Why did Sonny Liston fade out of the title picture after losing his rematch to Ali?

I’ve read he was offered quite a few fights at the time by Chris Dundee from memory or Bill Miller? He was only black balled in New York and fought around the country still.

 

Yank wanted Joe to retire after FOTC but he was also against him facing Foreman because of the stylistic matchup. Ali was the only other top option and winnable for Joe but he wasn't in a rush to give him a rematch due to Ali's behavior towards him. Lyle looked like another good option for 72-73.

 

Cheers. Excellent info.

 

Lewiston Maine was an absolute joke all round multiple players involved in and contributing to the chaos - Liston was simply a convenient, single fall guy for all that was wrong about that fight.

Whether he did or didn’t do anything wrong at any given time, he was a preordained bad guy, any perceived “anomalies” just had to be all Liston’s fault - always.

Even when Liston was manifestly clean for a good period, douche bags like D’Amato kept turning back to his past - Cus’s ulterior motive of course being to protect Patterson and avert any possibility of Floyd having to face Liston - and, AS IF D’Amato was totally clean and virtuous himself. Pull the other one.

Of course Liston did some bad things - but the less discerning public has always proven itself to be easily mislead also - like anyone believing that Liston deliberately blinded several opponents - people who clearly aren’t wearing critical thinking caps - when properly broken down, not one single accusation holds.

 

Back at that time 1960s the Heavyweight Title held the most prestige in sports. There was expected to be honor attached to defending it. Sonny would have been box office poison.
The two fights with Ali both ended kind of murkey. There was always alot going on around Sonny. The establishment tolerated Liston because he was the best and they had to. Not after he lost though. They didn't need the headache.

Sonny went to Sweden and made some There.

 

This

 

Chuck was the worst fighter I ever saw.

 

No he wasn't. You're being dramatic.

Wepner did not suck.

 

Yeah, my man Ingo would never fight Sonny but he was happy to be his pal and promote him.

See, The Thinking Man’s GOAT, Ingo, wasn’t quite as dim as he sim.