'SONNY Goes To SWEDEN!

Following the 'Phanton Punch Fiasco' in May 1965.

Throughout the second-half of 1965, in Denver,
Sonny Liston finds himself in the 'Unwanted Zone'.
In Denver, his new 1965 black Cadillac is followed everywhere.

With just a handful of friends around, he's isolated and becomes somewhat of a recluse.
He's 'poison'.
His only real friends, Foneda Cox, and former manager Jack Nilon,
Teddy King and Bill Munsfield.

Still owed money from the Patterson II fight, the Liston-Clay I fight,
and other ancillary revenue from the Ali-Liston II fight, Liston finds himself
low on cash.

His obligation to the 'connected crew' has been satisfied.
They have 'cut him off', and will not funnel him cash anymore.
Sonny Liston is a 'free agent' now, and he's on his own.

Still wanting to fight, and make 'easy money', he can't get one in the
United States.
Every boxing commission has suspended him.
And no promoter is willing to take a chance on him, because not one
Casualty Company on American soil with a 'brain' will cover the insurance
'bond' against losses.

Though he occassionally makes rounds in Las Vegas, to watch other fights, he's 'persona non grata' in several Casino's.
But he's accepted in several others though, and when he enters, he's greeeted with the loudest cheers, and the loudest boo's.

When he re-applies for a Nevada State Boxing License, in August 1965, he is told that he's on indefinite suspension.
And is told, he can re-apply in May 1966, after his 1-year suspension is up, in relation to the
May 1965 Lewiston, Maine fight.

 

Enter Ingemar Johannson,

In trying to help Sonny Liston out, Jack Nilon contacted Ingemar Johansson in
late 1965.
They decided, a possible exhibition tour of Sweden and the Scandanavian Region
might help Sonny out.
Sonny Liston was still popular their, despite the '2' disasters.

First, Sonny decided that Denver was not the place to be, and the city's council members were glad to see him go.

Sonny and his wife put their small home up 'For Sale, in January 1966.
After selling it, they moved to Las Vegas in March 1966.


An agreement was reached with Ingo and his partners, that Sonny would travel to Sweden, in early-May 1966.
He would partake in numerous exhibitions, as well as a 3-fight deal, for the summer of
1966.

 

J11-5

Sonny Liston bought his home in Las Vegas, March 1966, for $70,000 cash.

But, after agreeing to go to Sweden, he was low on cash.
He had to borrow $3000 from the bank, and had to put up his new
1966 green w/black vinyl top Cadillac Fleetwood as collateral.

Also, Jack Nilon was able to set-up a boxing exhibition in Anchorage, Alaska for
Monday, April 11, 1966, the day after Easter.
They were trying to get a 'legal' bout up there against one of Sonny's former sparring partners,
Willie Ray Richardson, but the Alaska Athletic Commission would not license a bout.

They would allow an exhibition bout only, but 'no' on any sanctioned professional bouts.

It was for $11,000.
Scheduled against several ham-n-egg fighters.

Before Alaska,

On Thursday, April 7, 1966.
Sonny Liston, his wife Geraldine, Jack Nilon and good friend Foneda Cox flew from Las Vegas to Vancouver.
Their, they did a $1000 guest appearance, the next night, on Friday, April 8th at a Vancouver Island, British Columbia boxing card.
The first amateur bout card ever held at Athletic Hall, Victoria.

On Saturday morning April 9th, the day before easter Sunday, the group flew into Anchorage, Alaska.

 

J,

The Monday, April 11, 1966 bout exhibition.
Was against 3 different fighters.

Sonny Liston was paid $11,000, plus hospitality and travel expenses.
It was promoted by one Frank Skinner and Paul Culton.

Following the bout, they stayed up at Anchorage for a week after the exhibition, taking in a little rest and relaxation.
Then they flew over to Stockholm, Sweden on or about April 20th.

 

Sonny Liston and company stayed at the Edgewater Lodge, Anchorage.

The exhibition bout was set up at the Anchorage High School Auditorium
His friend Denny Moyer had fought their years ago.
The boxing/professional wrestling set-up, was big enough to hold approximately 4500 people.

Sonny Liston would be boxing (3) 2-round exhibitions.
His sparring opponents;

George Gaston, a Seattle-based Heavyweight (Managed by; Joe West)
A former 1962 and 1963 Seattle Golden Gloves Champion
23 years-old, 6' 0' 190 lbs.
(6-2-0) (3 KO's)

Fred Waldron, a British-Canadien Amateur Heavyweight
27 years-old, 6' 1" 215 lbs.
(93-11) (45 KO's)

Brady Anderson, an Alaska Amateur Champion
22 years-old, 6' 2" 210 lbs.
(33-3) (12 KO's)

 

There were no network TV tapes of this boxing show/exhibition.
Home movies do exist, but few have ever surfaced.

A local ABC affiliate was denied access to the venue.

This was the first in the ring appearance (seen by public) by Sonny Liston, following
the Lewiston, Maine 'circus', in May 1965.

Liston was not in the best of shape, and was probably 230+ lbs.

Tickets for the event were not produced.
It was a General Admission purchase only, the day of the event.

Ticket Prices;
Ring Perimeter;,,, $10.00
General Seating;,,, $3.00

Attendance; 3600 (Approximate 80% capacity)
Gate Receipts; Not reported

Sonny Liston was paid $11,000, plus expenses (hospitalities and travel).
Not sure if the promoters made any profit. Looks like they broke even.

 

EGGO,

After picking up some extra cash in, Alaska, and using a week or so for a
vacation, the group of 4 flew over to Sweden.

Ingemar Johansson had worked out numerous boxing-exhibitions with
Sonny Liston, to get him in shape.
Then with Ingos' backers, they worked out a 3-fight deal 'contract'.

Jack Nilon stayed their for a couple of days, to work out the arrangements, and
then flew back to Philadelphia.

For the last 10-days in April and the first 2-weeks in May, Sonny Liston went on
an intense 21-day work-out regimen.
He got down from 230+ lbs. to about 220 lbs.

At the end of May and early-June, Sonny Liston and Foneda Cox and a couple of other Europe-based boxers toured Sweden and Denmark.

 

Sonny befriended Ingo when he first went over to Europe, after winning the Title.
Late 1962/early-1963.

Jack Nilon, Sonny's manager was also trying to convince Ingo to fight Sonny in
1963, after Liston fulfilled the re-match agreement with Floyd Patterson.
It was reportedly for $2,000,000 (New York Times, August 1963)

Jack Nilon wanted it in Philadelphia or Baltimore.
But, Ingo wanted to stay in Sweden, as he had several business ventures which kept him their.

They remained friends. It was Ingo and Jack Nilon who convinced Sonny to go
to Sweden for the exhibitions, and bouts in mid-1966, and they later in 1967.

Sonny made over $150,000 their in 4 months, in 1966.
He was really low on cash before he went over their.
Ingo saved his butt.

 

Ingemar Johansson set Sonny up with 4-exhibitions per week, zig-zagging southern Sweden,
in late-May and early-June 1968.

Monday Night, Wednesday Night, Friday Night and Saturday Afternoons.
Sonny got 50% of the 'gross receipts', plus expenses.
Sonny's take, approximately $2500 a session ($10,000/week)

Tuesday's off.
Thursday nights, at Ingo's Pub, Gothenberg (southwest part of the counrty, for a greet and meet)
Sunday nights, at the downtown Jazz Clubs in Stockholm.

Then in mid-June, he went on a 2-week training session, to prep for the Gerhard Zech
fight at the end of the month.

 

JT,

Sonny Listons first comeback bout was set for Sunday, May 29, 1966.

After his 5-week/20-exhibition bout schedule, he went into heavy sparring/training in
mid-May.
After 2-weeks, he was ready to go.
Though a little heavier and thicker, he was in decent shape.
His opponent, Gerhard Zech.

 

5/59/66

Sonny Listons first fight back, since 5/25/65,,,Lewiston, Maine

Unranked, and suspended by every U.S. State Boxing Commission.
35-3-0 (25 KO's)
Age, 34 or 39,,,,and 221 lbs.
Somewhat thick and slightly bloated, and lacking the solid muscle-tone.

versus
Gerhard Zech 32-5-1 (19 KO's)
German, southpaw
30 years-old, 6' 5" 226 lbs.

Unranked, since getting Knocked-out in 2 Rounds by, trial-horse/journeyman
Dave Bailey, in October 1965.

Zech did redeem himself, with a good-solid performance against Karl Mildenberger in 11/65,
in a 15-round bout for the European Boxing Championship.
Though Gerhard Zech lost a close decision, there was a riot after the decision was announced.
Karl Mildenberger went on to fight Muhammad Ali in September 1966.

In the Germans last fight, in April 66', Zech did Knock-out old Sonny Liston foe Albert Westphal in 5 Rounds.
That was for the German Heavyweight Title, and chance to be a Sonny Liston comeback opponent.

 

Sunday, June 30, 1966

Johanneshov Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden
A record sell-out crowd of 11,677 come to see Sonny Liston fight Gerhard Zech.

More people showed up to see this fight, than the total live attendance
of the Liston-Clay I fight in Miami Beach and Ali-Liston II fight in Lewiston, combined!

Thats alot of Kronor,,,,,,,,,,, 'Swedish Dough'