Where does Ali rank P4P?

[Bill Paxtom]

Ezzard Charles

1955 ....... Age; 35

Yes, Tom Tannas had taken over managing this St. Louis Bruiser called Charles 'Sonny' Liston.

They shipped him to Pittsburg, because he was in all sorts of trouble in St. Louis. He was supposed
to be this awesome punching machine.

He frightened everyone just by his presence. Nobody wanted to get into the Ring with him. He was
6' 1" and weighed about 205 lbs. He was built like a 'Brick Shit House'. Just massive.

So they asked me to get in the Ring with him, to test him. We were supposed to go 6-Rounds, and
at a good pace.

I was really worn down at that time, but I could still handle myself defensively.

Well, we get into the Ring and start sparring. For the first 2-Rounds, he came charging at me like a
big Freight Train. Just clubbing away with power punches.

But he was slow as 'Shit'. I could see his punches coming at me from a Mile-a-Way. I would just
duck and side-step him, and then counter back with a short left-hook to his 'chops'.

By the 3rd Round, he was frustrated as 'All Hell'. He couldn't hit me at all.

He was now throwing slow clubbing punches. They were heavy, but they had no snap. By the 4th
Round he was 'gassed'. Then I just pot-shot him with lead right-hands to his nose. Not hard
punches, but accurate punches square on his beak.

His nose started to bleed in the 5th Round,.

The he just up and quit half-way thru the Round. The guy just turned around, and walked back to
his corner.

I said out loud ...... "Is that it."

He didn't say a word. He just went to the corner, and told Tom Tannas to 'cut-the-gloves' off.

I was shocked at his quitting like that.