Sonny Liston

 Sonny Liston

• Sonny ListonSonny Liston, American boxer (born 1932)Charles L. "Sonny" Liston (circa 1930 – December 30, 1970) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1953 to 1970. He was the dominant competitor of his era, becoming the world heavyweight champion in 1962 after defeating Floyd Patterson in the first round, repeating the blow Knockout the following year for a title defense; In the final fight he also became the inaugural WBC Heavyweight Champion. Liston was known in particular for his toughness, tremendous punching power, long reach, and intimidating looks..Although Liston was widely regarded as unbeatable,
•  he lost the title in 1964 to Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), who entered at number seven in a row. Liston retired in his corner with a sore shoulder. Controversy followed with allegations that Liston had been drinking heavily the night before the fight and had entered the bout with a lame shoulder. In his 1965 rematch with Ali, Liston suffered an unexpected knockdown in the first round that led to unresolved doubts about reforming. He was still a world-class boxer when he died under mysterious circumstances in 1970. His connections to the underworld and his unrecorded dates of birth and death added to the mystery.

Ring Liston magazine ranked him the 10th greatest heavyweight of all time, while boxing writer Herb Goldman ranked him second and Richard O'Brien, senior editor at Sports Illustrated, placed him third. Alfie Potts-Harmer in The Sportster also ranked him the third-greatest heavyweight and the sixth-greatest 

boxer at any weight. Liston was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991.