How impressive victories are these at this stage of his career? Johnny Summerlin was a helluva fighter. A boxing historian mailed me some great information on Summerlin, and I have a couple of his fights on film. the man could box.
Well, don't jump on me but I have the Ring Magazine report on this fight from Jack Weine, Michigan correspondent for the Ring, from the August, 1954 issue: "Every once in a while you watch a fight that after the official decision is announced you can't help but feel tht perhaps some of the advance publicity had swayed the arbiters. Such was the case when Johnny Summerlin, 193, spotted his highly billed foe, Charles "Sonny" Liston 13 lbs and lost a most puzzling verdict. The bout itself was as torrid as any seen here for several years. But by having scored more often with the cleaner and more effective punches, veteran observers were 100 % in favor of Summerlin." Oh, well, there seems to be an early fight like this with almost every champion in which many observers didn't think he pulled it out. One thing I would note, though. Summerlin seems to have been viewed coming in as the opponent and Liston the hot prospect.
Thats the first fight report. You have a report on the rematch? Liston in his 6th pro fight fighting a closely contested battle with a guy who in a matter of months emerged into the top 10 rankings is pretty impressive if you ask me, considering his non electric amatuer career. Surely Liston gets as much a pass as marciano did vs tiger ted lowry, except i veiw summerlin as a much better fighter than lowry. Liston was viewed as the Hot Prospect because he beat 6'4 220lb Olympic Gold Medalist Ed Sanders.
Those are fair points. One thing, though. The second decision over Summerlin seems to have been controversial also. By the way, do you know what happened to Summerlin? He seemed to be making a good push, with wins over Folley, Carter, Powell, and Young Jack Johnson, and then it all went south very quickly and he was out of boxing at 26. Do you know what happened?
Your guess is as good as mine. All the info I have on Johnny is about the upside of his career, and his talent and punching abilities. He was a bit of an underachiever. He looks in rock solid shape in the pic I own of him. I will tell you what I will do, I will email the guy and post on cyberboxing about what happened to Summerlin and hopefully I will get the answer we are looking for.
