New Sonny Liston docudrama

I thought that was only invented in the 90s?

 

I often wonder what would have happened if he had met his other fan, Iron Mike Tyson, and what he might have said to him. And if he had seen Mike fight, his reaction.

 

What's interesting is that how all of the IBC/mob controlled boxers (who Cus was against) died within a few years of each other.

Folley 1972
Machen 1972
Liston 1970

 

Zora Folley died in a swimming pool accident in Tucson, Arizona, he slipped and struck his head, causing a blood clot. Eddie Machen, many say jumped out of a window, he did suffer from bouts of depression, when he lost on points to Floyd Patterson, on July 5 1964, Patterson did not want to hurt him further, for that very same reason. Sonny's death will remain a mystery, it is well documented that he was terrified of needles.

 

I always get a kick out of comments like these. The guy was a lifelong criminal. In 1950 he was party to two armed robberies. One in which he held up a service station attendant for $40 and another in which he held up a cafe for $37. In 1956 he assaulted a police who was writing a ticket for an illegally parked taxi cab in the alley next to Liston's house. The officer sustained head injuries, a broken leg, and Liston stole his service revolver before fleeing the scene to hide a relatives house. When he was arrested the service revolver was found in his possession and he became violent at the police station requiring him to be restrained. The incident caused him to be banned in Missouri. In the late 1950s he was employed by Barney Baker to serve as an enforcer for the mob particularly during union disputes. Liston's ties to the mob ran deep, long, and wide. He was connected with high level members of the St. Louis, Philadelphia, and New York mafia for most of his career. In May 1961 Liston was arrested for vagrancy. A month later he was arrested after pretending to be a police officer late at night, pulling over a woman in a secluded park for god knows what, and then fleeing the scene when a real officer happened upon them. He jumped in his car and sped away at high speed, turning off his headlights to avoid detection. He only halted when the officer fired warning shots. This resulted in him being suspended in Pennsylvania (where he had relocated after being suspended in Missouri) and dumped from the ratings where he had just received #1 status. He then left Philadelphia and relocated to Denver where a promotional film was made to convince people he had turned over a new leaf and was now a changed man. Despite that between 1962 and 1964 he was arrested several times for speeding and once for carrying a concealed firearm. In 1965 he was arrested for drunk driving and became belligerent with the arresting officer. I could continue but lets not forget that even in death there are two scenarios bandied about Liston 1. That he died of a Heroin overdose. 2. That he was murdered with a Heroin overdose for dealing drugs in the wrong turf. Liston was no angel. The attempt to whitewash his reputation over time has been comical in the extreme.

 

Very detailed post, I would've had to literally study his life to quote anything you just typed. These aren't things that is out in the open. So I think you took my post completely out of context, but I see how. I made a statement on his demeanor in the clip, to which you equated to his life and actions.

If I were asked what kind of man was he? I couldn't disagree with what you posted. I got caught using a phrase that made it seem I thought he was a nice guy. I meant his demeanor shows sometimes people rise above their poverty and upbringings by any means. He did that.

In his case he proved he could do some nasty things to people, but again not every criminal is a douche bag in general. Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Mike Tyson, Adrian Broner their interviews came off IMO as cocky, arrogant, douchebag. Liston's for all his bad choices outside the ring, would've never came across as such by watching any of his interviews. That was my point. Watching that, one would be hard pressed to think he did the things you accurately listed. But listening to Broner for example? Yeah he comes across as a criminal, a lowlife, a blowhard a wannabe bad man. Liston was a bad man, but in that interview is he trying to be soft? Or is he being himself?

People would have to do what you did and that his investigate his whole life. I didn't. Yes he was a criminal.

Being a criminal isn't synonymous with being a jerk. Given the chance to have been born outside the ghetto, he may have exhibited his low-key temperament in interviews, also in life.

 

And Liston is the first hoodlum from this era? Could only imagine what some other ATG's boxers did in the late 1800's to early 1900's to survive. I'm sure mugging, robberies, or beating people up was just a daily routine.. Not saying it's right but maybe just the sign of the times for some.. The untold and unknown stories must be in the thousands....

 

But are these unnamed fighters that you suppose existed routinely brought up as misunderstood or tragically mischaracterized nice guys... hardly.