Ha ha! So did I. I also watched a Sonny Liston "knockout reel" on the strength of it. I find Liston fascinating as a character and great to watch as a fighter.
Impressive fight for an older guy, McMurray moved well but Sonny kept coming.....older guys can still do it, Sonny was not in top form but he looked strong
I Suspect Bill McMurray's Footnote in fistic History will be as the Sparring Partner who along with his Trusty Elbow, showed George Foreman not to be quite the invulnerable Beast many believed, Caused, Messrs Mubuto and King Grey Hairs and Palpitations (Especially King ) and caused a groundswell of Changing opinion which fed off of itself The Ali Curtain was not ready to come down just Yet. Bill McMurray one of Fistic Histories Little Signposts.
For most all of us this text will be as inscrutable as the legendary Area 53 iteself. Please explain if you want us toi recognize the history, allusions & shattered illusions within.
Thanks for posting this, hadn't seen it till now. Love watching Liston fight, such a great technical destroyer. In this fight he did a great jab of controlling McMurray who was on his bicycle with the jab and whenever he got him to stand still he'd open up with power punches. McMurray could run but he could not hide. Liston even at this stage in his career I believe was a legitimate contender. Liston's career somewhat reminds me of Tyson's in a sense that he beat a number of fighters ranging from good to very good but never beat anyone I'd consider great. I feel he was fully capable of beating a number of great had he met them prime for prime.. Too bad he didn't come along a few years later or earlier I'd have loved to see what Liston in his prime going against Joe Frazier or Rocky Marciano would've looked like. I'd strongly favor him over Marciano and probably would have to slightly favor him over Frazier. Hard to picture any fighter being able to beat Liston coming forward when he was at his best especially without a size advantage.
very interesting. Thought Pat did well in the first two, Sonny just plodded forward and didnt v cut off thr ring at all as McMurray kept moving to his left. Great jabs by Liston and power told. You had to stand in the pocket at times and throw some rights or Sonny walked you down.
There was only one guy wanting to win this fight. Still, Liston did what he had to do. Managed to pin down a guy who did not want to fight and that's not easy. He still had his tools, radar was good. But crucially we didn't see much coming back at him.
