Did Sonny Liston duck Bob Cleroux and Alejandro Lavorante?

[Frazier's 15th round]

I believe he feared both of them. What are your thoughts?

[Brassangel]

A great fighter is much like a regular human being: they have to choose their battles.

I don't think that someone "ducks" another fighter as often as we assume, seeing as how their profession is generally one that places them in a situation most of us would rather avoid. Someone as intimidating as Sonny Liston is probably someone who himself lived in fear of many things. He appeared to be a man that had more on his plate than just boxing, so any missed opportunities to fight against a willing participant are probably excusable.

Nonetheless, I would be interested to see what information could be attained about this, as much of Liston's life is hidden away as it is.

[wmute]

I read hte devil and sonny liston a while ago.

i dont remember anything about them, but a book is a book and the author choses what to write and what not to write

[Verstyle]

butterfly will be here soon cause your insulting a ali opponent.just watch

[Kid Achilles]

During his rise to the title Liston had a very impressive run and took on some of the most dangerous heavyweights available, guys that Floyd Patterson had been avoiding. If Liston was willing to take on Machen, Williams, Valdes, etc. I doubt he was personally afraid of anyone in a boxing match. He obviously had his ties to the mob, so perhaps it was not even a case of Sonny calling the shots at all. To be honest, I don't know much about Cleroux or Lavorante other than that Cleroux beat and lost to Chuvalo and that Lavorante had a short career that showed he had promise (win over Folley) but then quickly fell apart. Poor management? I do not know.

You might be able to argue that Liston didn't face these guys because the men who owned a share of Liston wanted no part of them (and I don't even know if that was true), but will we ever know if Liston personally was afraid of them? Liston was not the kind of guy to sit down and spill his feelings for a reporter. He didn't exactly live with his heart on his sleeve.

[SABBATH]

To be honest, I don't know much about Cleroux or Lavorante other than that Cleroux beat and lost to Chuvalo and that Lavorante had a short career that showed he had promise (win over Folley) but then quickly fell apart. Poor management? I do not know.

I thought this thread was a joke, but in case it's not here goes.

Lavorante more than quickly fell apart. He died after succumbing to injuries suffered in the ring. The guy took successive beatings from Archie Moore, Muhammad Ali, and John Riggins and was dead at 28 years of age.

Cleroux was a strong hard hitting Canadian who was in Ring ****zine's top ten from 1960-62 rated as high as #5. His quality opponent win column is pretty thin however.

Cleroux and Lavorante were not world beaters, and Liston ducked no one on his rise to the top.

[butterfly1964]

I thought this thread was a joke, but in case it's not here goes.

Lavorante more than quickly fell apart. He died after succumbing to injuries suffered in the ring. The guy took successive beatings from Archie Moore, Muhammad Ali, and John Riggins and was dead at 28 years of age.

Cleroux was a strong hard hitting Canadian who was in Ring ****zine's top ten from 1960-62 rated as high as #5. His quality opponent win column is pretty thin however.

Cleroux and Lavorante were not world beaters, and Liston ducked no one on his rise to the top.

You took the words right out of my mouth.