{"product_id":"sonny-liston-the-real-story-behind-the-ali-liston-fights","title":"Sonny Liston - The Real Story Behind the Ali-Liston Fights","description":"No Heavyweight Champion’s life and career have been as shrouded in mystery as that of Charles “Sonny” Liston. Fifty-one years after his death, Liston expert, Paul Gallender, has solved the five major mysteries surrounding The Bear in the second edition of his 2012 biography, Sonny Liston - The Real Story Behind the Ali-Liston Fights. The author's 40+ years of research provide boxing fans, young and old, with definitive answers to the five most asked questions about The Bear’s life and career: When was Sonny born? Was he murdered? If so, who did it, how, and why? Was the Liston\/Clay fight on the level? Why did Sonny throw the Lewiston fight? Was Sonny Liston as bad a person as the media said he was?\nThe short answers are: 1919 or earlier. Yes, by mobsters, with a heroin overdose, because he didn’t throw the Wepner fight. Yes. So his wife and son wouldn’t be killed. No. Sonny was a good man.\nIn meticulous detail, the author reveals what caused Liston’s precipitous fall from the pinnacle of the sports world, and why the outcomes of his two fights with Muhammad Ali had far more to do with what took place outside of the ring than in it. When Sonny was forced to throw the Ali rematch, his reputation and legacy went down with him. A predominantly white, racist media always feared and hated Liston, and were only too happy to humiliate him after that bout, and forget about him almost entirely after he died.\n\nIf anyone ever deserved the truth to be told about him, it was Sonny Liston. This book tells the truth about the man, good and bad, and does it with heart. Once you start reading it, you won’t want to put it down.\u003cbr\u003eASIN: 147818518X\u003cbr\u003eVSKU: DBV.147818518X.G\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Good\u003cbr\u003eAuthor\/Artist:Gallender, Paul R\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eNote:\u003c\/b\u003e Any images shown are stock photographs and product may differ from what is shown.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition Notes\u003c\/b\u003e: Gently used with minimal wear on the corners and cover. A few pages may contain light highlighting or writing, but the text remains fully legible. Dust jacket may be missing, and supplemental materials like CDs or codes may not be included. May be ex-library with library markings. Ships promptly!  \u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Dream Books Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41598214078522,"sku":"DBV.147818518X.G","price":17.94,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0555\/6011\/0138\/files\/147818518X-0.jpg?v=1786848780","url":"https:\/\/shop.dreambooksco.com\/products\/sonny-liston-the-real-story-behind-the-ali-liston-fights","provider":"Dream Books Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}