The son of tenant farmer Tobey Liston and his second wife, Helen, Liston was the 24th of his father's 25 children. (There is some speculation about his year of birth, but most sources state sometime from 1929 to 1932.) Wrong username or password. Served a prison sentence at Missouri State Penitentiary for robbing a gas station at age 18. Apart from his demeanor, Liston was a charming man with a captivating smile. aged 38years old. WebListon retired on his stool citing an injured shoulder; After this fight Cassius Clay changed his name to Cassius X and then to Muhammad Ali; 1964 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year. Instead, he and some friends took to robbing people on the street and robbing gas stations with a loaded pistol. In 1950, he was convicted of two counts of larceny and two counts of first-degree robbery and spent more than two years in the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. Liston, who was viewed as nearly invincible before the fight, was unable to answer the bell for the seventh round, and Clay (soon to take the nameMuhammad Ali) was named champion on February 25, 1964. Soon caught (his crimes were inept, spur-of-the-moment, strong arm jobs) and charged with first-degree robbery and larceny, he was sentenced in 1950 to five years in the Missouri State Penitentiary. Sonny was probably born in 1929, but no one knows for sure. Paroled in 1952, Liston quickly captured the local Golden Gloves championship. . Liston's formative years were spent growing up as a physically and mentally abused child living in a forsaken patch of land known as Sand Slough, Ark. Lets check, How Rich is Sonny Liston in 2019-2020? According to Wikipedia, Forbes, IMDb & Various Online resources, famous Boxer Sonny Listons net worth is $82 Million before He died. He earned the money being a professional Boxer. He is from AR. After a rough upbringing, with little formal education, Liston found himself in trouble with the law. His death certificate states his death as December 30, 1970, based on milk deliveries at his doorstep. In 1966, following his loss to Clay, Liston launched a comeback. Astrological Sign: Taurus, Death Year: 1970, Death date: December 30, 1970, Death State: Nevada, Death City: Las Vegas, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Sonny Liston Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/sonny-liston, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: April 23, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. The official cause of death was lung congestion and heart failure, although Liston had fresh needle marks on his arm and police discovered heroin and a syringe in the house. They called it Sand Slough. Ironically, by the time Liston finally became champ in September of that year with his 1-round KO of Patterson, the mob was beginning to lose its iron grip on the sport and on Liston himself. Education: Sonny Liston Net Worth: Sonny Liston net worth or net income is estimated to be between $1 Million $5 Million dollars. Creating an account gives you access to all these features. Tobe was mean to his children, and especially to Sonny. He only served six. In 1950, Liston was arrested at his apartment at 1006 O'Fallon Street for robbing the Unique Cafe on 1502 Market Street in St. Louis for 37 dollars. Made a comeback in 1968-1969 and won 14 straight before losing to Leotis Martin. Liston was the youngest heavyweight boxing champion to die (age 38). Get in on the latest boxing conversations in our Forum and comment on articles. First heavyweight title challenger to earn a purse of $1,000,000. Please try again. QUICK FACTS. From the start, it was apparent that he had a future in the ring. He won 11 consecutive fights by knockout in 1968 and added three more wins in 1969 before losing a brutal bout to Leotis Martin. Liston was raised on heavy farm work, many beatings and with virtually no schooling. Reverend Stevens was both the prisons chaplain and sports director. WebTogether with his 24 siblings and half siblings, Sonny grew up in the local cotton fields. He started boxing in prison and was likely (LogOut/ Liston was beholdin' to the mob and everybody knew it. Before his sentencing, Liston had been arrested more than twenty times. That doesn't make sense. Paroled in 1952, he had a brief amateur career, winning several Golden Gloves championships and defeating 1952 Olympic heavyweight champion Ed Sanders. Aligning himself with the Devil. Ali and Liston: The Boy Who Would Be King and the Ugly Bear. He was adopted when the couple was together. Sonny Liston estimated Net Worth, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. With the proceeds he traveled to St. Louis and reunited with his mother and siblings. He was arrested twice in a period of months in Philadelphia in the summer of 1961. Former World Heavyweight Champion who learned to fight while in jail. He was caught and charged with first-degree robbery and larceny, and was sentenced in 1950 to 5 years in the Missouri State Penitentiary. Official Sites. Some suspect foul play; others believe Liston died of a self-inflicted drug overdose. There's no question that the hard-scrabble existence of youth prepared Liston for the success he would later enjoy as a prizefighter. His father was an abusive alcoholic, and Liston eventually left the house during his teens. He overcame tremendous odds to win the title and earn a measure of fame, but even so he was never embraced by the public. He won in the first round against Don Smith. There, he became a thug, committing various muggings and robbery. The local police classified him as the yellow shirt bandit.. In 1956, he found himself on the wrong side of the law again. However, his career was marred by criminal activity and, later, accusations of mob connections and throwing fights. Along with his many siblings, Liston grew up Ward, who resides today in Forrest City, Ark. The son of tenant farmer Tobey Liston and his second wife, Helen, Liston was the 24th of his fathers 25 children. Two Catholic priests who served as chaplains, Father Edward Schlattmann and Father Alois Stevens, helped to direct Liston toward the controlled violence of the ring. On this date in 1964, a heavily favored Liston lost his title to upstart Cassius Clay, soon to be Muhammad Ali. In a short amount of time, he rose to prominence as a contender in the heavyweight division. Was the favorite fighter of the famous Fab Four, the Beatles, and he appears on their "Sgt. Why he died remains one of sport's most enduring mysteries. Tosches here betrays an ignorance of boxing that no doubt hurts his credibility with those know know the sport. Liston continued fighting following the loss of his title, mainly because it was the only legal way he knew how to make a buck. Robert B. Cochran Before Fame He sold pecans from his brother-in-law's tree in order to reunite with his mother and his siblings. For those interested in knowing more about the life and times of one of the most enigmatic and troubled heavyweight champs, the book "The Devil and Sonny Liston," by Nick Tosches (Copyright 2000, published by Little, Brown and Company), is a wealth of knowledge. Tired of being exploited as a manual laborer, Sonny Liston turned to crime. Did he need Liston's cooperation to beat the rapidly aging champion that night in February of 1964? He continued fighting until June 29, 1970, when he knocked out Chuck Wepner, but he never got another title shot. in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, This form allows you to report an error or to submit additional information about this family tree: Sonny LISTON (1932), Copyright Wikipdia authors - This article is under licence CC BY-SA 3.0. That hurt him deeply, though he instinctively hid the scars behind a scowl. He sold pecans from his brother-in-laws tree in order to reunite with his mother and his siblings. The first time you log in to our catalog you will need to create an account. Liston was an excellent boxer. Liston moved to Las Vegas in 1966 and was found dead there on Jan. 5, 1971, when his wife returned to their home from a Christmas visit with her mother. Honor or memorial gifts are an everlasting way to pay tribute to someone who has touched your life. 4 among heavyweights, on Dec. 4, 1961. He earned the money being a professional Boxer. (Which isn't to say that Liston took advantage of Father Murphy, or that he had a disregard for what Father Murphy had to say. boxer had the look of a champion. with Cornelia Winfrey, born in April 1873 - Montgomery Co., MS, deceased. Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, 1991. Donations made to the CALS Foundation are tax-deductible for United States federal income tax purposes. He had his first competitive match in prison. If you can, provide 1-2 sources of information backing up this correction. Clay is certainly to be counted among the greatest heavyweights of all time. Full body measurements, dress & shoe size will be updated soon. Sonny never really had a Prime. Sonny never really had a Prime. Very little is known about his birth and his The dark side is evident. He was caught and charged with first-degree robbery and larceny, and was sentenced in 1950 to 5 years in the Missouri State Penitentiary. The most noticeable being his win over Ed Sanders. When Liston became the top challenger to champion Floyd Patterson by 1960, it was a Liston was the second last in a family of twenty-five siblings. Liston, who was viewed as nearly invincible before the fight, was unable to answer the bell for the seventh round, and Clay (soon to take the name .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Muhammad Ali) was named champion on February 25, 1964. Womanizing. Least of all, Sonny himself. Liston lost his rematch to Ali in May 1965. He has ranked on the list of those famous people who were born on May 8, 1932. Touring the local hospital in a grey tweed overcoat with a black velvet collar, the intimidating, burly, 6-foot-tall, 215 lb. As a young man in 1949, Liston left Arkansas for good and followed his mother's footsteps to St. Louis. Clay later changed his name to Muhammad Ali. Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Sonny Liston, Birth Year: 1932, Birth date: May 8, 1932, Birth State: Arkansas, Birth City: St Francis County, Birth Country: United States. 1932-1970 Sonny Liston was the heavyweight boxing champion from 1962 to 1964. Sonny Liston was born on May 8, probably 1932, to Tobe and Helen (Baskin) Liston, African-American sharecroppers in rural St. Francis County. Check back often as we will continue to update this page with new relationship details. Yet, Tosches postulates that Liston threw his first fight with Cassius Clay in Miami in February of 1964 at the behest of the mob. Geraldine married Sonny Liston in 1950 Later, films of the fight showed the bout ended at the 1:25 mark. He won 11 consecutive fights by knockout in 1968 and added three more wins in 1969 before losing a brutal bout to Leotis Martin. His parents were peasant farmers who grew cotton in the south. Former World Heavyweight Champion who learned to fight while in jail. Auspiciously, the massive man is known as The Bear then won his first nine fights before dropping an eight-round decision to Marty Marshall. His final record as a professional was fifty wins, thirty-nine by knockout, and four losses. He was one of many children one account lists 22 siblings and half-siblings. Sonny Liston, hard-luck son of Arkansas sharecroppers, was champion of the world. Armed robbery. Steen, Rob. WebAnswer (1 of 2): At anytime in their careers Clay / Ali would have been too fast and elusive for Sonny. He had been dead for some time, an ending every bit as murky as the Clay/Ali fights. Pressure resulting from appearing before the committee, and from the diatribes of Patterson's manager Cus D'Amato, caused Liston to buy out the contract of his manager, Pep Barone, who was considered to be an undesirable, and name old-time Philadelphia political hack George Katz as his manager. Folley knocked down twice in 2nd round; 9 count and saved by the bell at 9 count. Much of what Tosches gleans about Liston's youth stem from interviews with people who lived on the Morledge Plantation in the 1930s and from Sonny's older half-brother E.B. in rural St. Francis County. Eddie Dooley, chairman of the New York Boxing Commission in the 1960s, said that as long as he was chairman of the commission Sonny Liston would never be granted a license to box in New York State. Some Thoughts on Boxing, Jake Paul, and Asking Why We Fight WebHe had seven siblings. . Sonny Liston Wife According to our records, Sonny Liston married to Geraldine Seithel. Let's check, How Rich is Mario, Ben Villaflor estimated Net Worth, Biography, Age, Height, Dating, Relationship Records, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. In 1996 when Mike Tyson KO'd Bruce Seldon in one round for the WBA Heavyweight Championship, Tyson had won the WBC Heavyweight Championship six months earlier and was seeking to unify the title. WebAnswer (1 of 2): At anytime in their careers Clay / Ali would have been too fast and elusive for Sonny. After his release, Liston relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where his career quickly flourished again. L'arbre Charles Sonny Liston was a noted boxer who briefly reigned as Heavyweight Champion after a first-round knockout against Floyd Patterson. Paroled in 1952, he had a brief amateur career, winning several Golden Gloves championships and defeating 1952 Olympic heavyweight champion Ed Sanders. His sporting agility was electrifying to watch. Tosches, who hails from Newark, writes in an engaging style that is as beautifully stylish as a Liston left jab and as savagely straightforward. In September of 1953, he knocked out Don "Toro" Smith in two rounds in St. Louis, setting in motion a career which would span 17 years and bring Sonny to the pinnacle of success in his sport. As the top fighter in the world, Liston became an easy target for sports columnists who remarked frequently on not only his menacing demeanor and vicious punching power but also his criminal background. His epitaph reads: "A Man.". Liston and Geraldine had no children, but Liston loved kids and enjoyed being in their company. He died in Vegas as mysteriously as he had lived, a man bent under a great shadow, afflicted by a legion of personal demons that no one could exorcise. Additional support provided by the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation Inc. Charles Sonny Liston was a noted boxer who briefly reigned as Heavyweight Champion after a first-round knockout against Floyd Patterson. His father physically molested him. Scroll below and check our most recent updates about Sonny Liston Net Worth, Salary, Biography, Age, When he won the heavyweight title in 1962 at age 30, he had a daughter age 25. It has been rumored that the crime boss John Vitale arranged for his early release. Tosches insists that films of Liston losing to Clay reveal that Liston was missing punches intentionally. Primary Income source Boxer (profession). He knocked out the reigning world champion in the first round. His mother believed he was born in January, 1928, but Liston would later claim his birth date to be May 8, 1932. New York: Skyhorse, 2011. On this date in 1964, a heavily favored Liston lost his title to upstart Cassius Clay, soon to be Muhammad Ali. Carbo was in prison and Palmermo would soon follow. He knocked out Floyd Patterson in 1962 to become world heavyweight champion. At 6 feet 1 inch and 217 pounds, Liston had devastating punching power, an iron chin, and lightning reflexes, along with a powerful jab. Nous sommes tous Deceased persons are not concerned by this provision. He continued fighting until June 29, 1970, when he knocked out Chuck Wepner, but he never got another title shot. Lets check, How Rich is Sonny Liston in 2020-2022? Foes like the murderous-punching Cleveland Williams, Mike DeJohn and Nino Valdez succumbed to Liston's heavy fists. It was just a matter of semantics, though. Known for his powerful punch, the majority of his victories were knockouts. When a tribute gift is given the honoree will receive a letter acknowledging your generosity and a bookplate will be placed in a book. Nevertheless, he had a soft spot for children. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ). His heavyweight title-winning victory on September 25, 1962, was indicative of his powerful style: After a mere two minutes, he knocked out Floyd Patterson, which marked the first time in history that a reigning heavyweight champion was counted out in the first round. First World Heavyweight Boxing Champion banned from fighting in New York State by the New York Boxing Commission. Sonny Liston had a controversial boxing career, winning 54 of 58 bouts from 1953 to 1970. He was one of many Liston didn't find gainful employment in St. Louis. His relationship status is single. Helen Liston He acted in a number of films, the most famous being "Harlow" with Carroll Baker. General Melvin Krulewitch, chairman of the New York Boxing Commission in the 1950s, refused to issue Liston a license to fight in New York because he was guilty of associating with "questionable" characters. Sonny Listons height Unknown & weight Not Available right. Tosches goes to great lengths in his book to convey the ubiquitous presence of the mob in those days and the power that men like Frank "Gray Man" Carbo and Frank "Blinky" Palermo wielded in boxing. Boxer Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was born in St. Francis County, Arkansas on May 8, 1932. Charles Sonny Liston was a noted boxer who briefly reigned as Heavyweight Champion after a first-round knockout against Floyd Patterson. Even as champion, Liston was never able to escape his prison beginnings or the allegations of mob connections. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album cover. Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing by Reverend Father Alois Stevens. When Sonny KO'd Floyd Patterson in 1962 for The World Heavyweight Championship,he became the only challenger to win that title by a first round KO. Additional support provided by the Arkansas General Assembly. If there is a flaw in Tosches' book, it's that the author seems bent on carrying the theme of Liston and the mob beyond its logical parameters. Mee, Bob. He sold pecans from his brother-in-laws tree in order to reunite with his mother and his siblings. At the age of thirteen, he ran away to St. Louis, Missouri, following his mother, who had left earlier. L'arbre Following his release from the workhouse, Liston quickly returned to the ring against Hunter and got his career back on track. Best Known For: Sonny Liston was introduced to boxing while serving time in a Missouri State Penitentiary. Along with his many siblings, Liston grew up working in the local cotton fields. Sonny Liston had a controversial boxing career, winning 54 of 58 bouts from 1953 to 1970. Liston started boxing at the age of 14 because there were no sports available in Florida at the time. All Rights Reserved. WebThe son of tenant farmer Tobey Liston and his second wife, Helen, Liston was the 24th of his father's 25 children. World heavyweight boxing champion, 1962-1964. WebAsuncin "Sunny" Cummings Hostin (/ h s t n /; born October 20, 1968) is an American lawyer, journalist, and television host.Hostin is co-host on ABC's morning talk show The He put himself under the care of still another Catholic priest, Father Edward P. Murphy, a kindly Jesuit who was the pastor of a predominantly black church in Denver. His epitaph reads: A Man.. Liston destroyed the champion in one round and destroyed him again in the rematch. Even as a grown up, the physical scars were still visible. James Ellroy portrayed Sonny Liston as a fight loser, a heroin addict, a black racist, and a Mafia jawbreaker in his novel "The Cold Six Thousand.". Liston is another. Maybe Liston was concerned about the death threats that had been made against Ali in the wake of the assassination of Malcolm X and Liston just wanted to get out of the ring that night as quickly as possible. What advantage would there be to having the brash young boxer from Louisville installed as heavyweight champ in place of Liston? Auspiciously, the massive man is known as "The Bear" then won his first nine fights before dropping an eight-round decision to Marty Marshall. According to Wikipedia, Forbes, IMDb & Various Online resources, famous Boxer Sonny Listons net worth is $82 Million before He died. Big Hela had moved there in 1946. Major support provided through a partnership with the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism. Hardly. In the films the good guy always wins, but this is one bad guy who ain't gonna lose. in Sand Slough, Arkansas, USA , United States, Died on December 30, 1970 As Liston made himself a serious challenger to Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight title, Liston made his alliance with the Devil, as Tosches refers to the mob. He climbed back into the ring on June 29, 1970, registering a 10th-round technical knockout against "Bayonne Bleeder" Chuck Wepner. Sonny Liston is a 4 year old colt and has raced in 2022. Knocked out #2-rated heavyweight contender Roy Harris (27-1) in one round. (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); Ivn Popoca estimated Net Worth, Biography, Age, Height, Dating, Relationship Records, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & many more details have been updated below. He was thirty-eight years. While Liston was incarcerated, prison athletic director Father Alois Stevens introduced him to the sport of boxing. A story is told of Liston ordering his driver to stop on a busy highway, so that Liston could go and buy some pencils from an obviously poor, old, white women whom he had observed. Listons career was interrupted for nine months beginning in December 1956, when he was sent to the St. Louis workhouse for assaulting a policeman and stealing the officers gun. Sonny Liston keeps his personal and love life private. His father was an abusive alcoholic, and Liston eventually left the house during his teens. Sonny Liston was born on May 8, probably 1932, to Tobe and Helen (Baskin) Liston, African-American sharecroppersin rural St. Francis County. His trademark shirt during his illegal raids was yellow. The rematch, in Lewiston, Maine, on May 25, 1965, was even more controversial. He also has a position among the list of Most popular Boxer. The CALS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. The subsequent rematch with Clay on May 25, 1965, included the infamous "phantom punch." After being unable to reach Liston for 12 days, his wife Geraldine returned to their Nevada home on January 5, 1971, at which time she discovered Liston's dead body. On September 25, 1962, Liston made history by becoming the heavyweight champion. DAmato went on to coach another great boxer in Mike Tyson. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2000. Lets take a look at Sonny Liston past relationships, ex-girlfriends and previous hookups. Known for scowling at opponents, he combined an intimidating ring presence with awesome power. Sonny Liston was born on May 8, probably 1932, to Tobe and Helen (Baskin) Liston, African-American. All Rights Reserved. At the age of 16, Listonmore than 6 feet tall and weighing 200 poundsbecame a menacing presence in his neighborhood, occasionally working as a strike-breaking labor goon. Sonny Liston has been died on Dec 30, 1970 ( age 38). In 1966, following his loss to Clay, Liston launched a comeback. Major children and living persons must directly contact the. WebSonny Liston Photo Gallery. The map below shows the places where the ancestors of the famous person lived. Copyright 2020, ARKANSAS SOUL MEDIA. His father was an abusive alcoholic, and Liston eventually left the house during his teens. Liston went back to the ring. Liston on his age: "I'm like Jack Benny, I never tell my age.". But there is another side. Relationship with Timothy Michael Dowling (Sosa/Ahnentafel #1), Relationship with Geraldine Clark (spouse), Browse using this individual as Sosa/Ahnentafel #1, , born in1872 - Choctaw Co., MS, deceased, , born inApril1873 - Montgomery Co., MS, deceased, Sources: Dowling Family Tree - Tim Dowling - rootsweb, 2001-2015 - - electronic - I435533, Marriage (with Geraldine Clark) - St. Louis, MO, List of all individuals in the family tree, {{ 'gw_downgraded_access_back_to_max'|translate }}, Born 8May1932 - Sand Lough, St. Francis Co., AR, Deceased 30December1970 - Las Vegas, Clark Co., NV, Sonny was probably born in 1929, but no one knows for sure. His alcoholic and violent father was thirty years older than Sonnys This is how Tosches describes Liston's birth place: "It was in the sector of Morledge Plantation that lay in Johnson Township, St. Francis County, that Tobe Liston and his family came to live and farm, on a low patch where a rill of muddy water, a mile and a half or so long, dribbled dead to its end in a slough of sandy dirt where nothing could grow. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Liston's career was interrupted for nine months beginning in December 1956, when he was sent to the St. Louis workhouse for assaulting a policeman and stealing the officer's gun. He compiled a career record of The second was a boy. Sonny Liston lost his title to the little known Cassius Clay in the seventh round in February 1964. But the champ went down in a hurry: two minutes and six seconds in the first round. WebParents and Siblings Charles L. "Sonny" Liston 19321970 Geraldine Chamber 19252005 Spouse and Children Charles L. "Sonny" Liston Male19321970 Male London: Aurum Press, 2008. He was one of many children one account lists 22 siblings and half-siblings. Little Rock, AR. It was a defense mechanism designed to keep people from getting too close. (LogOut/ Liston, one of 25 children by his father, is reputed to have been born in May 1932, yet prison records show various birth dates, among them 1928. WebHis parents were Tobe Liston and Helen Baskin. Liston continued to box until the time of his death. He cleared out his opponents to become the topmost contender. For a while, he even lost his license to box in the United States. He was still a fringe contender at the age of 40 or so when he died under mysterious circumstances in December of 1970 at his house in Las Vegas. Liston had a rough and violent childhood. gnalogique Dowling avec plus d'un demi-million de parents, Liston went down in the first round, felled by a punch few saw. . Trivia He was convicted of robbery and larceny. There were also times when he showed surprising compassion for the less fortunate. As the top fighter in the world, Liston became an easy target for sports columnists who remarked frequently on not only his menacing demeanor and vicious punching power but also his criminal background. This project is funded in part by a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Sustaining the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan grant award. Charles L. Sonny Liston was born in St. Francis County, Arkansas, to Tobe Liston and Helen Baskin. His father was 30 years older than his mother. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Boxer Charles L. "Sonny" Liston was born in St. Francis County, Arkansas on May 8, 1932. Survived by his wife Geraldine and a step-daughter. However, it turned out to be his stepdaughter, the daughter of his wife. His alcoholic and violent father was thirty years older than Sonnys mother. In 1957, he was sentenced to nine months in the St. Louis workhouse for assaulting a police officer. He started boxing in prison and was likely over 30 then. With Cus DAmato as his coach, Liston reigned as champion for seventeen months. Liston was the second last in a family of twenty-five siblings. He became a professional fighter on September 2, 1953, when he knocked out Don Smith in a single round in St. Louis. Assael, Shaun. In October 1952, Liston was released on parole. Read our Privacy Policy. He was officially knocked out by Muhammad Ali in one minute for the fastest KO in heavyweight history up to that time.