Ernie Terrell discusses Sonny Liston

Ernie Terrell discusses Sonny Liston

After winning the Chicago Golden Gloves, Terrell turned pro in ’57. He was just 16, and by the time he was a senior in high school he was a main-event fighter.

Early in his career Terrell became a regular sparring partner for the boxer he calls “the most intimidating guy I’ve ever seen.” But, he adds, once Sonny Liston “got to know you, he was all right. He was not educated, so he didn’t trust anybody.”

Ernie recalls driving in a van with Liston to Houston for Sonny’s April 25, 1960 bout with Texas favorite Roy Harris.

“On the van he was jolly, kibitzing and playing cards. We got there and he looked out at the gathering of reporters and he picked up a newspaper. Sonny couldn’t read, but he didn’t want to talk to those reporters. At the weigh-in, Harris came in at 195 or whatever. They said, ‘Let’s get Sonny on the scales.’ Liston never looked up. He just stepped on the scales with his street clothes and tie on.

“This perturbed the reporters, and one of them said to a commissioner, ‘Don’t the regulations call for him to at least strip to the waist?’ This bugged Sonny. He slammed down his hat and paper, and as he was reaching for his tie a reporter said, ‘Sonny, I understand you could have brought a neutral referee, but you didn’t. Aren’t you afraid of a hometown decision?’

“Sonny looked at him and said, ‘Decision! I came here to kill this man (Harris)! If there’s a decision, I don’t want it.”

Liston stopped Harris in the first round, and a year later did the same to champion Floyd Patterson. But by the time his ex-sparring partner became a Top 10 contender by beating Cleveland Williams in 1963, Liston wasn’t talking so friendly about Terrell, either.

Asked about giving Ernie a crack at the title, Sonny said, “Nuts! He don’t fight. He just hugs you. He hugs me more than my wife.”

More overview of Terrell, and his 60's boxing fights.
http://www.boxing.com/ernie_terrell_we_did_the_best_we_could.html

 

Roy "Cut & Shoot" Harris.... from that such named small East Texas town.
https://www.yourconroenews.com/125y...oy-Harris-a-hometown-hero-in-and-12159561.php
Became the Polk County, TX, Clerk:
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• Issues marriage licenses.
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