The dismissal of Sonny Liston from boxing history.

I think Usyk is showing us size is massively overrated. I always thought it was and now he is showing it in real time.

 

I think any form of prime Ali is all wrong for Sonny, Liston had never seen or fought such a combination of speed, combinations, length, and size. Liston and Ali were the first real-sized heavyweights to leave a great impact on the division, Liston was never going to be ready.

 

Liston had a recorded injury going into the bout, was confirmed to have been taking cortisone for a separate condition (bursitis) and actively tried to get a postponement.

Liston was seen icing his shoulder and receiving ultrasound therapy after training but then later cut out sparring altogether which is pretty telling imo. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-irving-daily-news-texan/103574716/

Dundee, unbeknownst to even himself, had it dead on. "Angelo Dundee challenger Clay's trainer, expressed amazement. He stated: As long as I've been in boxing, I never heard of any man quitting his sparring a week before an important fight unless he was very stale or hurt in some way"

I don't understand why this rumor won't die. Ali and Dundee both said Liston didn't put anything on his gloves to intentionally blind Ali. Also the referee checked Liston's glove.

 

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/liston-didn-t-blind-ali-6987354.html

 

I will tell you a story: In Sept 1969, Sonny Liston was in my hometown, our neighborhood known as South Park Las Vegas, It was not in the state of Nevada, but in Arizona. It took the name of Las Vegas because people that were on the paper food stamps would gamble them away outside on small tables while drinking Ripple. Anyhow the man who told me of this was a Watch Commander of our local police Dept, he had been a law enforcement officer since 1956. Anyhow Liston was playing cards with two big ruffian African American men, both were losing, and one snuck around in back of Liston, attempting to strike him from behind, Liston beat both men with an inch of their lives, the local police were called by witnesses, Pete. B who was the Watch Commander and later worked with me as a Special Hospital Security officer like myself, later became my Supervisor arrived on the scene with other officers. Both would be assailants were taken by ambulance to the local hospital, both suffered contusions and had been concussed. Pete B. asked Liston, who identified himself, what had occurred, Sonny told Pete that the two attempted to assault him. Pete told Liston, I will have to place you under arrest as Liston had a boxing license, his hands were dangerous weapons. As Liston was being taken to the Police Station for fingerprinting, Liston began to talk about both fights with Muhammad Ali, implicating several underworld figures in the conversation. Pete B. was shocked that he began talking about the two Ali fights, Pete B. and Liston began to talk about both fights against Floyd Patterson in 1962 and 1963. Liston was soon released, he told Pete that he was in training for a bout with Leotis Martin scheduled for Dec 1969. Both shook hands, later Pete told me that Liston's hands were huge, his hands dwarfed Liston's. The two would be assailants were released from the hospital, South Park Las Vegas was a really tough neighborhood, you needed to learn how to fight to live there, Liston was later knocked out by Martin in their Dec 1969 bout that was televised live on ABC's Wide World Of Sports.

 

I understand why Liston kept the company he did, at that time Sonny was totally shunned because he was a convicted felon by what one might describe as the so called,,,decent people?, so he hung out with those that wouldn't be offended by his presence.

 

Pete just told me Liston was talking about others in relation to both bouts with Muhammad Ali.

 

Agree. Golovkin would have trounced Joe Louis. Facts