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Sonny Liston vs Floyd Patterson
Liston stands over a defeated Patterson (1962)
DateSeptember 25, 1962 & July 22, 1963
Venue Comiskey Park & Las Vegas Convention Center
Title(s) on the line WBA, WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles
Tale of the tape
Boxer Sonny Liston Floyd Patterson
Nickname "Big Bear" "The Gentleman"
Hometown Sand Slough, Arkansas Yonkers, New York
Pre-fight record 34–1 (23 KOs) 38–3 (28 KOs)
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg) 194 lb (88 kg)
Recognition WBA, WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring Heavyweight Champion Two time Heavyweight Champion
Result
Liston won both fights via first round KO

Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson fought twice for the world's heavyweight title. Liston knocked Patterson out in both fights, in the first round each time, winning and defending the championship in dominant fashion. [1] [2] [3]

Background

Following the retirement of the former champion, 22 year old Floyd Patterson had won the heavyweight championship in 1956, beating light heavyweight champion Archie Moore (Patterson was the youngest heavyweight champion at the time). [4] While Patterson was defending his title, Liston started climbing through the heavyweight ranks in the late 50's. By the turn of the decade, Liston had become the number one contender, defeating nearly all top contenders by knockout and gaining one of the most fearsome reputations in heavyweight history. [5]

In 1959, Patterson lost the world title to Ingemar Johansson, only to win it back the following year (becoming the first fighter in history to win the heavyweight championship twice). Even though Liston was the clear contender, Patterson's manager and trainer Cus D'Amato was very adamant that his fighter not fight Liston. Aside from the fact that D’Amato believed Patterson's chances were low, he also denounced Liston's connections with gangsters (including his management), an issue that the public shared. Liston held number one spot throughout the early 1960s, and despite the discouragement from not only his management but from President John F. Kennedy during a visit to the White House in 1962, Patterson ultimately decided to give Liston a shot at the title. [6] [7]

Fights

First fight

The first fight took place in late September 1962, the two meeting in Chicago. It was a rare case in which the champion entered the fight an underdog, with Liston an 8-5 betting favorite over Patterson, although many writers and celebrities still had faith Patterson could pull off another victory. [8]

Patterson immediately faced difficulty with Liston's larger size, particularly his 7 foot long reach and powerful jab. Patterson bravely attempted to close the distance with the challenger by using his faster hand speed and head movement, but soon began to take powerful hooks and combinations from Liston both at long and short range. Just two minutes into the first round, a hurt Patterson found himself up against the ropes, and took two powerful left hooks to the jaw, knocking him out. Liston had finally become the new heavyweight champion. [9]

Rematch

Liston offered Patterson a rematch, and the two had another fight in Las Vegas in July 1963. Liston was favored 4–1, and had trained less for what he expected to be another quick victory. Although Patterson did manage to land a few more combinations, he was still unable to hold the champion off or close the distance. Liston soon with a series of thunderous punches to the head sent the challenger to the ground. Patterson got up and fought on, but was soon knocked down a second time. Patterson once again beat the count but was quickly dropped a third time, and this time would be counted out. The rematch only lasted four seconds longer than the first fight. [10]

This match was also notable as it was the first heavyweight title fight of the new international boxing organization, the World Boxing Council (which had formed earlier that year), making Liston the inaugural WBC heavyweight champion.

Aftermath

The fights with Patterson solidified Liston's longstanding reputation as the most intimidating man in the sport, and gave many fans and even writers the impression that he was a nearly unstoppable fighter. His next fight would be in early 1964 against a young rising contender Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay). Ali won in what was considered a major upset, and won again in a controversial rematch the following year. [11]

Both fighters continued their respective careers, and although neither fighter could win back the title, they were both still able to win many more victories and continued to stay in the top ranks throughout the 1960s. Liston's final fight was in 1970, defeating Chuck Wepner, only to unfortunately pass away later that year. Patterson retired from boxing in 1972 following an unsuccessful rematch with Ali for the NABF heavyweight title. [12] [13]

References

  1. ^ Rogin, Gilbert (1962-10-08). "THE FACTS ABOUT THE BIG FIGHT". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com.
  2. ^ The Ring staff (2022-07-22). "On this day: Sonny Liston demolishes Floyd Patterson in one round – again". The Ring. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  3. ^ Puma, Mike. "ESPN Classic - Liston KO'd popular Patterson for title". www.espn.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  4. ^ Jemail, Jimmy. "The Question: What do you think of Floyd Patterson as a heavyweight boxing champion?". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  5. ^ McCormick, Eliott (2023-10-28). "Sonny Liston: The Mysterious Life And Death Of A Champion". The Fight City. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  6. ^ Spratt, Kieran (2022-01-04). "Last Round, Folks: When Boxing's Invisible Champion Was Blitzed By The Big Bear". The Sportsman. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  7. ^ Coleman, Joe (2020-09-12). "Liston terrified Ali, scared JFK and inspired Tyson - but his death still haunts boxing". talkSPORT. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  8. ^ "It's Quiet Before the Storm, Liston, Patterson Waiting". The Associated Press. 1962-09-24.
  9. ^ "Liston KO's Patterson in First". The Tuscaloosa News. 1962-09-26. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  10. ^ Staff, B. N. (2023-06-28). "Sonny Liston vs. Floyd Patterson II: Why?". Boxing News. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  11. ^ Maule, Tex. "Yes, It Was Good And Honest". Sports Illustrated Vault | SI.com. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  12. ^ Thomas, Mike (2020-04-18). "The Mysterious Death of Boxer Sonny Liston: Natural Causes, Overdose, or Murder?". Sportscasting | Pure Sports. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
  13. ^ Staff, B. N. (2019-09-20). "On This Day: Muhammad Ali defeats Floyd Patterson again". Boxing News. Retrieved 2023-12-20.
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