"An advantage in weight did not help the late Sonny Liston when Peter Keenan, an archetypal Glaswegian who once held the Bantamweight championships of Britain, the British Empire and Europe, brought him to order at a party given to offer a Clydeside welcome to the then heavyweight champion of the world. Liston, in one of his less congenial moods, had knocked a cigar from a fellow guests mouth and demanded rather loudly that he, Keenan, too, should refrain from smoking in his presence. 'Listen', said Keenan, glaring up from the level of Sonnys chest, 'you may be the heavyweight champion, but I have never lost a street fight in my life. If anything is going out, its not the cigar, its you.' 'Aye' said a voice from from the bristling group at Keenans elbow. 'And not by the door - by the windie.' Sonny, who was aware that the party was being held several storeys up, cooled abruptly. Keenan then sat down on Listons knee like a ventriloquists doll...' From page 92 of McIlvanney on Boxing. :bbb
Another story i recall hearing about Sonny on his UK visit was that he was being interviewed by boxing commentator and journalist Reg Gutteridge, at Least Reg was trying to Interview Sonny, who was proving a tough uncooperative nut to crack, Reg knew he needed to grab Sonny's attention, so told Sonny he was tougher then him and could prove it, Sonny duely challenged him to Prove it, - at which point Reg grabbed a fork from the table and stabbed himself in the leg with it, not a sound or grimace issued from Reg, Sonny's eyes widened, he looked at Little Reg in a new light...he had got Sonny's full atention, Reg revealed subsequently to much mutual laughter that he actually had a false leg, !! the real one parting company with him on a beach in WWII.
Proper Scottish. Oddly enough I met his nephew on a train a couple of months ago, and we talked boxing for a good hour.
Peter Keenan is the most important man in Scottish boxing ever. I believe Liston actually became very freindly with Keenan's son and invited him over to America to spend Christmas with him.
Keenan kept boxing alive in Scotland throughout the 50s and 60s with stuff like bringing Liston and Ray Robinson to Scotland, as well as regular shows.
