Extracts from a 1991 article on Sonny Liston

Peter Keenan Junior (son of the Scottish ex-bantamweight champ)


"I was twelve years old (when Sonny came to Scotland) and he took a shine to me form the moment he clapped eye son me. He called me "Petsie" and insisted that I should accomplany him everywhere he went during the tour. My father agreed.

My dad had real trouble finding a kilt to fit the massive Liston frame! None of the major highland-dress higherers could meet Sonny's physical requirments, so dad luckily obtained one from a highland police officer. He loved it so much he didn't want to give it back! I remember he kept a quarter bottle of whisky in the sporran throughout the tour."



Petsie was invited to spend his 12th Christmas at the Liston family home in 1963.



"I'll never forget it. As Sonny poloted his Dadillac up the driveway of his mansion, there, on the roof was "Happy Xmas Petsie" in Christmas lights. Sonny ate the same breakfast every morning. [when we went to Vegas] Sonny introduced me to Joe Louis. Louis was down on his luck by this time and Sonny would peep of $500 in bills and give them to Joe. Unfortunately Louis would lose the money gambling in double quick time and come back for more. However, I distinctly remember one occasion when JOe approached Sonny and Liston was not in a terribly good mood. Sonny said, 'No, not today Joe. Besides, i'm not Fort Knox!"

I sat watching Joe Louis shuffling off in a disconsolate manner when Sonny said, "Petsie, tell Mr Louis to come back." I did and Liston gave The Bomber another $500."



After Ali beat Liston:


"I was devestated by Sonny's defeat. A week after, Liston telephoned me at school. He could hear that I was upset so he calmed me down and said: "Peteie, the time to tell the wrld what happened isn't right now. But I want you to tell it as it really was one day. I'll tell you when though. Petsie, I fought a guy called Marshall with a broken jaw for six rounds. So, no way would I normally go down with an injured shoulder to someone like Clay. The Black Muslim crowd had a gun to my head, Petsie. They came into the dressing room and told me either Clay won, or else. That's the truth. I took a dive, and the muslims made me do it."



Boxing Outlook magazine, July 4, 1991.

 

Liston was famously fond of children. He often had them in his company.

 

There's a very simple explanation. Peter's father, an ex-boxer, owned a part of the rights for the Liston tour of the UK. He worked with Sonny throughout his visit to the UK. It's very natural that they should meet, and I have a photograph of them together.

Also, given that the Liston's befriended children just about wherever they went, it seems natural that the two would become pals. The story is published twice, once in a researched bio and once in a boxing magazine article; of course, people have to chose what they believe, but a double-sourced first person acount is right up there with the most believable of sources, I would have said. There's no real reason to doubt the basics.

 

12

 

Well i have the original magazine, so you would need to track down a copy if it isn't online.