Sonny Liston
1932 – 1970

Sonny Liston

American boxer (c. 1930–1970)

boxerbouncer
Born
1932-01-01, St. Francis County
Died
1970-12-30
Birthplace state
Arkansas

Biography

Charles L. "Sonny" Liston, known by the nickname "the Big Bear," was born in St. Francis County, Arkansas, in 1932. He worked as a boxer and bouncer, competing professionally in boxing from 1953 until his death in 1970. In 1962, he became the undisputed world heavyweight champion after knocking out Floyd Patterson in the first round, and he repeated this knockout the following year while defending his title. In that same defense, he also became the inaugural WBC heavyweight champion.

Occupation

Sonny Liston is recorded as a boxer and a bouncer, born in Arkansas (1932–1970).

Connections to Arkansas

Sonny Liston was born in St. Francis County, Arkansas in 1932. Explore other notable figures from Arkansas, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Sonny Liston came from St. Francis County. A full Aubrey report on St. Francis County pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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More notable figures from Arkansas

Other historical figures born in Arkansas, ranked by historical prominence.

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Frequently asked about Sonny Liston

Who was Sonny Liston?
Sonny Liston was American boxer (c. 1930–1970), born in Arkansas (1932 – 1970).
When and where was Sonny Liston born?
Sonny Liston was born on 1932-01-01 in St. Francis County.
When did Sonny Liston die?
Sonny died on 1970-12-30.
What was Sonny Liston known for?
Sonny Liston is recorded as a boxer and a bouncer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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