I think a lot of his research is probably good. But his theory on the "Pantom Punch" fight is just another theory. It's funny how he bases his whole 'Black muslims' kidnap story on some alleged gossip between a woman called Marilyn and Joe Louis's wife Martha. And then later on, both he and the interviewer are talking casually about gambler/promoter Ash Resnick being a great guy, and Sonny's friend Lem Banker being a big Vegas bettor. I don't know how far Gallender has explored the gambling angle - (Liston too was known to bet heavy on fights, and allegedly lost his whole purse for the Wepner fight betting on Mac Foster to beat Jerry Quarry) - but I'd always consider it a simpler, more likely explanation for a suspected "dive" than some "EVIL MUSLIMS KIDNAPPED MY CHILDREN" yarn.
It's like the Jack the Ripper industry. Nothing can be proved, there are far too many fascinating angles that will roll on and on. There is so much scope for more angles, more conspiracy. However I don't think Liston was born in 1919 like that guy does. I don't think anybody on this forum thinks that anymore either. The guy also contradicts himself because on one hand he is comparing the Lewiston Liston to the Ali who fought Berbick, then on the other hand he has liston in the best shape of his life for the "hernia fight" that was called off because the Muslims knew Liston would beat Ali in that shape. How can Sonny be both shot to bits like Ali was against Berbick and capable of the "best shape of his life" between camps without fighting? For what it is worth I feel 90% of Sonnys Lewiston performance can be explained by two factors: #1. Joe Walcott blew that fight listening to Nat Fleischer #2. Liston turned up about as ready to fight as Tim WItherspoon did against bonecrusher smith. And the last 10% makes no difference.
Well, there are people, including Tim himself perhaps, who have said Witherspoon threw that fight with Smith too. To escape from Don King. I think both Ali-Liston fights are questionable. There's no definitive answer though.
There will never be a definitive answer for sure. Just like there will never be one for the Kennedy assassination or the true identity of Jack the Ripper. I think Tim WItherspoon threw away his title out of disillusionment rather than outright threw it, what ever he says. A fighter can be so dissolusioned that he cannot give best if he wanted to. Tim took real shots and he threw real shots back, he just did not look like he was focused enough to be in a ring that night. He looked troubled. I imagine the responsibility of being world champion had run its course. Liston wasn't happy before he won the title and nothing changed with it. What ever was going on with Sonny, he was not happy, he was troubled.
