In the ring, obviously not. I don't know if Joe and Liston ever came across outside of the ring, but if there was anybody who was interested in doing so, it was Sonny himself. I did hear when he was finally allowed to fight in the USA in 1968, the big bear dearly wanted a fight with him, claiming it would be like like shooting a fish in a barrel, because like he said "I don't have to chase him." His team also claimed several times in different post fight interviews that They wanted Smokin Joe (and Jimmy Ellis and Bonavena).
No, in 1971 Joe Frazier was heavyweight champion, preparing to defend his title against Muhammad Ali. Sonny died in Jan 1971, before that Yank Durham kept Joe away from Liston.
As an ex champion, who had already been there, I think Sonny was happy to win less demanding fights to pay the bills. He had probably earned that right. In truth, I don’t think Liston wanted Frazier anymore than he wanted Ellis or Quarry at that particular time. Men he turned down as opponents. Sonny was offered fights with Jerry Quarry by Aileen Eaton in Los Angeles. In fact he appeared with Quarry in an exhibition bout in Vegas to hype what was supposed to be the signing of their fight. Liston fought Chester Walton while Quarry fought Gary Bates, It was Quarry's first appearance since the cast was removed from his broken back. When it came time to sign Liston said he wasnt interested. Then they were set to fight in Houston but again Liston wasnt interested and instead went to St Louis and fought Billy Joiner who he had already knocked out. Perhaps his people wanted an easier opponent than Quarry in Houston? Sonny Moore was then dug up who had won just four of his last twenty fights and who Liston had already knocked out before. Liston was also offered a shot at Ellis' title but he turned that down as well. I think Sonny, or whoever was guiding him, was shrewdly content to stay within the fringes of the title by the time Joe Frazier was champion.
Sources? What i heard was actually quite the opposite, i do remember Liston claiming he hoped that someone could get him in the ring with Quarry after the wepner fight. I also heard Jerry's own father did not wanted to make the fight. As for Ellis, he apparently said "NO" when They asked him if he will give Liston a shot at his WBA title. https://news.google.com/newspapers?...=m4gfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lcsEAAAAIBAJ&pg=991,129720 Will try to find the sources which claims Ellis didn't want a championship fight with sonny, That quarry's father was the reason the fight never occurred as soon as possible.
Lol so many takes with Liston it’s hard to know the truth. I’ve heard the powers that be wanted Liston as far away from the title as possible. Especially after the second Ali fight fiasco. As far as meeting Joe I’d find it hard to believe they never met. It’s an exclusive club being HW champ and I feel most take the time to introduce themselves to the new champ.
When it comes to Choklab and sources, this is about the best you'll get. 0d5.jpg (605×259) (kym-cdn.com)
I don't know if they met or not. But I do know that both attended Rocky Marciano's wake in Brockton, MA, so it is possible that they could have met then. This is an excellent question - I've always been fascinated by pictures of great fighters together, whether of the same era or different. As a matter of fact, I've wondered if Frazier met Marciano - I've never seen a picture of them together....?
There was a thread where someone posted a pic of Rocky and Liston having a tense confrontation. Very electrical. A meeting with Frazier and Liston would no doubt be intense as well. Both had difficult child hoods and didn't have anything spoon fed to them, they had to grind their way to the top of the division.
https://scorum.com/en-us/boxing/@enews/who-goes-home-with-the-belt-sonny-liston-or-rocky-manciano I don't know what the thread name was but the pic is in that link