Sonny Listons height and reach

I believed William Faversham Jr.,

When he said he had alot of information on Charles Liston and his background in
St. Francis County, Arkansas.

After the fight with Cassius Clay in February 1964, during the press conference,
Faversham stated; 'What we saw in there tonight, was a guy every bit of 37 years old.
Every bit of his age came out tonight. The young child that played at Big Bear Lake
in Arkansas in 1932, is now an old man now'.

'Those 12-Rounds, that Sonny went with Eddie Machen in 1960, are long past. Sonny
can't run a mile without stopping to take a rest. He's now a 5-Round fighter'.

 

Good lord. I thought the whole Liston being 108 years old in 1964 thing had died away in 2006.

Born on or about 1932.

End of story.

 

Any proof ?

 

Sonny Liston fighting Chuck Wepner in June 1970.

The Star Journal;

'The 40+ (43 year old) Sonny Liston, fighting like a fine aged wine,
as he brutalized Bayonne's Chuck Wepner, by scoring a TKO 10.

The former Heavyweight Champion looked bulky and slow, but showed
off his still incredible strength in pummeling the 'New Jersey Brawler'.

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Ok, here's the thing with this picture. Foreman's shoulders are a bit higher set than Liston's its just hard to see the outline because of the white all blurring together and his arm isn't nearly as straight. Their arms look the same length despite Foreman's height advantage. Liston looks way more dense though.

Also, Foreman's wing span was regularly listed as only 78-79 inches. Not sure when the 82-84 inch claim started(comeback maybe?).

One of many examples of Foreman 78 inch wing span listing... as late as 1976.

[url]http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19760615&id=2FQdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QVcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2544,5637956[/url]

 

This one has been so hashed and rehashed down to census records with reams of so called "proof" but the bulk of evidence suggests, nay unanimously contends, a birthyear between 29 and 32.

Truly one of the most tired and trodden topics in fistiana's annals.

 

February 1927 sounds correct.

Charles was conceived on a 'hot and humid' night in May 1926, in
Eastern Arkansas.

After a nice meal of Chicken, Collard Greens and Corn Bread, topped off
with 'White Lightning' and Sweet Potato Pie, 'Wham Bam'.

 

You know this but Sonny himself did not ? Have any interesting stock picks for today ?

 

It's been much discussed, and no one is any the wiser.

The last thing I read about census records is that Charles Liston wasn't on any.
Springs Toledo did some research, wrote an article saying Liston wasn't on the 1930 census.
The 1940 census records should be available now.

I'm not sure what you've seen that is so conclusive.

 

If you look back a few years on this board you will find much discussion on the topic. Springs Toledo census research did come up back then. There was a time when the Liston myth-writers were running rampant. Thankfully, that seems to have subsided.

But everything old is new again.

 

Charles Liston turned professional on September 2, 1953

St. Louis, Missouri

It is 'clearly' possible that the 'big and ponderous' Liston was 26 years and 6 months.

He was 'definitely' not 21 years and 4 months, as per his 'supposed' May 1932 birth date.

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Why not?

Does this dude look 20 years old?

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Let's see

Charles Liston, arrested on January 15, 1950.

Newspaper report;

The 22 year-old, was arrested for 'burglary' and sentenced to 5 years in jail.

In October 1952, Monroe Harrison of Jefferson City helped the 25 year-old Charles Liston
get paroled, and with the help of 'connected' Frankie Mitchell enrolled the 'illiterate' Mr. Liston
in a boxing program, to keep him out of trouble.

 

meh who cares how old he was? he got schooled by clay and sparked in the rematch. he was good but he clearly wasn't good enough.