“Liston Beats Paterson”, was the headline on September 25, 1962 in Chicago’s Comistry Park. Thirty year old Sonny Liston standing at 6-1 beats Floyd Paterson the heavyweight champion. Paterson did not want to fight Liston because Liston had a criminal record and had connections with the mob[1]. He had no choice but to fight him. The round only lasted for two minutes. A couple of months later Paterson and Liston had a rematch in Las Vegas at the Convention Center. This match only lasted two minutes and 10 seconds almost the same time as the first fight. Sonny Liston finally was beaten by Cassius Clay.
I believe this event is culturaly significant because Liston bet the the heavy weight champion of the WORLD. Boxing is a sport played around the world. Boxing is played for money and for fun. The boxing community gained alot of publicity and increased its following after the Liston vs Patterson fight. Because Sunny Liston had such strong ties to orginized crine it lifted the public knowing and connected it to the sporting world.
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