Paul Gallender - Sonny Liston: The Real Story Behind the Ali-Liston Fights

Praise fo r Sonny Liston

The Real Story Behind the Al i Liston Fights

Paul Gallender digs into the ring life and psyche of Sonny Liston, one of the most misunderstood athletes of his or any generation. He attempts to portray the real personality of one of boxings greatest champions who had to fend off Gestapo-like tactics during his career, not only from the police forces of several major American cities, but also by bigoted sportswriters of his time. In all respects, Paul succeeds.

J Russell Peltz, boxing promoter, International Boxing

Hall of Fame Class of 2004

Nowhere else is there such a detailed account of the Liston-Ali bouts. I think Liston would have approved of Gallenders real story of his fights with Ali. The book is a credit to Sonny and the man he really was.

Willie Reddish Jr., Listons friend and the son of his trainer

Reading many of the pages brought back mixed emotions of my memories of Uncle Charles. I could vividly remember some of the stories Paul recalled in the book, which brought smiles to my face. He painted Sonny in a different light, as a gentle giant, and not,the angry man many proposed him to be.

Helen Long, Listons niece

This book is one of a kind! Gallender will open a lot of eyes about the sport of Boxing and show people what a bad deal my father got. Thanks a lot, Paulie. I know Sonny would have liked you. You could have called the book, THE TRUTH, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. William Wingate, Listons son

This book is a birds-eye view of a very, very special human being. Sonny could have been the Black Athlete of the Century.

Gary Bates, Listons sparring partner

I became spellbound by the amount of research Paul did. It was more research than was done on Abraham Lincoln.

Lem Banker, sports analyst and handicapper

SONNY LISTON

TH E REA L STOR Y BEHIN D THE

AL I LISTON FIGHTS

PAUL GALLENDER

Park place publications

pacific grove , california

Sonny Liston

The Real Story Behind the AliListon Fights

Paul Gallender

Copyright 2012 Paul Gallender

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American copyright

conventions. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any

manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case

of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

E-BOOK 978-1-935530-70-1

SOFTCOVER ISBN 978-14781851.85

HARDCOVER ISBN 978-1-935530-65-7

Front cover design by Gene Harris

Interior design by Patricia Hamilton

Published by Park Place Publications

Pacific Grove , California

www.parkplacepublications.com

Printed in U.S.A.

First U.S. Edition: July 2012

www.sonnyliston.net

To Sonny Liston

I got your back.

And so does Josie Roase.

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Contents

acknowledgements

Introduction

PART ONE

BEHOLD HIS MIGHTY HANDS

Chapter One

A SUFFICIENCY UNTO HIMSELF

Chapter Two

ONE BITCH OF A TOWN

Chapter Three

A VALUABLE PROPERTY

Chapter Four

GUILT BY ASSOCIATION

Chapter Five

THE CHAMP NOBODY WANTED

Chapter Six

CHAMPION FOR LIFE

PHOTO Gallery

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PART TWO

IT WAS BEAUTY KILLED THE BEAST

Chapter Seven

A PERFECT SETUP

Chapter Eight

BOXING IS A SPORT FOR YOUNG MEN

Chapter Nine

A LOST-HEAD

Chapter Ten

IT WAS A VERY BAD YEAR

Chapter Eleven

CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE

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PART THREE

TO LIVE AND DIE IN VEGAS

Chapter Twelve

HOME AT LAST

Chapter Thirteen

AND THATS THAT

EPILOGUE

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thirty-five years is a long time to spend writing a book and this biography is a large portion of my lifes work. My passion for telling Sonnys story has grown over the years and it has never been greater than it is now.

Ive asked everyone Ive interviewed the same question: Apart from Ali, who could have beaten Liston? Almost everyone has responded in one of two ways; theyve either said thats a good question, or they said nothing at all. I spoke with very few sportswriters about Sonny because I decided that the time to debate them would be after the publication of this book, rather than before. Ill win those debates because the case I can make for Sonny Liston is as powerful as he had been, in and out of the ring.

Nevertheless, I must pay homage to several writers whose work I greatly admire. Jimmy Breslin, Marshall Smith and Bruce Jay Friedman wrote great pieces about Liston. And I would be remiss if I did not express my admiration for the superb work of severa l Sports Illustrate d writers in the 1960s. The journalistic talents of Mark Kram, Jack Olsen, Gilbert Rogin and Barbara La Fontaine clearly outshine mine.

Some of my most important interviews occurred early on. Robert Barney Baker, Davey Pearl, Irving Ash Resnick and Morris Shenker generously helped me understand the heavyweight champ in a very personal way. Conversing with the great fight historian Jimmy Jacobs showed me that I could indeed hold my own in a discussion about the history of boxings heavyweight division.

Former champs Floyd Patterson, Ernie Terrell, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Jose Torres were gracious in the time they gave me and forthright in their comments and recollections, as were promoters Don Chargin, Truman Gibson, Henry Winston, and Mickey Duff. Speaking with the great trainers Eddie Futch and George Gainford, for me was both informative and exhilarating.

I want to thank Philadelphian George Hansen Jr. for introducing me to Listons son, William Wingate. William introduced me to Tommy Manning and Mitchell Allen, both of whom knew Sonny well. Getting to know Willie Reddish Jr., whose father trained Sonny, was an absolute pleasure. Thanks also to the Hon. Joseph Casciato and Paul Abdoo Jr. for sharing memories of their fathers with me.

In St. Louis, Jesse Bowdrys daughter, Kim, was responsible for my getting to know two of Sonnys nieces and one of his nephews: Helen Long, Fannie Mae Hopkins and Henry Page all basically welcomed me into their families by sharing their intimate stories, which helped me form an even more in-depth picture of this great man.

In Las Vegas, I came to know many fine people including Sonnys sparring partner, Ben Skelton. Tony Davi was a confidante of Listons good friend, Johnny Tocco, and Lem Banker was one of the few people who could tell the ex-champ when he was out of line. Gary Bates sparred with Sonny and became one of his best friends, and if I had the inclination to write another biography, he would be my subject. Alis former business manager, Gene Kilroy, told me some heartfelt stories about his boss. Former police officer Dennis Caputo was one of the few law enforcement officials who never had an ax to grind with Sonny.

By the time she was four years old, Dana Gentry was dear friends with Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis and Sonny. Im grateful to the great Esquire photographer, Carl Fischer, for allowing me to use a photo he took of Dana and a Santa Claus-clad Liston. Danas mother, Marilyn Resnick, was close to Geraldine and Sonny Liston, and Martha and Joe Louis, and Marilyns memories of the Ali rematch in Lewiston were central to my being able to tell the real story about that bout.

Finally, I am indebted to Philadelphia promoter and boxing historian, J. Russell Peltz, for meticulously fact-checking my manuscript. Russell found several errors and for that, my hat is off to the man.

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Introduction

If you were born after 1960, what Im about to say will probably surprise you. No great athlete was ever more highly regarded by his peers than Charles Sonny Liston. Archie Moore was voted the best Light Heavyweight of the 20 th Century and he described Sonny as something extraordinary with a pair of Everlast gloves. Mooretold that t o Sport Magazin e a few months after Liston lost his title to Muhammad Ali.