Has anyone ever heard any accounts of Harold Johnson and Sonny Liston doing sparring sessions? I recall reading that Johnson gave Liston all kinds of trouble in the gym. That would have made for an interesting matchup. It did almost happen in the mid 1950's and again in the early 60's. Too bad it didn't become a reality.
You'd imagine him giving him trouble akin to Eddie Machen, thing is I don;t think he is as fluid or mobile as Machen and would pose less problem in an actual bout for Liston, although he might do a bit more damage.
The first so-called bout was scheduled for March 1956. Harold Johnson vs. Sonny Liston........Pittsburg, Pa. Sparring sessions between the two supposedly happened in 1955,, (I think).
Think Harold Johnson had sparring sessions with an older Joe Louis aswell?? Can anyone confirm and/or provide and quotes from Johnson as to how the two compared??
Harold Johnson did spar with Sonny Liston in January and February 1956, in Pittsburg and Philadelphia. Sonny was sent to Pittsburg in January 1956, to Tom Tannas, for some refining. Harold Johnson, who had not fought since May 1955, was asked to help work with Sonny. And did, in both Philadelphia and Pittsburg. Suprisingly, a bout was scheduled between the two for March 1956. But, Harold Johnson dropped out when the boxing commission got involved, into looking at a possible 'fix'.
Poor Emil Brtko. He was a promising, up n coming heavyweight. He was scheduled to fight Bob Satterfield, but the PA athletic commission wouldn't sanction it as Satterfield was considered too seasoned and too dangerous for Brtko at that point in his career. So they subbed another fighter to fill in for Satterfield. Someone presumably safer and who wouldn't wreck his promising young career. The fighter they chose as a substitute? Sonny Liston. Oops....
One of our currently inactive posters (robert ungurean) revealed knowing Harold Johnson a few years back, and mentioned in a thread that Harold told him he had no trouble with Liston in sparring. (He also said that Johnson was already having good days and bad days. Maybe a few years earlier, we could have gotten some further elaboration on those sparring sessions through he who had shared the ring with Sonny himself.)
I wrote to Johnson a few months back, never did get a reply, not that I expected one. Just mentioned how fans still appreciate him and he will always be remembered. I hoep he read it.
A fight between Liston vs HJ Would be a battle of jabs....In my opinion HJ could be a real trouble with his superb ring generalship.....agreed, too bad it didn´t became a reality......
