Did the professional boxer, Sonny Liston, serve time in prison?

Charles L. "Sonny" Liston (1932? – December 30, 1970) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1953 to 1970. A dominant contender of his era, he became world heavyweight champion in 1962 after knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round, repeating the knockout the following year in defense of the title; in the latter fight he also became the inaugural WBC heavyweight champion. Liston was particularly known for his toughness, formidable punching power, long reach, and intimidating appearance.

In his youth, Liston turned to crime and led a gang of toughs who committed muggings and armed robberies. He became known to the St. Louis police as the "Yellow Shirt Bandit", due to the shirt he wore during robberies. Liston was caught in January 1950. He gave his age as 20, while the St. Louis Globe-Democrat reported that he was 22. Liston was convicted and sentenced to five years in Missouri State Penitentiary. His time in prison started on June 1, 1950.

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47 Comments

wordster

Should have added that Cassius Clay (aka Muhammad Ali) knocked him out in one minute and 44 seconds of the first round to take the title. It was over before it started. I heard that fight on the radio and, like most, could hardly believe it.

charlie

jlnorvell, Sports Illustrated printed a picture of the fight from above. Ali’s punch showed that Sonny’s left foot was lifted off the canvas. If you can find the picture, it shows that Sonny’s left foot was lifted off the canvas; look at the shadow. It was a powerful punch!

charlie

dorothy, drugs(?)

Wayne Chism

Charley pride also and others, we turn out talent, Like ME!

Wayne Chism

He is from my home town if Forrest City Arkansas pop.10000 Along with all Green.

dorothy

Who killed Sonny?

jlnorvell

Phantom punch !

steplift

There was a great movie about him lots called phantom punch, if you can get it watch it

Marie Mastrain Suppa

I knew this one

gerrarddonel

Ken Blevins, there is a question about his DOB. So, none of those answers might be correct

lisawhitehorn

Yea. But the Mafia got him out of Prison because he was Boxing in Prison that's how he was Discovered.

Ron Gosling

Ken Blevins, ah but there is a ? On his birth date not known for sure.

jpuff

I do believe that boxers, at last back then, were sent to box ing do divert them from a life of crime. As with Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, kept Ali out of trouble, and many others. Mike Tyson was a street fighter who loved crime, nothing could have saved him from his life of crime.