Sonny Liston 'Losing To Cassius Clay Is Just Good Business'

Sonny Liston,

With all the money that was still tied up in courts, the law-suits and
expenses.

I-C-P gave Sonny Liston sound financial advive, 'Lose, and You Win Big'.

The best 'financial move' for the Sonny Liston Team was to lose to
Cassius Clay in February 1964, setting up the guaranteed rematch,
and with I-C-P as the Promoters.

Jack Nilon (Sonny's Manager) and Robert Nilon (President of I-C-P) had
attempted to strike up the same deal with Ingemar Johansson back
in September 1963, but 'snags' in the contract could not be 'ironed out'.

The Nilon's wanted Sonny Liston and Ingemar Johansson to fight in the
United States, preferably in Philadelphia or at the new Civic Center in
Baltimore, Maryland, with I-C-P as the fight promoter.

But, Edwin Ahlquist, the Top Scandanavian Fight Promoter, and Ingemar
Johansson's Advisor, suggested the bout be held in Sweden, with him
as the fight promoter..

The bout was to be held at the Nyu Ullevi Stadium, where a sell-out of
60,000 could be expected, and with a 'Live Gate' of $1,500,000 alone,
besides another $5,000,000 + in closed circuit revenue.

The 'snag', was the earliest the bout could take place was probably May 1964,
because of the climate. The plan was to hold the bout on a Friday Night, and
average temperature levels were (28* in February) - (33* in March) -
(39* in April) - (47* in May) and (55* in June).

 

No,

Sonny Liston and his Advisors (Jack Nilon and Robert Nilon) were in
Stockholm, Sweden in September 1963 - negotiating with Ingemar
Johansson and Edwin Ahlquist.

Since the Sonny Liston - Floyd Patterson II bout was pushed back to
July 1963 - the Sonny Liston Team were lining up a '1964 bout', with
the best financial gain.

 

Yes Groove,

The fight on May 25, 1965 was so legitimate, that every State Boxing
Commission and North American Athletic Commission immediately suspended
Sonny Liston for 'life', then changed it to 2-years in March 1966.

Sonny Liston was 'next' able to box professionally in a sanctioned bout
in North America on March 16, 1968.

 

Thursday - August 29, 1963

'It's No-Go For Ingo - Sonny'

Lingering tax-difficulties for Ingemar Johansson in the United States
will prevent a Liston - Johansson bout from happening in 1963.

There were hopes of staging the bout at the new $16,000,000 Civic Center in
Baltimore, Maryland - where 15,000 would have watched the
Heavyweight Championship.

Edwin Ahlquist stated, that with 'tax implications' in the United States,
Mr. Johansson would be lucky to keep 10% of the fight purse. 'Ingo would be
fighting for virtually nothing.'

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Saturday - August 24, 1963

Heavyweight Champion - Sonny Liston, his wife Geraldine, Advisor -
Jack Nilon and sparring partner Foneda Cox arrived in Stockholm,
Sweden yesterday, with an 'Armada of 200 Newsmen', to discuss an
upcoming bout with Ingemar Johansson.

Jack Nilon, has offfered Ingemar Johansson $1,000,000 for a bout in
the United States.

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LH 71,

How 'bad' was Sonny Liston to deal with.

He even 'screwed up' that easy 'Piece of Cake European Tour', at $5000
per performance in September 1963.

All expenses paid for, easy schedule, $5000 per appearance -

And he still screws Joseph Glaser and Associated Booking Agency.

'Sonny Boy' left Leicester, England on Wednesday - September 18, 1963

Joseph Glaser had worked out a 'World Wide Exhibition Tour', where Liston
would have made $500,000 -with a 100-appearance / 8-month tour..
Starting from the end of August 1963 thru April 1964.

Then, a Title Defense versus Cassius Clay in June 1964 - at the Municpal
Stadium in Philadelphia.

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