Sonny Liston 'Like Mother Teresa' Compared To Hostile Young George Foreman

Before Foreman Became Smiling Hamburger Grill Impresario, He Was Thuggish

Rabbi Harry Barnett, who turned age 83 in September, has bounced around boxing most of his life. He can sound rabbinical on occasion, but he is not a clergyman. 

He’s proud to be mentioned as what I call a FOSL or Friend of Charles “Sonny” Liston.  

Barnett realizes many regarded or portrayed “the Big Ugly Bear” as a bellicose, sullen character with few redeeming values. 

But, in a Baltimore training camp as Liston prepped for a crucial bout with underrated  Philadelphian Leotis Martin, got to see the sunny side of Liston.

Driven by boredom, they passed the hours with a never-ending card game known as five card tonk. 

Liston, whose birth certificate may have been more of an estimate than a precise barometer, was clicking along, riding a 14 bout winning streak and looked forward to a victory propelling him into a world title bout against a wrecking machine known as Smokin’ Joe Frazier. 

Sonny Versus Smoke, sluggers only, get it? 

Liston handler and master manipulator Dick Sadler, had it plotted out just like he charted the 13 “tomato cans” Liston thumped in his buildup. But the mood in camp pre-Martin was light if not lively. 

Barnett had a toddler son who said to Liston in his little kid voice, “I will knock you out, Sonny Wiston.” 

Liston roared with laughter and tonk games marched on. 

Barnett compared Liston’s mood with that of a young fighter who worshipped the ground Liston walked on, another Sadler guy named George Foreman. Moody Foreman was thuggish without apology or letup. 

“Sonny was a very sweet guy. Comparing him to George was like comparing Hitler to Mother Teresa,” Barnett said. “Name any topic and Foreman was bitter about it.” 

A stock one liner, sure but Barnett was there in the rooms where it happened. 

Barnett recalled Liston being irked when he was $20 behind in tonk but had to go to a promotional event. 

“Other than that, for Sonny it was all sunshine. And Sonny was so dedicated to training.” 

According to Rabbi Harry, Liston never mentioned Muhammad Ali and their two bouts. 

Martin knocked down and behind on scorecards, rallied to knock the Bear into hibernation and the Frazier plans went bye bye. Martin was a loser also suffering a detached retina which ended his ascendant career. 

The postscript for Liston was a mixed bag although he closed his 1953 to 1970 pro log with a New Jersey KO over future “Rocky” inspiration Chuck Wepner. 

The “Bayonne Bleeder” was viciously cut, so much so he could have opened a blood bank at ringside. 

The   gorefest went nine rounds and Wepner cornerman Big Al Braverman was suspected of using “a foreign object” to stem the claret which he denied. 

“It was not foreign,” Braverman bellowed. “It was made right here in the USA!” 

They asked a sardonic Liston if Wepner was the bravest man he had ever seen. 

Liston exited his profession with a wicked punchline. 

“No, but his manager is,” Liston cracked. 

Paint him as a dour guy, a sourpuss, but Liston had a sense of humor. 

That’s why Barnett recalls the times when it was “Sonny Side Up.” 

(mlcmarley@aol.com)