Sonny Liston Biography

Birth of Sonny Liston

Liston makes his professional debut knocking out Don Smith in the first round in St. Louis

Sonny Liston becomes world heavyweight champion by knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round

Sonny Liston knocks out Floyd Patterson in the first round for a 2nd time in 1 year

Prior to Alis fight with & defeat of Sonny Liston for his 1st World title he declares that he would "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee". Liston loses his title when he quit in his corner before the start of the seventh round, claiming he had hurt his shoulder, some believe the fight was fixed, and doubted that Listons shoulder injury was real

Cassius Clay knocks out challenger Sonny Liston in one minute and 56 seconds of the first round

Wins his final fight by technical knockout against Chuck Wepner

Dies in Las Vegas, with the death commonly dated to late December 1970

Liston was at the end of his fighting career when he is found dead by his wife in their Las Vegas home, the time of death was placed as six to eight days prior to that