FBI suspected that Ali's KO of Liston was fixed

**ykdadamaja** · 02-26-2014 05:02 PM

Liston may have just decided to stay down because it would have been a repeat performance of the first fight....

Remember, the first fight he was gassed and couldn't continue. And plus, Ali was blind for most of the fight.

Liston just decided that he couldn't go on... Ali could take a punch, unlike another gold medalist in Floyd Patterson.

**p4pking** · 02-26-2014 06:12 PM

Gun to my head I'd say it was. Like Smashup said, the mob had total control of Liston and could have had him lose any way they wanted. The punch may have been much better than it appears, but either way I think Liston just decided he wasn't getting up. Whether the fight was fixed for that round, or what affect the punch actually had, who knows. Nobody even knew how old Sonny was at that point, and he had quit in the first fight so no outcome can really be ruled out.

I'm more interested as to whether Listons death was a cover up. He was found dead in his home of a "heroin overdose", with no apparent history of using the drug, no paraphernalia present and apparently the man had a serious fear of needles.

**cambay411** · 02-26-2014 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by p4pking

Gun to my head I'd say it was. Like Smashup said, the mob had total control of Liston and could have had him lose any way they wanted. The punch may have been much better than it appears, but either way I think Liston just decided he wasn't getting up. Whether the fight was fixed for that round, or what affect the punch actually had, who knows. Nobody even knew how old Sonny was at that point, and he had quit in the first fight so no outcome can really be ruled out.

I'm more interested as to whether Listons death was a cover up. He was found dead in his home of a "heroin overdose", with no apparent history of using the drug, no paraphernalia present and apparently the man had a serious fear of needles.

You can snort Heroin lol and smoke it I believe. But you can definitely snort it.

**IamInuit** · 02-27-2014 01:31 AM

Originally Posted by p4pking

I'm more interested as to whether Listons death was a cover up. He was found dead in his home of a "heroin overdose", with no apparent history of using the drug, no paraphernalia present and apparently the man had a serious fear of needles.

Liston's cause of death was officially listed as natural causes believe it or not. There was no needle found but heroin was found in his system. He also had track marks even though his wife swore he had a needle paranoia. It was actually the fact that no needle was found that started the forced hotshotted rumors. He'd been dead for at least a week when he was found.

Its widely accepted that Joe Louis was a heroin user but hated the idea of having to go out and get it so Sonny would go get it for him. After the Ali fight Liston fled to Sweden for several fights because of the backlash. His last fight was against Wepner who he destroyed prior to Chuck getting his shot at Ali. Sonny made a measly 13 grand. Its thought that he may have been dealing a little on the side and dipping into some of the profits provided by Louis and others in their circle.

Just a few tidbits brother.