Sonny Liston 1958-1959



In 1953 he turned pro. Curiously he hardly fought for 21 months. In early '58 Liston's quick rise among heavyweights began. Mobsters Blinky Palermo and Frankie Carbo entered his life . Were they his true managers and how much influence did they have on him? My book looks at these perplexing issues. Sonny Liston's background is murky and shady. An ex-con he left prison and fought as an amateur.In 1953 he turned pro. Curiously he hardly fought for 21 months. In early '58 Liston's quick rise among heavyweights began. Mobsters Blinky Palermo and Frankie Carbo entered his life . Were they his true managers and how much influence did they have on him? My book looks at these perplexing issues. More

Sonny Liston began to rise rapidly among the ranks of professional boxers beginning in the early months of 1958. This was a fighter who had turned professional in 1953 following a stint as a Gold Gloves boxer in St. Louis. During a 21 month period from 1956-1958 he hardly fought at all however. Why was this? And also why did Liston ascend the ladder of heavyweights so quickly? It is a matter upon which there has been much speculation. My e-book examines old newspaper opinion from the last two years of the 1950s. I have researched the text from vintage clippings that were taken from the Philadelphia Inquirer and other news sources. Readers can form their own conclusions, especially about Sonny Liston's management. Philly numbers runner Blinky Palermo attended a February 1958 fight between Liston and a Cuban named Julio Maderos. After this mismatch, that Liston won easily, Sonny's management shifted from St. Louis to Philadelphia. Was Liston controlled by the Mafia or were mobsters merely helping him with his climb and paying part of his bills?