Maybe Liston's most dominating fight against someone more his size and skills. Liston Ranked #1 Folley Ranked #2 Associated Press, July 20, 1960: Sonny Liston, swinging his sledgehammer fists with devastating fury, knocked out Zora Folley in 28 seconds of the third round after battering him to the canvas twice in the second round of their scheduled 12-round heavyweight fight last night. Liston, 212½-pound slugger from Philadelphia, gave ground in the first round before he unleashed his dynamite-laden 14-inch fists that slammed Folley to the deck early in the second round and again as the round ended. Folley, 198½, of Chandler, Ariz., took nine counts on both knockdowns, the bell ending the second round saving him from the cold, calculating attack that finished him in the third stanza. Folley, a polished boxer who had won his last 10 fightsthree by knockoutsstaged a brilliant rally after the first knockdown. Folley staggered to his feet and battered Liston brutally with a two-fisted attack that forced the Philadelphian to give ground before he unleashed another of his bone-crushing left hooks and right-hand smashes that sent Folley crashing to the canvas on his face. Folley was struggling to his feet when the bell saved him. Handlers worked over him frantically in the corner but the effort was futile. The Arizonan danced out as they started the third only to be caught flush on the jaw by another terrific blow. The Philadelphian set up Folley with a right cross and then decked him with a fabulous left hooka blow that has held his last nine opponents for the 10 count.
Ring Magazine October -November edition 1960 Denver and vicinity By Johnny Moore 　 The Liston Bomb Exploded at 28 seconds into the third round of a scheduled 12 rounder at the Denver Coliseum. The target was Arizonaza’s Zorra Folley, current number two heavyweight contender. 9,252 enthusiastic fans turned out to see the devastating Sonny Liston of Philadelphia take another big step toward the title of champion. There couldn’t have been more action pact into the brief fight. Folley well regarded as an exceptional boxer, spent round one jabbing and blocking well enough to win the round. But Liston wasn’t here to box. Early in round two the dynamic punching ability of Liston became obvious and after several damaging blows a stinging right dropped the 198 and a half pound Folley. In an all out effort to stop Liston Zorra came off the canvas to land a volley of heavy well placed punches, but they had little effect on the relaxed Liston. Another sledgehammer right crashed into the Folley jaw and the round ended as the referee Joe Ullmer counted to nine over a fallen Folley. Sonny finished the job in the third chalking up his 21st knockout victim in 31 fights. Liston, 215 and a half pounds definitely appears to be the man to beat for future heavyweight honors.
Outside of Patterson, I think this is Listons next best win against a proven fighter. It sounds far more competitive than the Harris and Patterson fights. Interestingly in the same 1960 magazine that reports on Listons win over Folley there is a Dan Daniel “ RING DETECTIVE” article titled "Moore defeat by Patterson a dive?" asking “where was the Patterson of the Moore fight against Radmacher, Harris and London?” The article concludes that it was not a fixed fight but that compared to Moore, Patterson had “rose to the occasion, the opportunity, and Moore, failed to cash in on the biggest chance of his career”. It was decided that the Johansson KO “brought back in Floyd the conclusive form he had achieved the night he stopped Archie” but within the piece the hint that Patterson was a shaky champion was not in doubt.
Me too John along with The Rock-LaStarza first fight among MANY others not available not to mention so many of Ray's 40's WW bouts...:verysad
