Was Ali secretly scared of Liston?

Yes, Ali was scared to death and made a huge commotion at the weigh-in because of his nerves. I also found it interesting he changed his name AFTER he won and not before.

Much has been rumored about Liston, how he died. Some say he was a drug user, he wasn't a drug user, he was a mob enforcer, he wasn't a mob enforcer. His whole life seems like a mystery. The Unsolved Mysteries episode on him was interesting. Davey Pearl who managed him later on said he was very uncomfortable with needles and was a real nice guy.

Both those fights are badly tainted.

 

Really? I thought he was a mob enforcer.

 

I think Liston was more scared of Ali by the end of their first fight than Ali ever was of Liston.

 

He was, but he still managed to convince Liston that he was bats**t crazy & it seemed to unsettle him.

 

Some say yes, and some no.

 

He was so scared of Ali, he invoked his rematch clause, and trained like a demon (until the bout was delayed).

 

That was the name given to him by Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm X had left the Nation of Islam and wanted Ali to follow him. By giving him the name Muhammad Ali which means sublime, high, exalted Elijah Muhammad wanted to pull Ali closer to him. Maybe more importantly the NOI didn't want to get too close to him because they were afraid he would get his ass kicked by Liston and embarrass them. Malcolm to his eternal credit always believed in him.

 

Absolutely, Quarry did an amazing impression. Shame he got to sick to do more commentary/radio gigs, he would have been entertaining and insightful.

 

He and Ali were very charismatic personalities, it's a shame what happened to them. They'd be very funny old men.

 

I would say Liston was def. bemused by Ali.

Crazy people, including those who put on a act of being crazy do unsettle most people - impossible to predict their next move.

Ali knew this thus he focused even more heavily on psychological warfare when it came to Liston - playing the role of an absolute loose cannon to the hilt.

At least as Ali figured it, it was an essential and required part of his armoury prior to engaging Sonny, the self projected psychopath, in the ring.

And, after all, Ali did, yet again, pull the crazy man act after Liston went down in Maine.

With Ali screaming and gesticulating aggressively, hovering close by - on appearances that = unhinged so fair for Liston to state that he was concerned that he might get hit upon arising.

The anomaly for me was Ali screaming for Liston to get up but then proceeding into a victory lap even before 10 secs had elapsed since Sonny hit the deck - and note the lap always allowed for Ali to be in close proximity if and when Sonny arose.

Ali didn’t back off when he dropped Bonavena also - going so far as to even slap down the ref’s outstretched arm which was intended to restrain him from moving in - forget that Ali didn’t even retreat to a neutral corner at any time.

 

I wish to hone my English skills from time to time. So I prepared a little text...

I think Ali was probably pretty excited and nervous before facing Liston (kind of stage fright). At least that was the case before their first bout. I also read somewhere that Ali's blood pressure was unusually high during the medical check. He was nervous which is no surprise when you're 22 and suddenly fighting for the world championship. But I don't think that he was really scared.

About: "Ali was secretly scared" "Ali was acting" "Ali knew that"
Well, I think that's true in a way. It's just not that coolly calculated, it's probably more subconscious. I think Ali just had a stronger mindset.

What did Ali often say: "I am the greatest" "I must be the greatest" "I shook up the world" etc.... That also rubs off over time. Ali thought he is the greatest (backed up also by his enormous talent)...That's why he was acting outside the "normal" or crazy. This special mindset made him extremely self confident, gave him strength and was part of his recipe for success. In a negative way, it can also lead to a kind of Napoleonic megalomania. For instance when he thought he can overcome all odds and beat Larry Holmes...
On the other hand, Sonny Liston, who perhaps didn't think very highly of himself (backed up by a tough life and a pariah position)...

It might be a clash of different mindsets:
I am the greatest vs. In the end I am just a worthless thug (that doesn't mean that Sonny can't have his good aspects as well).
Everyone can imagine what is more promising ...

Well, the reality is probably way more complex but i think that there is some truth in that.

Just my 2 cents about this psychological warfare.

Best regards!

 

Your English is fine and your thoughts very well expressed and on point.

It is true, the sad follow through for unwavering youthful confidence and lust for the limelight is often the inability to recognise deterioration in oneself in order to be wise enough to call it a day.

Best regards to you also, good Sir!