Sonny Liston vs. Billy Joiner

A bout that was fought on 5/23/68
The Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California.
Sonny Liston vs. Billy Joiner
Sonny, on the comeback trail with Dick Sadler as manager and trainer, has won 5 in a row, all by knock-out in his quest for another shot at the title versus any of the champions that want him.

Sonny is now 40-3-0, with 30 Knock-outs, and has lost 2-bouts to Champion Muhammad Ali.
He has petitioned the WBA for a #9 Ranking. The Ring magazine has begun to rank him nationally now.

A victory here, and the promoter, has promised Sonny a fight next month versus a mountain of a man, called Mel Turnbow.
Sonny at 222 lbs. may be a tad heavier than before, but says he has not lost any power. Liston, who lists his age at 36, has been questioned about that number, many times. He comes back with a 'growl' when asked, so instead of asking him that question again, we will just list him at 39, with a 'wink'.

His opponent, 28-year old Billy Joiner, is from Cincinnati, Ohio.
At 6' 1" 189 lbs., he doesn't and shouldn't present a difficult problem for Mr. Liston.
Mr. Joiner, 'Willie Swift' that sometimes he's called, is a former 1962 National AAU and National Golden Gloves Champion Light Heavyweight Champion. He also fought, and lost twice to a fighter by the name of Cassius Clay in 1959.

A slick-boxer, with a 9-3-3 record, but little power with only 4 KO's.
He was highly regarded when turning pro, but has run into a streak of 3 straight 10-round Draws.
Two of them were in Italy, against highly rated and Top 20 ranked fighters, Dante Cane and Piero Tomasoni.
So it is possible, on neutral ground they would have been considered wins.
We could make 'Willie Swift' 11-3-1, but would that make any difference.

As for the fight, it was horrible. Sonny lumbered and was slow.
He did floor Joiner with a left hook and short clubbing right in the 3rd round, but his punches were cumbersome.
His legs looked shot, he had no power, and his reflexes have long slipped him.
Billy tried to go toe-to-toe with Liston in the 4th and 5th, in an attempt to turn the tide, but
thats not Joiner's game.

Joiner high-tailed it in the 6th, and did a little track meet jaunt.
Some of the paid spectators started throwing objects in the ring in the 6th round, when
Joiner avoided fighting.
Referee John Thomas had to move the debris several times with his swinging foot.

In Round 7, Liston attempted to take Joiner out, and though he landed, his punches lacked
force, as each heavy punch was like a big slow log coming downstream.

After the 7th Round, Referee Thomas went to Joiners corner and asked for a stoppage, as
Billy was so far behind in points, there was no chance of him winning. He was losing badly, and had no answer
for Sonny's slow but deliberate attack.
There was no complaint from Joiners corner.

When the fight was stopped at the end of the 7th, a loud chorus of boo's followed with
chants of 'Take a dive Bum, the ocean is right around the corner' and 'Go back to the Missouri State Pen'.
More objects were thrown in the ring, with complaints of a stoppage.

Sonny Liston just gave a sullen look like always, and walked away in his white with black striped trunks
and famous black boxing shoes.
It was not a good Thursaday evening in Los Angeles.

What a way for an ex-champ to be treated, or to make a living.

The Olympic promoter contacted Angelo Dundee, Mel Turnbow's agent,
3 hours after after the fight to tell him,,,,,,,,, forget about the June bout with Liston, he's shot.

Thursday, May 23, 1968
The Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Attendance: 10,162
Gate Receipts: $49,000
Fight Purse: Sonny Liston $12,000
Fight Purse; Billy Joiner $5000

Scoring in Rounds;
6-1-0 Liston
5-0-2 Liston
5-1-1 Liston

 

Light Out,

Sad commentary, for a fighter, who only 4 years earlier was considered the 'greatest heavyweight' of all time.
Virtually boo'ed out the ring, and basically told by the promoter not to come back.
Objects thrown at him,,,,,,,,and verbally assaulted.
And trying to match him with Mel "Elbow Joe' Turnbow, a 12-7-1 fighter, only to be told
your shot, and this fight ain't happening here.
Fighting for $12,000 a 'pop'.

The Oakland Tribune reported. After the fight, Sonny was asked if he wanted anything.
His reply, 'A bottle of J & B'.

 

Really a deep-man, and truly a dark-side to him.
The more you read and understand, the guy looke like he was trapped inside himself.

I don't think he could ever get over the fact that he was painted as a bad guy, because he was one, as a result of the people he associated with earlier in his career.
He tried to be liked, but didn't know how to go about it.
They ruined him early.

Somewhat sad, to see a 36-year old (listed at 39, but probably 41 or 42) beating up a 15-bout pro, who was 33 lbs. lighter than him.
In fairness to Sonny, he only had one other fight in March, 10 weeks earlier.
Before that, his last fight was almost a year earlier, 4/28/67 vs. Elmer Rush in Sweden.

Some reports of drug use in the Scandanavia area surfaced, while he was in
Copenhagen, Denmark and Amsterdam, Hollland in mid-1966 and early-1967,
during ring exhibition matches.

Billy Joiner was a safe second opponent for another comeback, after a 1-year hiatus.
Dick Saddler was in the picture now, and looks like he wanted Sonny take it one-step at a time, and stay out of Las Vegas,, where the demon-lurking lifestyle awaited.
The hangers-on and big-bellied old 50's mob-connected guys were fading fast.

 

UN,

I stand corrected.....forgot about posting that from my 1968 files...
Also, Sonny did make that trip to Alaska in 1966.

 

Great A,,,,,,,

No danger of losing,,,,,,,,,,,but all reports were, he was 'one slow machine'

LA Times;
"like a beach bum wearing concrete sandals'
'a left hand so slow, you could count the stitching in the glove'
''moved like a Sherman Tank in quick-sand'
'looks like he sent a telegram, before throwing the righthand'
'left his boxing skills in the Las Vegas casinos again'

Oakland Tribune;
'we smell Lewiston, Maine coming again very soon'
'at least he can make a living off the 'B' list'
'Jimmy Ellis has nothing to fear'

Los Angeles Daily News;
'the paid fight watchers felt obligated to throw objects in the ring'
'Billy Joiner had no business entering in a track meet on Thursday night'
'another Liston comical event, should we expect less'

Sports Illustrated (Pat Putnam);
'Sonny plodded his way to a sluggish, albeit not slugging win'
'outweighed his younger opponent by 33 lbs.'
'Liston stunk out the joint'
'the guy has no legs, no pop, no nothing, they even threw things in the ring'

Henry Clark (upcoming Liston opponent);
'I saw him fight Joiner, and he's something awful'
'he's old, man, even his scowl is old'

Olympic Boxing Promoter; (calling Angelo Dundee about matching Liston with Mel Turnbow)
'I called Angelo Dundee 3 hours after the Liston-Joiner fight, and told him,,,,, 'Forget it Angie, Sonny's shot'

 

Yes,,,,Cincinnati Television, Channel 12 has a tape of this fight.
It was broadcast awhile back, highlighting Cincinnati-based fighters.
They must have purchased it from the Olympic in Los Angeles.