Sonny Liston 🇺🇸
Σόνι Λίστον · Сони Листон · Сони Листън
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Сонни Листон · Соні Лістон · סוני ליסטון · سانی لیستون · سونى ليستون · سوني ليستون · सोनी लिस्टन · સોની લિસ્ટન · სონი ლისტონი · ソニー・リストン · 桑尼·利斯頓 · 桑尼·利斯顿 · 索尼·里斯頓 · 소니 리스턴 · Charles "Sonny" Liston · Charles L. Liston · Charles ListonBorn1930
Died1970-12-30
Height185 cm
Sexmale
Career
50-4-0(KO 39)54 bouts, 1953–1970
W1970-06-29 ›(49-4-0) vs Chuck Wepner 🇺🇸
TKO 9/10National Guard Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, 🇺🇸✓ one source
L1969-12-06 ›(49-3-0) vs Leotis Martin 🇺🇸 (30-5-0)
KO 9/12Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, 🇺🇸For vacant NABF heavyweight title✓✓ two sources
W1968-10-14 ›(42-3-0) vs Sonny Moore
TKO 3/10Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, 🇺🇸✓ one source
W1968-05-23 ›(40-3-0) vs Billy Joiner 🇺🇸
RTD 7/10Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, 🇺🇸✓ one source
L1965-05-25 ›(35-2-0) vs Muhammad Ali 🇺🇸 (20-0-0)
KO 1/15St. Dominic's Hall, Lewiston, Maine, 🇺🇸For WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles✓✓ two sources
L1964-02-25 ›(35-1-0) vs Muhammad Ali 🇺🇸 (19-0-0)
RTD 6/15Convention Center, Miami Beach, 🇺🇸Lost WBA, WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles✓✓ two sources
W1963-07-22 ›(34-1-0) vs Floyd Patterson 🇺🇸 (38-3-0)
KO 1/15Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, 🇺🇸Retained WBA, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles; Won inaugural WBC heavyweight title✓✓ two sources
W1962-09-25 ›(33-1-0) vs Floyd Patterson 🇺🇸 (38-2-0)
KO 1/15Comiskey Park, Chicago, 🇺🇸Won WBA, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles✓✓ two sources
W1960-09-07 ›(30-1-0) vs Eddie Machen 🇺🇸
UD 12/12Sick's Stadium, Seattle, Washington, 🇺🇸✓ one source
W1960-03-21 ›(27-1-0) vs Cleveland Williams 🇺🇸 (49-3-1)
TKO 2/10Coliseum, Houston, Texas, 🇺🇸✓✓ two sources
W1959-04-15 ›(23-1-0) vs Cleveland Williams 🇺🇸 (47-2-1)
TKO 3/10Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, 🇺🇸✓✓ two sources
W1958-10-07 ›(19-1-0) vs Frankie Daniels
KO 1/10Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, 🇺🇸✓ one source
W1955-12-13 ›(12-1-0) vs Larry Watson
TKO 4/10Alnad Shriner Temple, East St. Louis, Illinois, 🇺🇸✓ one source
W1955-05-05 ›(9-1-0) vs Emil Brtko
TKO 5/10Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 🇺🇸✓ one source
| Date | Res | Opponent | Records | Method | Venue | Title | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970-06-29 | W | Chuck Wepner 🇺🇸 | 49-4-0 | TKO 9/10 | National Guard Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1969-12-06 | L | Leotis Martin 🇺🇸 | 49-3-0 · 30-5-0 | KO 9/12 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, 🇺🇸 | For vacant NABF heavyweight title | ✓✓ two sources |
| 1969-09-23 | W | Sonny Moore | 48-3-0 | KO 3/10 | Coliseum, Houston, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1969-05-19 | W | George Johnson 🇺🇸 | 47-3-0 | TKO 7/10 | Convention Center, Winchester, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1969-03-28 | W | Billy Joiner 🇺🇸 | 46-3-0 | UD 10/10 | Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1968-12-10 | W | Amos Lincoln | 45-3-0 | KO 2/10 | Civic Center, Baltimore, Maryland, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1968-11-12 | W | Roger Rischer | 44-3-0 | KO 3/10 | Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1968-11-03 | W | Willis Earls | 43-3-0 | KO 2/10 | Plaza de Toros, Ciudad Juárez, 🇲🇽 | ✓ one source | |
| 1968-10-14 | W | Sonny Moore | 42-3-0 | TKO 3/10 | Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1968-07-06 | W | Henry Clark | 41-3-0 | TKO 7/10 | Cow Palace, Daly City, California, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1968-05-23 | W | Billy Joiner 🇺🇸 | 40-3-0 | RTD 7/10 | Grand Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1968-03-16 | W | Bill McMurray | 39-3-0 | TKO 4/10 | Centennial Coliseum, Reno, Nevada, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1967-04-28 | W | Elmer Rush | 38-3-0 | TKO 6/10 | Stockholm, 🇸🇪 | ✓ one source | |
| 1967-03-30 | W | Dave Bailey 🇺🇸 | 37-3-0 | KO 1/10 | Mässhallen, Gothenburg, 🇸🇪 | ✓ one source | |
| 1966-08-19 | W | Amos Johnson | 36-3-0 | KO 3/10 | Nya Ullevi, Gothenburg, 🇸🇪 | ✓ one source | |
| 1966-07-01 | W | Gerhard Zech 🇩🇪 | 35-3-0 | KO 7/10 | Stockholm, 🇸🇪 | ✓ one source | |
| 1965-05-25 | L | Muhammad Ali 🇺🇸 | 35-2-0 · 20-0-0 | KO 1/15 | St. Dominic's Hall, Lewiston, Maine, 🇺🇸 | For WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles | ✓✓ two sources |
| 1964-02-25 | L | Muhammad Ali 🇺🇸 | 35-1-0 · 19-0-0 | RTD 6/15 | Convention Center, Miami Beach, 🇺🇸 | Lost WBA, WBC, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles | ✓✓ two sources |
| 1963-07-22 | W | Floyd Patterson 🇺🇸 | 34-1-0 · 38-3-0 | KO 1/15 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, 🇺🇸 | Retained WBA, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles; Won inaugural WBC heavyweight title | ✓✓ two sources |
| 1962-09-25 | W | Floyd Patterson 🇺🇸 | 33-1-0 · 38-2-0 | KO 1/15 | Comiskey Park, Chicago, 🇺🇸 | Won WBA, NYSAC, and The Ring heavyweight titles | ✓✓ two sources |
| 1961-12-04 | W | Albert Westphal 🇩🇪 | 32-1-0 | KO 1/10 | Convention Hall, Philadelphia, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1961-03-08 | W | Howard King 🇺🇸 | 31-1-0 | TKO 3/10 | Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1960-09-07 | W | Eddie Machen 🇺🇸 | 30-1-0 | UD 12/12 | Sick's Stadium, Seattle, Washington, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1960-07-18 | W | Zora Folley 🇺🇸 | 29-1-0 | KO 3/12 | Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1960-04-25 | W | Roy Harris 🇺🇸 | 28-1-0 | TKO 1/10 | Coliseum, Houston, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1960-03-21 | W | Cleveland Williams 🇺🇸 | 27-1-0 · 49-3-1 | TKO 2/10 | Coliseum, Houston, Texas, 🇺🇸 | ✓✓ two sources | |
| 1960-02-23 | W | Howard King 🇺🇸 | 26-1-0 | RTD 7/10 | Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1959-12-09 | W | Willi Besmanoff | 25-1-0 | RTD 6/10 | Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1959-08-05 | W | Nino Valdez 🇨🇺 | 24-1-0 · 47-17-3 | KO 3/10 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, 🇺🇸 | ✓✓ two sources | |
| 1959-04-15 | W | Cleveland Williams 🇺🇸 | 23-1-0 · 47-2-1 | TKO 3/10 | Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, 🇺🇸 | ✓✓ two sources | |
| 1959-02-18 | W | Mike DeJohn | 22-1-0 | TKO 6/10 | Exhibition Hall, Miami Beach, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1958-11-18 | W | Ernie Cab | 21-1-0 | RTD 7/10 | Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1958-10-24 | W | Bert Whitehurst | 20-1-0 | UD 10/10 | St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1958-10-07 | W | Frankie Daniels | 19-1-0 | KO 1/10 | Municipal Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1958-08-06 | W | Wayne Bethea | 18-1-0 | TKO 1/10 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1958-05-14 | W | Julio Mederos | 17-1-0 | RTD 2/10 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1958-04-03 | W | Bert Whitehurst | 16-1-0 | PTS 10/10 | Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1958-03-11 | W | Ben Wise | 15-1-0 | TKO 4/8 | Midwest Gymnasium, Chicago, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1958-01-29 | W | Billy Hunter | 14-1-0 | TKO 2/6 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1956-03-06 | W | Marty Marshall 🇺🇸 | 13-1-0 | UD 10/10 | Pittsburgh Gardens, Pittsburgh, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1955-12-13 | W | Larry Watson | 12-1-0 | TKO 4/10 | Alnad Shriner Temple, East St. Louis, Illinois, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1955-09-13 | W | Johnny Gray | 11-1-0 | TKO 6/10 | Victory Field, Indianapolis, Indiana, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1955-05-25 | W | Calvin Butler | 10-1-0 | TKO 2/8 | St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1955-05-05 | W | Emil Brtko | 9-1-0 | TKO 5/10 | Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1955-04-21 | W | Marty Marshall 🇺🇸 | 8-1-0 | TKO 6/8 | Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1955-03-01 | W | Neal Welch | 7-1-0 | PTS 8/8 | New Masonic Temple, St. Louis, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1954-09-07 | L | Marty Marshall 🇺🇸 | 7-0-0 | SD 8/8 | Motor City Arena, Detroit, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1954-08-10 | W | Johnny Summerlin | 6-0-0 | SD 8/8 | Motor City Arena, Detroit, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1954-06-29 | W | Johnny Summerlin | 5-0-0 | UD 8/8 | Motor City Arena, Detroit, Michigan, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1954-03-31 | W | Stanley Howlett | 4-0-0 | PTS 6/6 | St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1954-01-25 | W | Martin Lee | 3-0-0 | TKO 6/6 | New Masonic Temple, St. Louis, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1953-11-21 | W | Bennie Thomas | 2-0-0 | SD 6/6 | Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1953-09-17 | W | Ponce de Leon | 1-0-0 | PTS 4/4 | Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source | |
| 1953-09-02 | W | Don Smith | 0-0-0 | TKO 1/4 | St. Louis Arena, St. Louis, Missouri, 🇺🇸 | ✓ one source |
Ratings now
Not in any current ranking.
World titles
| Belt | Division | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| WBC | Heavyweight | 1963-07-22 | 1964-02-25 |
| WBA | Heavyweight | 1962-09-25 | 1964-02-25 |
Elsewhere
Sources: Wikidata (CC0), English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Last fetched: 2026-10-11. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.