Sonny Liston
Career, Record, Stats
Sonny Liston (The Big Bear) was an American professional boxer. He was a heavyweight world champion with 3 world-title wins. In a career spanning 16 years, 9 months, and 27 days, Liston amassed a record of 50-4, which includes 39 wins via KO, 2 of which were in world-title fights. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 1991.
Sonny Liston's Boxing Career
Sonny Liston was born in Sand Slough, Arkansas, U.S. on May 8, 1932. He made his professional debut at the age of 21 years on September 2, 1953 against Don Smith. Liston defeated Smith via 1st round TKO, making a successful beginning of his pro career.
Liston became a world champion fight at the age of 30 after 34 professional fights. He challenged Floyd Patterson for the WBA and The Ring heavyweight titles and stopped the champion in the 1st of the 15-round fight, winning his first world titles.
He then went on to successfully win the WBC heavyweight world title as well — and undisputed at heavyweight.
Liston's last fight was a 9th-round RTD victory over Chuck Wepner at age 38, on June 29, 1970.
Some of Sonny Liston's best fights were against Floyd Patterson (HOFer), Cleveland Williams, Zora Folley, and Chuck Wepner. For a complete list of Liston's best fights and their details, refer to "Best fights of Sonny Liston".
Liston has 4 losses on his record. For details about these losses refer to "Sonny Liston Losses".
Sonny Liston's Boxing Record
| # | Date | Age | Opponent | Res | Via |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
54 | Jun 29, 1970 | 38 | 
Chuck Wepner 31 21-5-2 | win | RTD 9 |
53 | Dec 06, 1969 | 37 | 
Leotis Martin 30 30-5 | loss | KO 9 |
52 | Sep 23, 1969 | 37 |  Sonny Moore | win | KO 3 |
51 | May 19, 1969 | 37 | George Johnson | win | TKO 7 |
50 | Mar 28, 1969 | 36 | Billy Joiner | win | UD 10 |
49 | Dec 10, 1968 | 36 | Amos Lincoln | win | KO 2 |
48 | Nov 12, 1968 | 36 | Roger Rischer | win | KO 3 |
47 | Nov 03, 1968 | 36 | Willis Earls | win | KO 2 |
46 | Oct 14, 1968 | 36 | Sonny Moore | win | TKO 3 |
45 | Jul 06, 1968 | 36 | Henry Clark | win | TKO 7 |
44 | May 23, 1968 | 36 | Billy Joiner | win | RTD 7 |
43 | Mar 16, 1968 | 35 | Bill McMurray | win | TKO 4 |
42 | Apr 28, 1967 | 34 | Elmer Rush | win | TKO 6 |
41 | Mar 30, 1967 | 34 | Dave Bailey | win | KO 1 |
40 | Aug 19, 1966 | 34 | Amos Johnson | win | KO 3 |
39 | Jul 01, 1966 | 34 | Gerhard Zech | win | KO 7 |
38 | May 25, 1965 | 33 | 
Muhammad Ali 23 20-0 | loss | KO 1 |
37 | Feb 25, 1964 | 31 |
Cassius Clay 22 19-0 | loss | RTD 6 |
36 | Jul 22, 1963 | 31 | 
Floyd Patterson 28 38-3 | win | KO 1 |
35 | Sep 25, 1962 | 30 |
Floyd Patterson 27 38-2 | win | KO 1 |
34 | Dec 04, 1961 | 29 | Albert Westphal | win | KO 1 |
33 | Mar 08, 1961 | 28 | Howard King | win | TKO 3 |
32 | Sep 07, 1960 | 28 | Eddie Machen | win | UD 12 |
31 | Jul 18, 1960 | 28 | 
Zora Folley 29 51-3-2 | win | KO 3 |
30 | Apr 25, 1960 | 27 | Roy Harris | win | TKO 1 |
29 | Mar 21, 1960 | 27 | 
Cleveland Williams 26 45-3 | win | TKO 2 |
28 | Feb 23, 1960 | 27 | Howard King | win | RTD 7 |
27 | Dec 09, 1959 | 27 | Willi Besmanoff | win | RTD 6 |
26 | Aug 05, 1959 | 27 | Niño Valdés | win | KO 3 |
25 | Apr 15, 1959 | 26 |
Cleveland Williams 25 43-2 | win | TKO 3 |
24 | Feb 18, 1959 | 26 | Mike DeJohn | win | TKO 6 |
23 | Nov 18, 1958 | 26 | Ernie Cab | win | RTD 7 |
22 | Oct 24, 1958 | 26 | Bert Whitehurst | win | UD 10 |
21 | Oct 07, 1958 | 26 | Frankie Daniels | win | KO 1 |
20 | Aug 06, 1958 | 26 | Wayne Bethea | win | TKO 1 |
19 | May 14, 1958 | 26 | Julio Mederos | win | RTD 2 |
18 | Apr 03, 1958 | 25 | Bert Whitehurst | win | PTS 10 |
17 | Mar 11, 1958 | 25 | Ben Wise | win | TKO 4 |
16 | Jan 29, 1958 | 25 | Billy Hunter | win | TKO 2 |
15 | Mar 06, 1956 | 23 | Marty Marshall | win | UD 10 |
14 | Dec 13, 1955 | 23 | Larry Watson | win | TKO 4 |
13 | Sep 13, 1955 | 23 | Johnny Gray | win | TKO 6 |
12 | May 25, 1955 | 23 | Calvin Butler | win | TKO 2 |
11 | May 05, 1955 | 22 | Emil Brtko | win | TKO 5 |
10 | Apr 21, 1955 | 22 | Marty Marshall | win | TKO 6 |
9 | Mar 01, 1955 | 22 | Neal Welch | win | PTS 8 |
8 | Sep 07, 1954 | 22 | Marty Marshall | loss | SD 8 |
7 | Aug 10, 1954 | 22 | Johnny Summerlin | win | SD 8 |
6 | Jun 29, 1954 | 22 | Johnny Summerlin | win | UD 8 |
5 | Mar 31, 1954 | 21 | Stanley Howlett | win | PTS 6 |
4 | Jan 25, 1954 | 21 | Martin Lee | win | TKO 6 |
3 | Nov 21, 1953 | 21 | Bennie Thomas | win | SD 6 |
2 | Sep 17, 1953 | 21 | Ponce de Leon | win | PTS 4 |
1 | Sep 02, 1953 | 21 | Don Smith | win | TKO 1 |