Sonny Liston ~ "I Negotiated Both Contracts For My Bouts With Cassius Clay"

[Bill Paxtom]

Just revealed,

Charles 'Sonny' Liston negotiated all '3' Fight Contracts for his bouts
with Cassius Clay.

The '1st' contract for the February 24, 1964 bout included an 'iron clad'
Rematch Clause, and the rights to '3' of Cassius Clay's next bouts.

Included, was a $500,000 buy out fee for each bout.

The '2nd' contract gave Charles 'Sonny' Liston the right to promote
the bout, under the I-C-P moniker, which was to take place on
November 17, 1964 at the Boston Garden.

The 2nd-bout was postponed, as Cassius 'secretly' suffered a Hernia.

Sonny then received his $500,000 'insurance payment/buy out fee'.

Sonny Liston used that money for a payment of $250,000 which covered his
'owed' Federal Income Tax bill, and another $150,000 to cover the cost of a
home in Las Vegas and another $100,000 to cover some personal debts.

To keep things quiet, Sonny did not take possession of the home until
6-Months after the 'fixed' 2nd-Bout.

The 3rd Fight Contract {for the 2nd bout on May 25, 1965} gave Sonny Boy
the rights to '2' of Cassius' future bouts.

Charles 'Sonny' Liston >

"I made 3-times more money losing, than winning. And, I owned Cassius
Clay for '3' bouts."

"Life Was Grand."