rubbing his jaw where I had nailed him.

I told him that I wasn't top shape for this fight.

"Well, I'd hate to fight you against when you're in top condition--like you were the first time," Sonny grinned.

People are always asking me if I really think I can still beat Liston. I tell them yes, and I truly mean it. So do my managers, DeNapoli and Lou Markowitz. It's hard for me to get fights because my style is so unorthodox. But I'm in good shape, Ive been training in the gym and I'm heavier and stronger now.
Too many fighters today have no idea how to punch--and that includes the rated fellows. They swing their arms too much. My punches don't travel far. I keep my left out and rigid and move in with my body. That way I don't get tired swinging and all my weight is behind every punch.

If I were to fight Liston today--and I have that ambition--I wouldn't change my style. I'd circle, move away from his right and keep him busy. He'd be too busy worrying about me hitting him to launch an attack. I'd also keep feinting to make him throw that right. He'd miss every time. There's a myth going around that Liston has exceptionally fast hands. His hands are no faster than those of the average heavyweight.

Keeping the pressure on is important, and not every fighter can do it. A guy like Willie Pastrano is a busy fighter, but he wouldn't bother Liston because Sonny wouldn't care if Willie hit him. Against me, he'd be plenty worried because he knows I can hurt him. I hurt him in all three of our fights.

Who besides me has a chance against Liston? This might surprise you, but maybe Cassius Clay. Not the Clay you've seen on television, however, but a Clay who will have to vastly change his style and correct some fatal habits.
For instance, Clay is always pulling back and if he does that against Sonny, he'll get killed. He'll have to learn to slip punches. I don't think that Clay can fight while moving backward, as all good fighters can.

If I were to advise Clay, I'd tell him to keep his hands high and his left in Liston's face. I don't mean just jab it in there, but keep it rigid and always in his face. Then step in with it to punch hard. Move in with body and feet for full power. That left shouldn't travel far, but it should always be in his face. He should keep moving and keep Liston busy. He should learn to feint well and never, never cover up. Because if Sonny can't hit your head, he can hurt you bad any place else.

If you ask me if Liston is the hardest puncher I have ever fought, I'll tell you that he punches no harder than Bob Satterfield, who I knocked out in two rounds the same year I beat Liston...."

 

Nobody in the history of this forum has ever implied otherwise.

But for the record, I disagree with Marshall. I believe that Liston hit harder than Bob Satterfield.