Philip Brown

Justice For Sonny Liston: A fresh look at Sonny. The fighter and the man Philip Brown

Where to place Sonny Liston in the history of boxing? An updated version of his story reflects on a life and career that resonates with today. A prominent figure in the promotion of Liston's title fights with Floyd Patterson was the notorious lawyer Roy Cohn, who served for years as an adviser to a certain young businessman, Donald J. Trump. As world champion Sonny met with Vice President Lyndon Johnson in the White House yet he was demonized as a Mob fighter at a time when President Kennedy was allegedly sharing a mistress with a Mafia Don. Sonny had to rise from childhood slavery but his talents, power and a left jab that "went right through you" made him world champion. Racially harassed by police throughout his career, Sonny refused to allow theatres with segregated seating show his first fight with Ali. He shared a purse with fighters down the card, won 50 fights with 39 KOs and died mysteriously. Joe Louis rated him, Ali feared him. Was he hero, villain, or both?