Charles L. "Sonny" Liston (unknown - December 30, 1970) was an American professional boxer known for his toughness, punching power and intimidating appearance. A long avoided contender, he became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round, repeating the knockout in a defense of the title. Although widely regarded as unbeatable, Liston lost the title in 1964 to 7-1 underdog Muhammad Ali. Controversy followed with claims he had been drinking  heavily the night before the fight. In the rematch Liston suffered a shocking first round knockout that led to unresolved suspicions of a fix. He was still a world ranked boxer when he died in mysterious circumstances. Underworld connections - along with his unrecorded date of birth - added to the enigma. The Ring magazine ranked Liston as the seventh greatest heavyweight of all time.

Early life

Charles "Sonny" Liston was born into a sharecropping family who farmed the poor land of Morledge Plantation near Johnson Township, St. Francis County, Arkansas. His father, Tobe Liston, was in his mid 40s when he and his wife, Helen Baskin, who was nearly 30 years younger than Tobe, moved to Arkansas from Mississippi in 1916. Helen had one child before she married Tobe, and Tobe had 13 children with his first wife. Tobe and Helen had 12 children together. Sonny was the second youngest child.

Date of birth

There is no record of Liston's birth, though in the 1940 census he was listed as a 10 year old boy. It has been suggested Liston may not have know what year he was born, as he was not precise on the matter. He finally settles on a date of birth of May 8, 1932 for official purposes but by the time he won the world title an aged appearance added credence to rumors that he was several years older that he was by then claiming.

Youth

Tobe Liston inflicted whippings so severe on Sonny that the scars were still visible decades later. "The only thing my old man ever gave me was a beating," Liston said. Helen Baskin moved to St. Louis, Missouri, with some of her children, leaving Liston - aged around 13, according to his later reckoning - in Arkansas with his father. Sonny thrashed the pecans from his brother in law's tree and sold them in Forrest City. With the proceeds he traveled to St. Louis and reunited with his mother and sibling. Liston tried going to school but quickly left after jeers about his illiteracy; the only employment he could obtain was sporadic and exploitative.

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.

Liston never complained about prison, saying he was guaranteed three meals every day. The athletic director at Missouri State Penitentiary, Rev. Alois Stevens, suggested to Liston that he try boxing, and his obvious aptitude, along with an endorsement from Stevens, who was also a priest, aided Liston in getting an early parole. Stevens organized a sparring session with a professional heavyweight named Thurman Wilson to showcase Liston's potential. After two rounds, Wilson had taken enough. "Better get me out of this ring, he is going to kill me!" he exclaimed.

Amateur boxing career

After he was released from prison on October 31, 1952, Liston had a brief amateur career which spanned less than a year. Liston captured the Chicago Golden gloves Tournament of Champions on March 6, 1953, with a victory over 1952 Olympic Heavyweight Champion Ed Sanders. He then outpointed Julius Griffin, winner of the New York Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions, to capture the Intercity Golden gloves Championship on March 26. Liston was dropped in the first round, but he came back to control the next two rounds and had Griffin hanging on at the end.