Sony Liston vs. Amos Lincoln

Anybody want to add the 2-cents in, before I post information.

Sonny was supposed to fight Zora Folley,,,,,,,,but
a bout was set-up with his former sparring partner Amos Lincoln.

Lincoln was convinced that he had Sonny's number, after out-boxing him
in late 1964, and in the the spring of 1965, both sparring sessions in
preparation for the Ali-Liston II rematch.

Sonny Liston was still claiming he was born in May 1932, and was 36.
But Amos Lincoln was claiming he had numerous documents with
different Liston birth dates, ranging from 1925 to 1933.

 

12/10/68

Wolrd Heavyweight Championship Fight
Joe Frazier vs Oscar Bonavena

At the Philadelphia Spectrum.

Sonny Liston was going to fight Zora Folley on the undercard.
Zora Folley had just lost a Majority Decision to Oscar Bonavena in Argentina.
He was hoping for a possible bout with Joe Frazier.

Sonny Liston was the scheduled opponent, but Zora Folley pulled out.
The replacement fight, Sonny Liston vs Amos Lincoln.

But, Joe Frazier's management did not want Sonny Liston on the card, so the
bout as switched over to neighboring Baltimore, Maryland.

 

Great A,

Though Amos Lincoln may have been on the down-slide a bit, he was still a
dangerous opponent.
That looping overhand right of his, was a perfect foil for Sonny Liston's slow left lead.

Zora Folley was guaranteed a match with Joe Frazier, if he beat Sonny Liston.
But he had change of heart, in fighting him.

 

JT,

The 12/10/68 Bout.

What had happened in August 68', Oscar Bonavena won a Majority Decision over
Zora Folley in Argentina.
The winner, was granted a fight with Joe Frazier in December.

The Bonavena vs. Folley decision was not controversial, but could have easily been a Draw.
Joe Frazier's people offered Zora Folley a title shot in early 1969, if he could beat
Sonny Liston.
A #4 Sonny Liston vs # 9 Zora Folley fight was supposed to be the undercard fight at
the Philadelphia Spectrum.

The rumor going around, was that Liston could be hit with any right hand over the top.
And Zora Folley still had his 'bread-n-butter' punch.

For some reason, after agreeing to fight Sonny Liston, Zora changed his mind, and pulled out.

 

turpinr,
After I close out 1968, fight with Amos Lincoln.

What information would like to see.


1957 thru 1963
1953 thru 1956
Or the Sweden trips with his wife, Jack Nilon and Foneda Cox?

 

When fading and unranked Amos Lincoln 41-10-1 (24 KO's) was suggested as the replacement for #9 Zora Folley, it was met with approval from Sonny Liston and Dick Saddler.

The rumble was that, simply put, Amos Lincoln was shot.
At 32, too many wars and late nights in Watts, California.

At one time in late 1966, Amos Lincoln was the #3 Ranked Heavyweight in the
World. Boasting a record of 38-5-1, he was on the verge of securing a shot with
Muhammad Ali, or possibly entering one of the Elimination Tournaments.

But, an upset loss in 10/66 to Johnny Persol in Madison Square Garden, a fight he was heavily favored to win, derailed 'Big Train'.

Since October 1966, Amos Lincoln had gone 3-5-0, in his last '8' fights, and was
Knocked-out in '3' of them.
His only quality win, was a tough hard-fought battle with #16 Joey Orbillo in California, several months earlier, in July 1968.
In his last fight, September 1968, he lost a 10-Round decision to #4 Buster Mathis. The light-punching Mathis
had Amos Lincoln on the canvas in the 4th, and in trouble in the 5th. But Lincoln held on, and did come back and make a fight of it over the last 5 rounds.

Still, the inside boxing guys said, one good shot to his jaw, and he was done.

 

#4 Sonny Liston, age 36, 6' 1/2", 215 3/4 lbs. (45-3-0) (35 KO's)
versus
#22 Amos Lincoln, age 32, 6' 2 1/2", 209 1/2 lbs. (41-10-1) (24 KO's)

10 Rounds
Odds; Sonny Liston 3-1 Favorite

Tuesday 12/10/68
Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland
Fight Scheduled for 9:00 PM
Broadcast of Joe Frazier vs Oscar Bonavena 'Title Fight' in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to follow.

Ticket Prices;
Ringside,,,,,,,,,, $25.00
Ring Perimeter,, $15.00
Auxillary,,,,,,,,,,, $7.50
General,,,,,,,,,,,,,$6.00

Capacity; 14,000

General Information;
Orginal scheduled bout to be the undercard at 'The Spectrum', Sonny Liston vs. Zora Folley.
The originally scheduled opponent Zora Folley backed out. If Zora Folley had beaten Sonny Liston, he would have
been offered a 'Title Fight' with Joe Frazier in March 1969.
Zora Folley felt it was too big of a risk, for too little money.

Since Joe Frazier and his management had no interest in a fight with Sonny Liston, the Sonny Liston vs Amos Lincoln fight was shifted from the Spectrum in Philadelphia, to the Civic Center in Baltimore.

The Liston vs Lincoln fight (winner) had no significance in a potential fight with Joe Frazier.

Sonny Liston was hoping, after beating Amos Lincoln, for a fight with Buster Mathis or Bob Cleroux in early-1969,
and possibly a mid-1969 'Title Fight' versus WBA Champion Jimmy Ellis.

 

Round 1;

Each fighter wastes no time, as they meet each other at ring-center.
Sonny Liston fires first, with his famous long heavy left jab that lands.
Amos Lincoln comes right back with a quick left, and a whistling right over the top.
Liston stays a little lower than usual, and fires a solid left to Lincolns mid-section.
Lincoln moves back, and his looking to counter.
Lincoln feints with the left, and shoots a straight right that lands on Listons head.

Liston presses with heavy lefts, but Lincoln is willing to make a fight of it.
Liston misses with a left hook, and Lincoln counters with a decent jab, and tries a short right, but it is blocked by Liston.
Liston digs a good left to the body, which hurts Lincoln, forcing him to back up.

Liston sensing he hurt Lincoln, moves in a lands a solid 1-2. Lincoln slides off to his right
and pushes his arms out to keep Liston off him.
Liston misses a long straight right, and Lincoln counters with a light right hand that lands.

Liston stops for a moment, and stays defensive with both gloves in front of his chest,
looking for an opening.
Lincoln attempts a double left jab, which both punches are short.
Lincoln keeps moving and attempting to stick light jabs.
Liston keeps pressing, shooting long left leads.
Liston lands '2' heavy left jabs as the round ends.

Round 1

 

Round 2;

Liston sets the pace, with a pressing attack, shooting heavy lefts at Lincolns head.
Lincoln tries to use his reach and height, to stay away.
Liston lands a good left, but misses a big straight right.

Lincoln tries to will himself back into the fight, and throws a 3-punch comination, but the
punches lack steam.
Liston slows for a moment, and Lincoln lands a sharp left jab, his bet punch so far.
Liston stays a little low, as he shoots in a left to the body.
Lincoln moves back, as Liston closes in.
Liston fires a right-left to the body, as Lincoln counters with a looping right over the top.

Liston pounds in a heavy left, which causes Lincoln to fall back.
Lincoln is hurt from that left.
With approximately 1:10 left in the round
Liston presses hard with a short inside barrage.

Lincoln tries to escape, but is not attempting to punch back.
Liston stalks at half-speed, and fires a long straight right that staggers Lincoln.
Lincolns tall and lanky body wobbles.
Liston gets in close, and shoots a heavy left-right to the body that drive Lincoln into the ropes.

Lincoln attempts a right hand to keep Liston off him, but leaves himself wide open.
Liston unloads a perfect-crisp left hook on Lincolns chin.

Lincoln tumbles into the ropes, where Liston unloads another barrage on a defenseless Lincoln.

Referee Benny Goldstein jumps in to halt the fight.

Time 2:46 of Round 3.

Amos Lincoln was unconscious while tangled up in the ropes.

He was out for 8 minutes.