Dr. Lester Rassin, The prominent orthopedic surgeon, who was one the '8' specialsts who examined Sonny Liston on February 26, 1964 - the day after his bout with Cassius Clay on February 25th. Dr. Lester Rassin had no idea of what Charles 'Sonny' Liston's correct age was, because he had no documentation. As per his examination, he estimated that Sonny's age was 41, based upon muscle and tendon deterioration. The listed age was 31, but the logical age was 41. - Dr. Lester Rassin discussed this with his associate during the examination, and there was a great variance between facts, as the decay in his body was obviously at a more advanced age than 31. What Dr. Lester Rassin diagnosed, was a severely torn muscle, that may or may not have prevented Sonny from lifting his left arm higher than the level of his shoulder/arm socket.
May 25, 1965 Sonny Liston was to get 30% of the 'Live Gate' receipts from the bout in Lewiston, Maine - as per his contract with I-C-P. The 'Live Gate' pulled in approximately $200,000 - which have netted Sonny $60,000. But, a law-suit followed Sonny into Maine, and his $60,000 cash take was 'garnished' by U.S. Marshalls. Sonny 'got nothing' off of the 'Live Gate'.
On May 3rd, 1965, in setting up a boxing ring at Sonny Liston's training camp at the Towers Inn in Dedham, Massachusetts. The original ring was a 15' x 15' square. Trainer - Willie Reddish had it changed to a 12' x 12' ring, which he thought would help give Sonny confidence in cutting off the ring, as well as catching an elusive opponent, as Sonny looked clumsy in the bigger ring, causing him to doubt his fading abilities. Sonny thought that the bout in the Boston Garden would be held in a 16' x 16' ring. But, when the venue was changed to Lewiston, Maine - the ring was a 20' x 20' square, something Sonny wasn't even aware of. It didn't matter anyway.
Dr. Lester Rassin, when examining Charles 'Sonny' Liston had no information regarding Sonny's actual age. His report noted that Sonny was a logical age of 41, based upon decay of bone, and the deterioration of muscles and tendons. His report was later removed from the files which were sent to the State of Massachusetts Athletic Commission, for approval of the 'first' November 16, 1964 rematch date. Robert Nilon did everything to 'squash the file'. I would tend to believe Sonny was born in May 1927 - making him 36+ in February 1964 - just like William Faversham Jr. had found out.
Lewiston, Maine 'Talked Into Taking the Heavyweight Championsip' Governer - John H. Reed Mayor of Lewiston, Maine - Robert T. Couturier (The youngest mayor in America at age 24 years-old) Boxing Commissioner - George Russo (A meat-packing man by trade) I-C-P President Robert Nilon and Fred Brooks of Sports Vision, Inc (Closed Circuit operator) convinced the State of Maine Officials that if they took the Heavyweight Bout between Clay and Liston, they would put Lewiston, Maine on the map, and as the new Capitol of Heavyweight Championships. They even convinced the gullible officials, that they would get the next Heavyweight Championship bout, if they took this one. Of course, the Morons of Maine never drew up a contract stating that. Instead, they became the 'Joke of the Boxing World'.
Sunday - May 23, 1965 Pre-Fight Examination Dr. Raphael Turgeon (Physician for the State of Maine Boxing Commission) 'Sonny Liston is fight to fight. If I have any negative comments, it would be that his reflexes are a bit slow, fitting a man between the ages of 37 and 40. Otherwise, he meets all standards of a man ready to enter the boxing ring.' Later, the Doctor was mis-quoted as stating that Sonny Liston was , 'the fittest man that I have ever examined'. This content is protected
