Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-08-11
Livingston Predicts
Lisfon WIN Get
Chonee Az Title
By Charles j. Livinggton

ChGnee AZ THE
BY Charles J. Livingston
Making a comeback In the ring
is one Of the toughest assignments
in boxing. For a suspended boxer
like Sonny Lston to redeem him
self outside the ring is doubly hard.
But IL has been done before.
I am making an outright predIc-
ton that Liston VIII win the re-
Mobilization battle he is now wag-
ing, and a chance at the heavy
weight title. He may even go all
the way and win the title. He has
the natural ability.
Odds Against Him
At present, however, the odds In
this sociological battle ava stacked
heavily against the Philadelphia
clouter. In trouble with the law as
a result Of his recent arrests, and
with an indefinite suspension inn
posed by the National Boxing AS
ISOLATION staring at him from an
other corner, Liston must fight
this difficult battle with courage
and determination, qualities that
are not alien to him as q boxer.
But he cannot fight alone. He
needs a good corner man. Such
q man in this instance Is Denver's
Father Edward Murphy, a Roman
Catholic cleric who Is currently
serving as Listens teacher and
counselor. Father Murphy thinks
Sonny can lick his past and wants
him to have another chance. But
he knows he has q big job on his
hand, for much depends on Laston
himself.
At present, everyone seems to
be getting into the act Of knock
ing" Liston. Hardly a week passes
but that he is not confronted with
some new difficulty. First came
his arrest for lettering more than
two months ago, then his arrest
on a charge Of impersonating a
police officer, his suspension and
demotion from the rings No. 1
contender position by the MIA,
and most recently his rearrest on
a new charge connected with the
second case. Few people seem to
want to give Liston a chance.
But despite the adversities, Lis
ton can weather the storm. All
he has to do Is listen to the ad-
vice and follow the rehabilitation
program laid out for him by his
mentor. As the priest explains:
IF Sonny does a good job, the
suspension eventually win be lift
ed. They can't take away complete
ly a mans livelihood" At present,
Father Murphy appears to be one
Of the very few persons willing to
give the boxer a chance.
Background Hurts
This writer admits that Listens
bad reputation Is against him. /
also admit to knowing little about
the Paramount Park fracas in
Philadelphia in which Lston and
a companion, posing as police Of
ficers, accosted q woman motorist,
beyond what has been published
But It seems strange that Llston
should b. arrested for 50 flimsy
an offense as lettering. Is he be-
ing "tailed9"
The MIA also made much Of
the lettering charge, but there Is
no evidence that the association
went out of its way to help Liston
land the biggest job Of his career:
a title bout with Patterson.
What does the MIA expect LIS
ton to do? Stay indoors and rust
while Patterson makes up his mind
about giving him q title shot?
Exploited On Both Sides
To a great extent. Liston IL q
victim Of circumstances Allegedly
under bad ring influences in the
past, Sonny has had to drop his
former manager. But even now bis
initeracy renders him an easy prey
for unsavory and interruptions IN
dtviduals. Thus, he IL at q great
disadvantage in q sport which, by
it's very nature and from its m
ception has been rough and tumble
business.
On the other hand. II Patterson
Is trying 10 effect a dodge" the
present situation In which Liston
finds himself h ready made for
the champion and his quer'llous
manager.
Only One OF BOxings bad Boys
This writer Il not trying to con-
done any Of Listens maynard acts
al