“I think he’s better then Clay”- Sonny Liston

He

He would have been 16.

 

Amos "Big Train" Lincoln is the sparring partner. Liston mentions "Lincoln" at about 2:05.

https://vault.si.com/vault/1965/06/07/muhammad-ali-sonny-liston-second-fight

"Unnoticed in the uproar following the championship bout, one of Liston's sparring partners, Amos (Big Train) Lincoln, knocked out a nondescript opponent in the first minute of the first round. Before his fight, waiting for the ring to clear so he could enter it, Lincoln was approached by a writer who had seen him work against Liston several times and hit Sonny time and again with a carefully delicate right cross.

"Could you have done what Clay did tonight?" he was asked.

"Any time for the last six weeks," Lincoln said, and climbed into the ring to use the same right hand for a quick knockout.

In Liston's final sparring session before the bout, a carefully coached Lincoln allowed himself to be well-battered, creating a spurious feeling in Liston's mind that he had reached his peak just in time for the battle."

 

He said "Nathan" I believe.

 

It did sound a bit like "Nathan" but after a couple of listens, I do believe Sonny said "Lincoln" albeit a bit garbled. Man, was Sonny edgy for that IV or what? The interviewer did very well.

 

I heard Lincoln crystal clear

 

I swear at 2:04 of the video he says Nathan but if you guys say Lincoln ok I'll go with that lol.

 

Was there any heavyweight prospect around that time named Nathan who might possibly have been in camp with Liston?

 

Didn’t know that.

So the Famous Amos who created those cookies could in reality also be the Nathan who created Nathan’s Famous hot dogs???

 

I thought Sonny said "Big Train."

 

Long story short, Amos Lincoln wasn't better than Cassius Clay.