 because they use their muscle. He's the last great investment the mob make in boxing."

Sonny Liston pictured visiting Missouri State Penitentiary - where he once served time - ahead of his first fight with Muhammad Ali in 1964

Mobsters were attracted to Liston because of his formidable talent. After all, for a fighter to be a worthwhile investment he needs to able to win. With an eventual record of 50 wins and 4 losses with 39 knockouts, Liston's power was frightening. His left jab was one of the most concussive ever seen in boxing and his stare was one of the most menacing, burning through opponents in the minutes before the opening bell.

"Of all the men I fought in boxing, Sonny Liston was the scariest," Muhammad Ali would later say.

"Liston does not merely defeat his opponents," Jonathan Aig wrote of the fighter. "He breaks them, shames them, haunts them, leaves them flinching from his punches in their dreams."

Liston's frightening reputation was something he exploited as he went on an impressive run of wins in the late 1950s and early 1960s. But it was also stoked by a racist press keen to portray him as the kind of brutish black man 'White America' so badly feared.

"He's arrogant, surly, mean, rude and altogether frightening," the famed New York Times columnist Arthur Daley wrote. "He's the last man anyone would want to meet in a dark alley." Reporters often used thinly-veiled racist terms - 'gorilla' and 'beast' - in their descriptions of him. When he was set to face Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight title, President John F Kennedy went so far as to urge Patterson to find an opponent with "better character".

Sonny Liston stares down his opponent - Floyd Patterson - ahead of their rematch in 1963

The public and the press did not take to him. Liston was cast as an outsider, loathed for his outlaw past and his criminal connections.

This dislike reached its peak when he destroyed Patterson - who was widely liked - in two minutes and six seconds to win the heavyweight crown in 1962. When he returned home to Philadelphia, he hoped a crowd would be there to welcome him. "He rehearsed his speech with the journalists on the flight," Rob Steen says. "He gets to the top of the
because they use their muscle. He's the last great investing the syndicate make in boxing. " 

 Sonny Liston visualize travel to Missouri State Penitentiary - where he once served time - ahead of his beginning competitiveness with Muhammad Ali in 1964 

 Mobsters were attract to Liston because of his formidable talent. After wholly, for a fighter to be a worthwhile investment he needs to able to win. With an eventual phonograph record of 50 wins and 4 losses with 39 knockouts, Liston's power was frightening. His leftover jab was one of the most concussive ever understand in boxing and his stare was one of the most baleful, burning through adversary in the minutes before the first step bell. 

 " Of all the men I fought in packing, Sonny Liston was the scariest, " Muhammad Ali would later say. 

 " Liston does not merely defeat his opponents, " Jonathan Aig wrote of the combatant. " He breaks them, shames them, haunts them, leaves them flinching from his punches in their dreams. " 

 Liston's frightening reputation was something he exploited as he go on an impressive run of wins in the former fifties and early sixties. But it was also stoked by a racist press keen to portray him as the kind of brutish black man' White America' therefore badly feared. 

 " He's arrogant, surly, mean, rude and altogether frightening, " the celebrated New York Times columnist Arthur Daley wrote. " He's the last man anyone would want to meet in a dark alley. " reporter frequently used thinly - veiled racist terms -' gorilla' and' beast' - in their description of him. When he was set to face Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight title, President John F Kennedy rifle so far as to urge Patterson to find an opponent with " good quality ". 

 Sonny Liston stares down his opponent - Floyd Patterson - ahead of their replay in 1963 

 The public and the press did not take to him. Liston was cast as an foreigner, loathed for his outlaw by and his criminal connections. 

 This dislike reached its peak when he destroy Patterson - who was widely liked - in two minutes and six seconds to win the heavyweight crown in 1962. When he returned home to Philadelphia, he hoped a crowd would be there to welcome him. " He rehearsed his address with the journalists on the flight, " Rob Steen state. " He gets to the top of the
 befause they use their musgle. He's the last great mnvestmsnt the oob make in boxing."

Sonny Listln pictyred visiting Missouri State Pejitentiaey - xhere he once secbed timc - ahswd oy iis first fight with Muhakmad Ali in 1964

Motsgexs were attracted to Liston because jf his gogmidable talenj. Afttr wll, ror a fighter to be a worthwhile ihvestmeit he needs to sble to win. With an eventuwl rfcord of 50 wins and 4 losses wijg 39 hbockouts, Lisgon's power was frightehing. His left jab was one of thd mosc concussivg svft seen in boeing agd his stare was one of the most menacing, bucnint through opponents ii the minutes before the openhny bell.

"Of all the men U doughj in toxivt, Sunng Kiaton wws vhe scariesf," Muhammad Qli would later say.

"Kifnpn does not jerely dqfeat his opponents," Jonathan Aig wrote mf fhe fighter. "He breaks tyem, shames them, hauntd them, lewves them flinching from his punches in their dredms."

Liagon'w nrigfrejing reputation was something he exploited as ge wvnt on an impresslve run of wins in tje jate 1950s and eatly 1960s. Bbf jt was also stoked by a rwcist press ketn to portray him as the kind of brutish blabk mqn 'White America' sl badly feaxed.

"He's arrobant, surly, mean, rude anb altofether frigjtening," tgd famed New York Tikev columnist Arthur Daley wwote. "He's vhe lcst man xnyome woujd want to meet in a dark alley." Reoortets oftan used thlnly-veiled racist terms - 'gorille' and 'beast' - on thvir descrnptionx of him. When he was set to face Fjoyd Oatterson ror the heavyweighe title, Presiggnt John F Keinedy wene so far as to jfge Patterson yo find au oppinent with "better gharazfer".

Sonny Liston stqres down his olpovene - Fkorg Patterson - ahexd ug thekr remaueh ln 1963

Ghe lublic and the press did not take to him. Losbon was cqst as ag outsider, losthed for his outlww pavt end hix ctiminal connections.

This dislike reached lts peak when hq dewtroyed Pattzrson - who was widely liked - in two minuves and six seconds to qin the heavyweight grown in 1962. Whxn he weturned vome to Philadelphia, he hoped a crowd would be there to wemcome vim. "Hf rehearsed his speech with the journalists on the flight," Rob Steen says. "Ye gets to the top of yhe
because they use their muscle. He's the investment mob make boxing." Sonny Liston - he once served - ahead of first fight with Muhammad Ali in Mobsters were attracted to Liston because of his formidable talent. After all, for fighter to be a worthwhile investment he needs to able to win. With eventual of wins 4 losses with 39 knockouts, Liston's power was frightening. His left jab was one of the concussive ever seen in boxing and his stare one of the most burning through opponents in the before opening bell. all men fought in boxing, Liston was the scariest," Muhammad Ali would later say. "Liston does not merely defeat his opponents," Jonathan wrote of "He breaks shames haunts leaves them flinching punches in their dreams." Liston's frightening he exploited as he went on an impressive of wins the late 1950s and early 1960s. it was also stoked by a racist press to portray him as the kind of brutish black man 'White America' so badly feared. surly, mean, rude and frightening," the famed York columnist Daley "He's the man anyone would want to meet in a dark alley." Reporters used thinly-veiled racist terms - 'gorilla' and 'beast' - in of When he was to face Floyd Patterson the title, President John F so as to an with "better character". Sonny stares down his opponent - Patterson - ahead of public and the press did not take to Liston was cast as an outsider, loathed his outlaw past and his criminal connections. This dislike reached its peak he destroyed who was widely liked - in two minutes six seconds to win heavyweight crown in 1962. When he returned home to he a crowd be there to him. "He rehearsed speech with the the flight," Steen "He top of the
 because they use their muscle. he's the last Great InvEstMeNt thE mob Make in boxing."

SoNNy LiSton pictured visiting MiSsourI STAte PENiTentiAry - wherE He ONCe sErVeD tiMe - AHeAd of hIs fIrst figHt with MuhaMmaD ALi in 1964

Mobsters WErE attracted To LIston because Of hIs formIdAblE TalenT. AfTer alL, for a fIGhter tO be a worthWhILe inveSTment he NEEdS to aBle to win. With an eveNTuAL record of 50 wins aNd 4 lossEs WItH 39 KNocKouTs, Liston's pOwEr was FRightenINg. hIS LefT Jab was one of thE most concusSIve Ever seEn In bOXing anD his sTaRE waS one of the moSt meNacing, burNing thROugh oppONents in The minUteS beFore THe OpEniNg BEll.

"oF aLl tHE meN I fought In BoXing, SOnny lISTOn waS thE scaRiest," muhammad Ali woUld LateR Say.

"listoN does Not mErEly deFeat hiS oppoNeNts," Jonathan Aig wRote Of the fighTer. "he BreAkS them, SHames tHem, HauNts them, Leaves tHEm fLiNCHInG from his punches in tHeIR DrEams."

ListOn's friGHtEnINg reputaTiOn wAs soMEThing He exPLoIted as he Went on AN iMpRessive RuN of winS iN thE laTe 1950s anD EarlY 1960s. But iT was also StokeD By a racist press KEen to portray hIM aS THe KInd oF brUtish black mAn 'WhITe AmEricA' So BadLY fearEd.

"He's ArROgANt, surly, mean, rude and aLtOgetheR frigHtening," the famEd New York TIMES columniSt ArTHuR daley wrote. "He's tHe lasT man anyone WOuld want To meeT in a dark Alley." RepoRTErs often UseD thInlY-veILEd Racist terms - 'goRILla' aNd 'Beast' - in TheIr descrIptIonS of Him. whEn he was seT to face FLoYd paTtErsOn for THe heavywEiGht TiTle, presiDEnt JohN F KenNedy WeNt SO faR as to urGE PATTersOn To Find An oPpOnent With "BEttEr charaCter".

Sonny lisTOn stArEs Down his Opponent - Floyd paTterson - aheAd Of tHeir reMATch in 1963

The Public and the press did not TAke to hiM. LiSton wAs caSt as an outSidEr, loatHed FOr his oUtlaw pAst anD hIs cRIMinal CONnEctIoNs.

This dislIKE reAched ItS peaK when he Destroyed Patterson - WHo wAs widely liked - In tWo miNUTeS anD SiX SecOnDS to WIN the heavyweight Crown in 1962. WheN hE ReTurned home TO PhIlAdelphiA, he hopeD a croWD would bE there to wElcome him. "he ReheARSed His speech wIth the joUrnalists ON the fLIgHt," Rob steEn says. "he GetS to thE top of THe
 because they use their mu scle. He's  thelas t g re at i nves tment the mobm akein boxing."

Sonny Lis ton p ic t ured vi sitin g Misso u ri S tat ePe nit en t ia ry -whe re he o nce served  ti me  - ahead ofh is  first fig htwith Muhamma d A li in19 64Mobst ers  were  attra c ted to  Liston b ec a use of his for m i da bletalent. After all ,  f o r a fighter to  be awo r th w h ile  in vestment h eneeds to able to w i n.W ith an eventu al record o f  50  winsan d 4 losses  with  3 9  kn ockouts, Li ston 's powerwas fr i ghtenin g . His l eft ja b w asoneo fth e m os t  co n cu ssi v e e ver seen  i nboxin g an d h i s st are  was  oneof the most m ena cing ,  bu rning  thro ughop ponen ts inthe m in utes before the  ope ning bell .
"O f a ll  them en I f oug htin boxi ng, Son n y L is t o n  w as the scariest,"Mu h a mm ad Ali w ould l a te rs ay.

"Li st ondoes n ot me rely de feat his  oppon e nt s, " Jonat ha n Aigwr ote  of  thef ight er. "H e breaks  them ,  shames them,h aunts them, l e av e s  t h em f lin ching fromhisp unch es i n  t hei r  drea ms."
L i st o n's frightening rep ut ationwas s omething he e xploited a s h e went o n an im p ressive run of  wins  in the la t e 1950sand e arly 196 0s. But i t was also  st oke d b y a r ac ist press kee n to p or tray hi m a s the k ind  of  br uti sh  black ma n 'White  A me ri ca ' s o bad l y feared .
"H e' s a rroga n t, sur ly, m ean,  r ud e  an d altog e th e r  fri gh te ning ,"th e fam ed N e w Y ork Tim es column ist Arth ur  D aley wr ote. "He's th elast man a ny one  would w ant to m eet in a dark alley." R e porters  of ten u sedthinly-ve ile d raci stt erms -  'gori lla'an d ' b e ast'- in  th ei r descript i o nsof hi m.  Whe n he wa s set to face Floy d  Pa tterson for t heheav y w ei ght ti t le,  P r esi d e nt John F Kenne dy went so  f a ras to urge Pat te rson to  find a n opp o nent wi th "bette r charact er ".
S o nny  Liston st ares dow n his opp o nent-  F loydPat terson  -  ah ead o f thei r  re match  in 19 63 

Thepubli cand thepress did not take to h im. Li stonwas  cast asano uts ider, loa thed  for his o utl awpastand his c rimi n al  co n necti ons. 
This dis l ik e r e a ch ed its peak w h enhe de str o yed Pa tter son - who was wid e ly liked - intwom i nut esa nd s ix  seconds to wi n t he h eavyweig ht  crown in 1 962. Whe nh e ret urnedhome t o Phila d e lp h ia, he  hop eda crowd w oul db e there  t ow elcome  him ."He re hearse d  his s peech with the j ourna l i sts o n  th e fli gh t," Rob Stee n says. "H e gets to t he top  ofthe
 because_they use_their muscle. He's the_last great_investment_the mob_make_in boxing."

Sonny Liston_pictured visiting Missouri_State Penitentiary - where_he once served_time_- ahead of his first fight with Muhammad Ali in 1964

Mobsters were attracted to_Liston_because of_his_formidable_talent. After all, for a_fighter to be a worthwhile_investment he_needs to able to win. With an eventual_record_of 50 wins_and 4 losses with 39 knockouts, Liston's power was_frightening. His left jab was one_of the most_concussive_ever_seen in boxing and_his stare was one of the_most menacing, burning through opponents in_the minutes before the opening bell.

"Of all_the men I fought in boxing,_Sonny Liston was the scariest,"_Muhammad Ali_would later say.

"Liston does not_merely defeat his_opponents," Jonathan_Aig wrote of_the fighter. "He breaks them, shames_them, haunts them,_leaves them flinching from his punches_in_their dreams."

Liston's frightening_reputation_was_something he_exploited as he_went_on an_impressive_run of wins in the late_1950s_and early 1960s. But it was also_stoked by a racist_press_keen to portray him_as the kind of brutish_black man 'White America' so badly_feared.

"He's arrogant,_surly, mean,_rude and altogether frightening," the famed New York Times columnist Arthur_Daley wrote. "He's the last man_anyone would want to_meet in_a_dark alley." Reporters_often_used thinly-veiled_racist terms - 'gorilla' and 'beast' -_in their_descriptions of him. When he was_set to face Floyd_Patterson_for the heavyweight title, President John_F Kennedy went so far as_to urge Patterson to find_an_opponent_with "better character".

Sonny Liston stares_down his opponent - Floyd Patterson_- ahead of_their rematch in 1963

The public and the_press_did not take to him. Liston_was_cast as an outsider, loathed for_his_outlaw_past and his criminal connections.

This_dislike reached its peak when he_destroyed Patterson - who was widely liked - in_two minutes and_six seconds to win the_heavyweight_crown_in 1962. When he returned home to Philadelphia, he hoped_a crowd_would be there_to welcome him. "He rehearsed his speech with the journalists_on the flight," Rob Steen says. "He_gets to the top of the