Notes Liston entered the fight ranked No. 1 in the world. Folley was ranked No. 2 by The Ringmagazine and No. 3 by the National Boxing Association. Folley was guaranteed $40,000 and Liston $25,000. Liston accepted the smaller fee in order to make the fight. A crowd of 9,252 produced a gross gate of $77,406.55. “The fight was not televised. It was scheduled to be shown on closed circuit in theaters as a double header with Archie Moore-Erich Shoeppner but Moore dropped out of the Schoeppner fight and the closed circuit company didnt think Liston-Folley was a big enough draw to headline so the cancelled the whole thing.” - Steve Compton, Boxing Historian Ring Magazine October -November edition 1960: Denver and vicinity By Johnny Moore ‘The Liston Bomb Exploded at 28 seconds into the third round of a scheduled 12 rounder at the Denver Coliseum. The target was Arizona’s Zora Folley, current number two heavyweight contender. 9,252 enthusiastic fans turned out to see the devastating Sonny Liston of Philadelphia take another big step toward the title of champion. There couldn’t have been more action pact into the brief fight. Folley well regarded as an exceptional boxer, spent round one jabbing and blocking well enough to win the round. But Liston wasn’t here to box. Early in round two the dynamicpunching ability of Liston became obvious and after several damaging blows a stinging right dropped the 198 and a half pound Folley. In an all out effort to stop Liston Zorra came off the canvas to land a volley of heavy well placed punches, but they had little effect on the relaxed Liston. Another sledgehammer right crashed into the Folley jaw and the round ended as the referee Joe Ullmer counted to nine over a fallen Folley. Sonny finished the job in the third chalking up his 21st knockout victim in 31 fights. Liston, 215 and a half pounds definitely appears to be the man to beat for future heavyweight honors.’ Associated Press, July 20, 1960: ‘Sonny Liston, swinging his sledgehammer fists with devastating fury, knocked out Zora Folley in 28 seconds of the third round after battering him to the canvas twice in the second round of their scheduled 12-round heavyweight fight last night. Liston, 212½-pound slugger from Philadelphia, gave ground in the first round before he unleashed his dynamite-laden 14-inch fists that slammed Folley to the deck early in the second round and again as the round ended. Folley, 198½, of Chandler, Ariz., took nine counts on both knockdowns, the bell ending the second round saving him from the cold, calculating attack that finished him in the third stanza. Folley, a polished boxer who had won his last 10 fights—three by knockouts—staged a brilliant rally after the first knockdown. Folley staggered to his feet and battered Liston brutally with a two-fisted attack that forced the Philadelphian to give ground before he unleashed another of his bone-crushing left hooks and right-hand smashes that sent Folley crashing to the canvas on his face. Folley was struggling to his feet when the bell saved him. Handlers worked over him frantically in the corner but the effort was futile. The Arizonan danced out as they started the third only to be caught flush on the jaw by another terrific blow. The Philadelphian set up Folley with a right cross and then decked him with a fabulous left hook—a blow that has held his last nine opponents for the 10 count.’ Sports Illustrated 1960 described the finish as "Liston hunched down, cowering behind his massive forearms, and waited. The punches flew off him the way bullets ricochet off Superman's red, white and blue chest." Interview: Al Fenn (Manager of Zora Folley, Sonny Liston): ME: Folley was the legitimate #1 contender for the heavyweight Championship throughout 1958. But Cus D'Amato (manager of Champion Floyd Patterson) clearly was avoiding Folley. That must have been frustrating? FENN: I went so far as to contact our local congressman, Stu Udall. Udall was up in arms about what was happening - like most folks - and he went so far as to promise to introduce a bill in Congress to force Patterson to fight Folley. But as far as I know - Udall had never actually done such a thing. ME: (I delicately tread with Fenn's biggest mistake - matching Folley in September, 1958, against British heavyweight Champion, Henry Cooper, in England). Could you tell me about the Henry Cooper fight in England ? Folley was clearly the better pugilist - scoring a 2nd round knockout the second time they met (December, 1961). But that first bout gave Cus D'Amato an excuse to allow Patterson to avoid Folley. What happened in England with Cooper and that first decision loss? FENN: (Disgusted) The English judges robbed Folley down there. Well, you know, you cannot beat one of their fighters by decision in their own backyard. ME: It appears that Sonny Liston was willing to fight Folley after he won the Championship (September, 1962). But Liston allowed Patterson a rematch - another 1st round knockout - and then fought Ali ('Cassius Clay' at the time) - when he lost the title. Liston's loss was probably Folley's last chance at a title shot in his prime. FENN: Sonny Liston was the greatest heavyweight of all time. The best that I ever saw. (Liston scored a 3rd round knockout over Folley - July, 1960 - which helped launch Liston to a title bout). Liston made a mistake fighting Ali. Ali was too fast and clever and Liston did not know what to do with him. ME: But that Liston loss (February, 1964) cost yourself and Folley a title bout. FENN: Well, Folley yes, but not me. I signed Folley to a 10 year contract in 1953. So that ended in '63'. One of the final things that I did was to buy Folley a house. It had been a financial struggle for years - and I had been against his getting married and settling down. ME: You did not like Folley's wife - or you thought she would tame him too much? FENN: No - Folley was never an angry person or had bad habits. I liked his wife. No - I was already paying expenses for one person - and a family meant paying for more. (Laughs). But I wanted to make sure Folley had something when our contract expired - and that is how he wound up with a house. After the changeover to (manager) Bill Swift - I still retained a 3 1/2% interest. ME: Folley eventually landed his title opportunity (March, 1967) - past his prime (age 35) - against an undefeated Muhammed Ali at his peak. What could you tell me about that bout? FENN: Folley was not the best boxer. He could hit - but could not take a punch well. Folley had a good, consistent jab with a sneaky hard right. Swift trained him different than Johnny Hart (trainer) and myself. We wanted him to develop better footwork - develop a shuffle. ME: Like a Jersey Joe Walcott or Ali himself? FENN: That's right! It turns out that Folley needed this desperately against a guy like Ali. Ali was not the kind of guy that you just take out. If you wanted to beat Ali - you had to take him out in later rounds. To take Ali to later rounds - you needed footwork so that you were not an easy target for him. Folley would also need to train his legs extra hard - along with the footwork - because Ali will be patient and let an opponent wear down. You still need to be moving - and have some kind of defense into the 10th round - if you had any hope of beating Ali. ME: It is maddening to be a boxing historian and try to explain Ali to others. A major misperception of Ali - in his time and especially today - is that he was vulnerable against sluggers or bigger guys who hit hard. The pugilist who clearly gave Ali (as 'Clay') the most problems during the 1960's was Doug Jones - a fast defensive specialist with patience. FENN: That's exactly what I am talking about! Folley was not a defensive fighter by nature - but he would have to alter his style or have no chance against Ali. (After the 7th round knockout - Ali spotted Folley's son crying. In a lovely gesture - Ali hugged the boy and told him neither he or anyone would have defeated his Dad had the bout occurred years earlier in Folley's prime). ME: So you never managed another heavyweight contender after Folley? FENN: I promoted Sonny Liston briefly towards the end of his career (late 1968). He was still a good fighter at that time. One was in a Juarez (Mexico ) bull ring. Liston won both of those bouts. (A dominant and exciting 3rd round knockout in Phoenix over experienced Sonny Moore was followed by a 2nd round knockout over Willis Earls in Juarez). ME: The media reputation of Liston was of a scowling thug - sort of a criminal. FENN: Sonny Liston was a very nice man. Quiet and softspoken. ME: So the media reputation that Liston was some sort of animal was unfair? FENN: Well - those other fighters were scared of him. They were beat before they entered the ring against him. Liston encouraged that. ME: What was Sonny Liston's boxing peak? FENN: It was before he was Champion when he fought Clevelend Williams. Both were big guys and it was one of the greatest heavyweight bouts ever. (Two TKO wins for Liston against Williams - both within 3 rounds - in 1959 and '60). ME: What did Sonny Liston like to talk about - boxing or his family? FENN: It was tough to get Liston to say anything. He was polite - with a 'please' or 'thank you' - but he did not reveal any more of himself than was necessary. Dick Sadler (manager) was the talker of the two Article on Zora Folley https://ringsidereport.com/?p=56812 part 1 https://ringsidereport.com/?p=56854 part 2
Sounded like Folley held his own at points, despite being eventually being overwhelmed. Sounded like a great fight, wish there was film of this one.
So **** the rest of us, eh? Lovely. Mac’s my friend - he won’t watch it unless you let me watch it too...I think.
