After loosing the title: "Even push button elavators dont stop for me now" On the choice of reff for the first Patterson fight: "I dont care as long as he can count to ten" Confronting Cus DaMatto: "Is you is or is you aint going to give me a shot at the title". On being asked by an oponent why he was being so intimidating imidiately before the fight: "You will find out soon enough"
A couple more “The only thing my old man ever gave me was a beating,” “Come over here and sit on my knee and finish your orange juice.” “In the films the good guy always wins, but this is one bad guy who ain't gonna lose.” “Newspapermen ask dumb questions. They look up at the sun and ask if it is shining.”
Liston on why he wouldn't join the Freedom marches "I aint got no dog proof ass".Eddie Machen at the weigh in with Liston,"I'm not scared of you".,Liston, "don't worry about it ,tonight in the ring ,that's when youl'l be scared".On being asked by a female reporter if he had any interests "Yeah broad jumping", "and how far do you jump"? " From one broad to another". A reporter,"Is Wepner the bravest man you've met"? Sonny " No, his manager is".
On Marty Marshall "He started howling like a dog and jumping around so I laughed at him, as I was laughing he punched me and broke my jaw".
Wasn't it the Roy Harris bout where prior to the bout Sonny said "if it goes to the distance you can give him the fight"? Not exactly what you'd want to hear if you were a Liston opponent during those Patterson championship years.
Liston was once asked if he would consider marching and protesting for desegregation... "No...I don't have a dog proof ass."
"Are these the mother****ers all the people are screaming about? My dog plays the drums better than the kid with the big nose." Sonny Liston watching the Beatles live in Ed Sullivan's studio.
"You go 8 seconds with me little boy, and I will give you the title." - To Ali before first fight. "You know what a sane man is gonna do, but you don't know what a crazy man is gonna do." - Liston in court defending his actions in the 2nd Ali fight.
