Sonny Listons victory over Chuck Wepner. His Knock-out over Wepner, was it related to his death? Was it just a fabricated story, to bring more intrigue into Sonny, to link him to the 'mob'. Another Sonny Liston; Myth, Mystery or Misconception.
Sonny Liston was paid $13,000 for his fight with Chuck Wepner. On 6/29/70, at The Armory in Jersey City, New Jersey. The Jersey City fight referee, Barney Felix. The same referee for the Liston-Clay I title fight in Miami Beach, in 2/64. Sonny Liston's manager at the time, Davey Pearl. Yes, the same Davey Pearl who became a Las Vegas referee. Sonny had trained diligently for this fight, at Johnny Tocco's gym in Las Vegas. Of that fight purse, Sonny had to pay out $10,000 for his bet he placed on Mac Foster vs. Jerry Quarry at Madison Square Garden, held 2-weeks earlier on 6/17/70. Sonny bet on Mac Foster to beat Quarry. Mac Foster was a 5-1 'betting favorite' Whether it was true or not, hard to imagine Sonny putting $10,000 on a 5-1 favorite, to gain $2000. Of course, it could have been another one of those 'Myths' thrown out there.
Interesting but doubtful.I have never heard of Pearl being involved in anything nefarias nor underhanded in boxing circles.
Johnny Tocco, Liston's trainer said that 2 days before fighting Wepner Sonny met with 2 mysterious man and that he is sure that they were pushing him to take a dive.
FatCity, I would never question Davey Pearl's integrity. Davey came on later in Sonny Liston's career, when it appeared that no one wanted him around. Having Mr. Pearl with him, brought higher respect for Liston, despite his own self-infliciting problems.
Another Sonny Liston mystery. Not sure what the odds were on that fight, but I would imagine Sonny, despite his age and fading skills, had to be a 3-1 favorite in the gambling parlors. Not sure he'd want to 'tank it' though, as Muhammad Ali and Joe Bugner were both in the audience that June 1970 night in Jersey City. Each were scouting Sonny as a possible 'safe' future opponent. Again though, it appears that there was not alot of 'betting action' on this fight, in the legal betting parlors. But the illegal 'gambling parlors' may have been hit again, just like in the Liston-Clay and Ali-Liston 'double feature'.