Liston was good in this fight. Harris was not. The second, third and forth knockdowns looked a bit bogus. haris landed a few shots but looked a little nervous to me. Not sure he was up for it. Liston looks Fast and relaxed, good timing. Harris was a good name in that year so it still goes down as a good win for sonny against a rated fighter. Harris could have done better.
Some 'kudos' for Roy Harris,,,,,,, As he did not have to take that bout with Charles 'Sonny' Liston in April 1960. Taking that bout, showed everyone that Roy had 'balls'. Of course, the $70,000 that Roy received for the 1-Round 'blow-out', hopefully eased the pain. This content is protected
Harris hadn´t fast hands, but even with that considered, good to see how Liston had good head movement to avoid the punches......
Some nice boxing here from Sonny, who's reading Harris well and throwing well timed and accurate punches. Sonny was more than just a scary beast.
Liston is good here and this is a great win but there was not much coming back at him. Harris looked shocked to be reached at what he thought was a safe distance. Must have been very unseteling. even getting caught on the end of a punch can disorganise a fighter if he is not expecting it. Like hagler Liston had an unusual reach for his height. Full credit for taking advantage. Harris is a good opponent but no world beater.
Cus D'amato said, that Roy Harris was the 'second best heavyweight in the world'. Not exactly sure what he was talking about, but I don't think Roy could have defeated Zora Folley or Eddie Machen with a 'baseball bat in his hands', let alone Sonny Liston.
This fight has probably my alltime favorite quote. Liston said if the bout goes the distance, you could give it to Harris. Imagine Harris hearing that before the fight and then going in against a 1960 version of Sonny Liston? Or being the management of Harris and having Sonny say that stuff about your guy before the fight?
Roy 'Cut-N-Shoot' Harris Did put together some decent wins pre-Floyd Patterson August 1958 Championship Bout. * 11/28/1955...(W Dec 12 Split)......Buddy Truman...... 21-1-0 (12 KO's) * 8/22/1956.....(W Dec 10 Unan.)....Oscar Pharo..........29-4-1 (13 KO's) * 1/29/1957.....(TKO 8}.................Claude Chapman... 25-4-1 (12 KO's) * 4/30/1957.....(W Dec 10 Unan.).....Bob Baker.............47-9-1 (19 KO's) * 6/11/1957.....(W Dec 10 Unan.).....Willie Pastrano...... 40-4-5 (9 KO's) * 10/29/1957...(W Dec 10 Unan.).....Willi Besmanoff...... 37-9-7 (16 KO's) Both, #8 Bob Baker and #5 Willie Pastrano were Top 10 Heavyweights. Willi Besmanoff had been the #5 Light-Heavyweight in 1956, but moved up to Heavyweight where he was ranked #18. They say Roy Harris' bout with Buddy Truman in Tyler, Texas (November 1955) drew over 15,000 fans. It was for the Texas State Heavyweight Championship. Monday Night - November 28, 1955 The 'stuff'' legends are made from. Buddy Truman 21-1-0 (12 KO's) got up from '9' knockdowns over the first '4-Rounds' to battle back and floor Roy Harris 9-0-0 (5 KO's) '3' times, in a 'see-saw' fight, that had Tyler, Texas exploding. Roy Harris won a 12-Round 'Split Decision'. Later called, 'The Greatest Fight Ever in East Texas'.
Thanks "McG" You know, many fighters who work there way up to a Champion Fight, by staying 'unbeaten' and fighting mid-level fighters, usually they fall apart after the Championship Bout, and drift into 'opponent land'. Not Roy Harris,,,,,,,, After that TKO 12 loss to Floyd Patterson in August 1958,,,,,, In just 4-months he was back at it in Texas. At age 25, and 23-1-0 (9 KO's) he was still in the 'Thick of the Heavyweight Division' December 1, 1958 * (W Dec 12) over Donnie Fleeman 25-2-0 (17 KO's) Roy pitches a '12-Round Shut-Out' over the 26 year-old Texas Light-Heavyweight Champion, and #14 ranked Light-Heavyweight. Roy scores with double left jabs, and controls the bout over his smaller and faster opponent, with a non-stop inside attack. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- February 3, 1959 * (W Dec 10) over #10 Charlie Powell 20-3-2 (13 KO's) The 26 year-old 212 lb. Charlie Powell, an ex-football player, has entered the Top 10 Heavyweight rankings. Powell, a strong right-hook thrower, is coming off a Knockout win {KO 8} over Cuban Nino Valdes. Roy 'easily' out-boxes the 212 lb. former football player over '10-Rounds'. Harris controls the bout by landing double and triple jabs, while keeping the strong Powell completely off-balance. Roy staggers the 'bigger' Powell in Rounds, 7, 8 and 10, with right uppercuts, nearly flattening the 'rough brawler' in the last round. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- April 15, 1963 * (W Dec 12) over Donne Fleeman 26-3-0 (18 KO's) Roy Harris pitches another '12-Round Shut-Out' over Donnie Fleeman. Roy again, scores with jabs and dominates the '12-Rounder' with good in-fighting, as Fleeman is out-muscled for the entire bout. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 6, 1959 * (W Dec 10) over 'Jamaica Joe' Bygraves 38-14-1 (18 KO's) Joe Bygraves, the 28 year-old veteran, is looking for a chance to get back into the Heavyweight Division, and hopes for an 'upset' over the Texas Heavuweight. Roy Harris has no problem with the 'bulky' 205 lb. Jamaican, and scores with repeated double left jabs, and counter right-hands over Bygraves low guard. Harris cruises to an 'easy' decision win, out-hustling Joe Bygrves by scores of {98-93 / 98-92 / 97-93} --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By mid-1959; Roy Harris has upped his record to 27-1-0, and is now back at the #5 Heavyweight.
