Sonny Liston: His Life, Strife and the Phantom Punch

Sonny Liston: His Life, Strife and the Phantom Punch
by Rob Steen

Sonny Liston: His Life, Strife and the Phantom Punch
Our Price: $25.79
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


(Click here)
Buy this book at online book store in your country
Canada | UK | Germany | France

Book Summary Information

Author: Rob Steen
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-11-15
ISBN: 1906217815
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: JR Books

Book Reviews of Sonny Liston: His Life, Strife and the Phantom Punch

Book Review: Great Book on Cheated Champ Ruined by "Them"
Summary: 5 Stars


In 1987 I had the pleasure of having a rather long conversation with Floyd Patterson. Floyd strongly felt that Liston threw both Ali fights (he also correctly predicted Tyson would easily defeat Michael Spinks more than a year before Tyson did).

Liston had no idea what his age was. Certainly, looking at Liston's wrinkled, jowly face when he entered a Chicago ring in Sept 1962 to blast Floyd, Sonny was already in his mid-40s at least. A Reno talk show host in 1990 (who had met LIston) said Sonny was killed for not throwing his last fight (Chuck Wepner).

A topic no one touches is the preferential treatment Ali received throughout his career. Ali's last fight before his title shot was a losing effort against veteran Doug Jones (news reports of the fight stated the crowed booed and threw soda cups at Ali) however Ali got the very unpopular decision. Jimmy Young, all of the three Norton fights, the second Frazier fight (Ali had over 120 clinches in that fight, any referee should never have allowed that)...there were several fights Ali could and should have lost.

A free casino gambling magazine in 1991 had the story about one of Ali's cornermen telling everybody before the first Liston fight that Sonny would intentionally lose.

Boxing is a cruel sport, as detailed in Mark Kram's great book, Ghosts of Manila, Joe Frazier was blind in his left eye for most of his career.

If the boxing powers had allowed Liston to get his title shot in a timely manner Sonny would have been champ for almost ten years, most likely. A tragic, cheated figure who never embarrassed boxing after he became a contender unlike so many today like Evander Holyfield who is still trying to fight in his late 40s after wasting almost $100 million dollars, fathering about ten kids by several women while proclaiming his Christianity and building a ridiculous 100 room Georgia mansion he is losing to foreclosure.

Summary of Sonny Liston: His Life, Strife and the Phantom Punch

The career of Charles "Sonny" Liston has attracted more debate and hostility than that of any other master of the squared circle. Even now, there remain more questions than answers: How much was he controlled and manipulated by underworld figures? Did he take a dive in the momentous bout with Cassius Clay? When was he born and how and why did he die? What is certain is Sonny's standing as one of the most formidable punchers ever to enter the ring. Despite all the efforts of the boxing fraternity, he was finally allowed to fight for the world title nine years after turning professional. Grasping his chance with indecent haste, he deposed Floyd Patterson with a first-round knockout, then repeated the dose a year later. He was not seen as a suitable role model by the civil rights movement because of his criminal past and dubious associates, and was reluctant to participate in the pursuit of racial equality. Meanwhile, he was constantly pursued and badgered by the police, compelling him to move from state to state in search of refuge. A larger than life character with a life of ups and downs, ending in tragedy, this is a mesmerizing portrait of one of the most formidable boxers of all time.

African-American & Black Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in African-American & Black Books
Leaving Birmingham: Notes of a Native Son ImageLeaving Birmingham: Notes of a Native Son
by Paul Hemphill
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 1995-01-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Price in other shops: $12.95
Wynton Marsalis: Skain's Domain: A Biography ImageWynton Marsalis: Skain's Domain: A Biography
by Leslie Gourse
Schirmer Trade Books; Published: 1999-09-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $52.10
The Miles Davis Companion: Four Decades of Commentary ImageThe Miles Davis Companion: Four Decades of Commentary
by Gary Carner
Schirmer Trade Books; Published: 1996-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.36
Kaffir Boy in America ImageKaffir Boy in America
by Mathabane
Free Press; Published: 1990-08-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.35
Price in other shops: $10.00
LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS ImageLIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS
by Frederick Douglass
Scribner Paper Fiction; Published: 1962-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $59.57
My American Journey My American Journey ImageMy American Journey My American Journey
by Colin L. Powell, Joseph Persico
Turtleback Books: A Division of Sanval; Published: 1996-01; School & Library Binding; Book
Best price: $70.39
Black Titan: A. G. Gaston and the Making of a Black American Millionaire ImageBlack Titan: A. G. Gaston and the Making of a Black American Millionaire
by Carol Jenkins, Elizabeth Gardner Hines
One World/Ballantine; Published: 2003-12-30; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $38.92
Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family ImageExtraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family
by Condoleezza Rice
Random House Audio; Published: 2010-10-12; Audio CD; Book
Best price: $20.26
Price in other shops: $35.00
Now the Hell Will Start: One Soldier's Flight from the Greatest Manhunt of World WarII ImageNow the Hell Will Start: One Soldier's Flight from the Greatest Manhunt of World WarII
by Brendan I. Koerner
Penguin (Non-Classics); Published: 2009-05-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.01
Price in other shops: $16.00
On My Own at 107: Reflections on Life Without Bessie ImageOn My Own at 107: Reflections on Life Without Bessie
by Sarah Louise Delany, Amy Hill Hearth, Brian M. Kotzky
Harper San Francisco; Published: 1997-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.63
Price in other shops: $14.00
Similar Books and other products
The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring ImageThe Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring
by Sugar Ray Leonard
Viking Adult; Published: 2011-06-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.44
Price in other shops: $26.95
The Lost Legacy of Muhammad Ali ImageThe Lost Legacy of Muhammad Ali
by Thomas Hauser
Sport Media Publishing; Published: 2005-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.96
Price in other shops: $21.95
The Superfight - Marciano vs. Ali ImageThe Superfight - Marciano vs. Ali
Mackinac Media; Release date: 2005-12-26; DVD
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops: $19.95
Phantom Punch ImagePhantom Punch
Gaiam; Release date: 2010-03-23; DVD
Best price: $3.76
Price in other shops: $14.98
My View from the Corner: A Life in Boxing ImageMy View from the Corner: A Life in Boxing
by Angelo Dundee, Bert Sugar
McGraw-Hill; Published: 2007-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $524.94
Hard Luck: The Triumph and Tragedy of "Irish" Jerry Quarry ImageHard Luck: The Triumph and Tragedy of "Irish" Jerry Quarry
by Steve Springer, Blake Chavez
Lyons Press; Published: 2011-04-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.16
Price in other shops: $24.95
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson ImageUnforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
by Geoffrey C. Ward
PBS; Vintage; Published: 2006-01-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.48
Price in other shops: $16.95
Smokin' Joe: The Autobiography of a Heavyweight Champion of the World, Smokin' Joe Frazier ImageSmokin' Joe: The Autobiography of a Heavyweight Champion of the World, Smokin' Joe Frazier
by Joe Frazier, Phil Berger
Macmillan General Reference; Published: 1996-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $122.98
Hit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story ImageHit Man: The Thomas Hearns Story
by Brian Hughes, Damian Hughes
Milo Books; Published: 2010-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.91
Price in other shops: $17.95
The Devil and Sonny Liston ImageThe Devil and Sonny Liston
by Nick Tosches
Little, Brown and Company; Published: 2000-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops: $28.00
Book store. Illustrated catalog of books on different categories