Why did Liston take a dive in his rematch with Ali?

I don't buy for a second that he legitimately went down from that punch!

 

If Liston threw the Fight, it could well have been that his mob connections figured it was time to collect. What would the odds have been on a first round KO for Ali ?
Alternatively, it could have been one colossal f..k you to the sport and the public that had treated him so shoddily.

 

Inner ear syndrome left him balanceless.

 

Many will say that Sonny Liston was past his prime when this fight eventually took place on May 25 1965, in Lewiston, Maine. The Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston rematch was originally scheduled for Nov 16 1964, in Boston, Massachusetts, but Ali had been rushed to the hospital on the 13th, requiring an emergency operation for Inguinal Hernia, resulting in a postponement and rescheduling of the fight to the above listed date. Liston claims that he was ready for the Nov 1964 date. Liston was listed as a 6-5 favorite to regain his title. Many thought Ali's victory in Feb 1964 was a mere fluke, as some fans were ready to compare Ali against the past all time greats. Some think that Ali being the underdog again, may have benefited the underworld figures involved with Sonny. But following the rematch, which resulted in a KO 1 victory for Ali, The FBI began to investigate this fight, along with the Maine Attorney General's office, which the underworld may have not appreciated that kind of attention.

 

We’ll never know.
He did lay down though.

 

Orders.His longtime sparring partner and close friend Foneda Cox asked Liston why he didn't tip him off he was going into the tank.Sonny told him,"with your big mouth we would have both ended up wearing cement boots".Nick Tosches book.

 

When the Mob says "It's not your night", you go along with the program. Could've been they just wanted to cash in and that was the right time. The other theory floated is that Sonny had a sexual abuse charge pending going public and The Powers That Be just wanted to wash their hands of him.

It sure looked like Sonny wasn't happy about "doing the job" and made his displeasure clear by making it obvious that he was doing one by how phonily he did it.

Always suspected that he did a job in the first fight regardless of whether he would've won.

 

Could the answer not be as simple as Liston knew he was going to beaten again and if he continued the bout, his beating would continue?

 

I think he legit thought he got up as did Walcott. Idk why Walcott allowed the outside official (is that what its called?) to determine the count when he was the one counting.

 

Wow never heard that

 

That book was a load of pony.

 

The most logical explanation is the evidence on the film that the match was simply a badly officiated fiasco. Sonny did not get a count. That is factually absolutely 100% clear.

The knockdown was 100% a legit flash knockdown..Sonny was not obliged to get up until he heard a count and Ali was acting the goat.

Sonny was not the most reluctant challenger but neither was Patterson or Walcott in their last title fights. That’s what happened with rematch clauses.

No controversy. the fight was a fiasco,

 

Watch the ringwalk, and you'll find the answer...
Sonny Liston was wearing a towel around his neck. That towel weighed 40lb, and weakened his chin.

 

IIRC it wasn't even an official