Sonny Liston KO 3 Zora Folley

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by SuzieQ49, Jul 25, 2022.


  1. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    For those who are wondering, The fight was not televised. According to boxing historian Steve Compton, It was scheduled to be shown on closed circuit in theaters as a double header with Archie Moore-Erich Shoeppner but Moore dropped out of the Schoeppner fight and the closed circuit company didn't think Liston-Folley was a big enough draw to headline so they cancelled the whole thing.


    Sports Illustrated 1960
    described the finish as

    "Liston hunched down, cowering behind his massive forearms, and waited. The punches flew off him the way bullets ricochet off Superman's red, white and blue chest."



    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 fights—three by knockouts—staged 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 hook—a blow that has held his last nine opponents for the 10 count. Folley tumbled face down onto the canvas for the final count in the 3rd. He never moved until seconds after the knockout."




    Ring Magazine October -November 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 Arizona's Zora 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, Zora 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's 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."


    Liston entered the fight ranked No. 1 in the world. Folley was ranked No. 2 by RING and No. 3 by NBA.
     
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