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IMDbPro

Sonny Liston: The Mysterious Life and Death of a Champion

  • TV Movie
  • 1995
  • Unrated
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
82
YOUR RATING
Sonny Liston: The Mysterious Life and Death of a Champion (1995)
Sports DocumentaryBiographyDocumentarySport

The story of the life and career of boxer Sonny Liston, who rose from being a violent street enforcer for an organized crime ring to become the heavyweight champion of the world.The story of the life and career of boxer Sonny Liston, who rose from being a violent street enforcer for an organized crime ring to become the heavyweight champion of the world.The story of the life and career of boxer Sonny Liston, who rose from being a violent street enforcer for an organized crime ring to become the heavyweight champion of the world.

  • Director
    • Jeff Lieberman
  • Stars
    • Sonny Liston
    • William Nack
    • Jerry Izenberg
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    82
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jeff Lieberman
    • Stars
      • Sonny Liston
      • William Nack
      • Jerry Izenberg
    • 3User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins total

    Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast48

    Edit
    Sonny Liston
    Sonny Liston
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    William Nack
    William Nack
    • Self - writer
    Jerry Izenberg
    Jerry Izenberg
    • Self
    Geraldine Liston
    • Self
    Raymond Munson
    • Self - friend
    Nigel Collins
    • Self - Ring magazine
    Pat Putnam
    • Self - boxing historian
    Bob Burnes
    • Self - Liston's first manager
    Johnny Tocco
    • Self - Liston's first trainer
    William Roemer
    • Self - former FBI agent
    Foneda Cox
    • Self - Liston's sparring partner
    James Reddick
    • Self - former police detective
    Hank Kaplan
    • Self
    Ray Schoeninger
    • Self - Liston's sparring partner
    Larry Merchant
    Larry Merchant
    • Self
    Robert Collins
    • Self - Rocky Mountain News
    Gerald Early
    Gerald Early
    • Self - Washington University
    Jack McKinney
    • Self
    • Director
      • Jeff Lieberman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews3

    7.282
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    Featured reviews

    10Tiger_Mark

    Great Documentary About a Complicated Man

    Everybody knows who Mike Tyson is, but before there was Iron Mike, there was Sonny Liston. Sonny Liston made Mike Tyson seem like a school girl. Liston was big, mean, tough and controlled by the mob. He started from a poor and harsh upbringing and eventually became Heavyweight Champ of the World. However, being champ did not end his troubles, in a way, they just started. Fascinating look at a very interesting life.
    9kikiloveslegwarmers

    Left More Questions Than Answers

    I'm a big boxing fan and a great fan of former world heavyweight boxing champion Charles "Sonny" Liston. However, after viewing this documentary, I felt it left more questions than answers.

    I found it strange that none of Sonny Liston's brothers or sisters were interviewed. No mention was made of the career of "Sailor" Liston who was fighting some 10 years before; was it Sonny or as some say his uncle. No mention was made of his step-daughter.

    The controversy of Liston's birth-date was slightly addressed, as was his comeback following the Ali defeats. As for his death, it left no clear cut answers.

    I enjoyed this film, but it left me scratching my head, hoping for a follow-up.
    Sargebri

    Tyson Should Take Notes

    Whenever I watch this film, I think about how much Liston's life parallels Mike Tyson's life. Sonny Liston was probably the most intimidating fighter in the history of boxing. This film definitely shows how Liston, who started out as an illiterate thug for the mob, rose to become world champion. It also shows how he was constantly harassed by the police and how the mob had him under their control. And another aspect of the film was how it showed that Liston had very few friends, just hangers on who never really cared for his best interests, much like the people around Mike Tyson. Sonny Liston should have dominated the fight game for many years. Too bad his demons got the better of him leading to his tragic death eight years after he defeated Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight title and this film really drives that point home.

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    Details

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    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • Home Box Office (HBO)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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