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 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".
# | Date | Age | Opponent | Res | Via |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
54 | Jun 29, 1970 | 38 | ![]() | win | RTD 9 |
53 | Dec 06, 1969 | 37 | ![]() | loss | KO 9 |
52 | Sep 23, 1969 | 37 | ![]() | win | KO 3 |
51 | May 19, 1969 | 37 | ![]() | win | TKO 7 |
50 | Mar 28, 1969 | 36 | ![]() | win | UD 10 |
49 | Dec 10, 1968 | 36 | ![]() | win | KO 2 |
48 | Nov 12, 1968 | 36 | ![]() | win | KO 3 |
47 | Nov 03, 1968 | 36 | ![]() | win | KO 2 |
46 | Oct 14, 1968 | 36 | ![]() | win | TKO 3 |
45 | Jul 06, 1968 | 36 | ![]() | win | TKO 7 |
44 | May 23, 1968 | 36 | ![]() | win | RTD 7 |
43 | Mar 16, 1968 | 35 | ![]() | win | TKO 4 |
42 | Apr 28, 1967 | 34 | ![]() | win | TKO 6 |
41 | Mar 30, 1967 | 34 | ![]() | win | KO 1 |
40 | Aug 19, 1966 | 34 | ![]() | win | KO 3 |
39 | Jul 01, 1966 | 34 | ![]() | win | KO 7 |
38 | May 25, 1965 | 33 | ![]() | loss | KO 1 |
37 | Feb 25, 1964 | 31 | ![]() | loss | RTD 6 |
36 | Jul 22, 1963 | 31 | ![]() | win | KO 1 |
35 | Sep 25, 1962 | 30 | ![]() | win | KO 1 |
34 | Dec 04, 1961 | 29 | ![]() | win | KO 1 |
33 | Mar 08, 1961 | 28 | ![]() | win | TKO 3 |
32 | Sep 07, 1960 | 28 | ![]() | win | UD 12 |
31 | Jul 18, 1960 | 28 | ![]() | win | KO 3 |
30 | Apr 25, 1960 | 27 | ![]() | win | TKO 1 |
29 | Mar 21, 1960 | 27 | ![]() | win | TKO 2 |
28 | Feb 23, 1960 | 27 | ![]() | win | RTD 7 |
27 | Dec 09, 1959 | 27 | ![]() | win | RTD 6 |
26 | Aug 05, 1959 | 27 | ![]() | win | KO 3 |
25 | Apr 15, 1959 | 26 | ![]() | win | TKO 3 |
24 | Feb 18, 1959 | 26 | ![]() | win | TKO 6 |
23 | Nov 18, 1958 | 26 | ![]() | win | RTD 7 |
22 | Oct 24, 1958 | 26 | ![]() | win | UD 10 |
21 | Oct 07, 1958 | 26 | ![]() | win | KO 1 |
20 | Aug 06, 1958 | 26 | ![]() | win | TKO 1 |
19 | May 14, 1958 | 26 | ![]() | win | RTD 2 |
18 | Apr 03, 1958 | 25 | ![]() | win | PTS 10 |
17 | Mar 11, 1958 | 25 | ![]() | win | TKO 4 |
16 | Jan 29, 1958 | 25 | ![]() | win | TKO 2 |
15 | Mar 06, 1956 | 23 | ![]() | win | UD 10 |
14 | Dec 13, 1955 | 23 | ![]() | win | TKO 4 |
13 | Sep 13, 1955 | 23 | ![]() | win | TKO 6 |
12 | May 25, 1955 | 23 | ![]() | win | TKO 2 |
11 | May 05, 1955 | 22 | ![]() | win | TKO 5 |
10 | Apr 21, 1955 | 22 | ![]() | win | TKO 6 |
9 | Mar 01, 1955 | 22 | ![]() | win | PTS 8 |
8 | Sep 07, 1954 | 22 | ![]() | loss | SD 8 |
7 | Aug 10, 1954 | 22 | ![]() | win | SD 8 |
6 | Jun 29, 1954 | 22 | ![]() | win | UD 8 |
5 | Mar 31, 1954 | 21 | ![]() | win | PTS 6 |
4 | Jan 25, 1954 | 21 | ![]() | win | TKO 6 |
3 | Nov 21, 1953 | 21 | ![]() | win | SD 6 |
2 | Sep 17, 1953 | 21 | ![]() | win | PTS 4 |
1 | Sep 02, 1953 | 21 | ![]() | win | TKO 1 |