Liston’s 11th Knock-out

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31836, 14 November 1968, Page 15

Liston’s 11th Knock-out

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) PITTSBURGH. The former world heavy-weight champion, Sonny Liston, knocked out Roger Rischer after 2min 23sec of the third round in a scheduled 10 - round bout last night. Seemingly intimidated by. Liston's punching reputation, Rischer was on the defensive throughout the one-sided bout and did not land a blow of any force. It was the eleventh successive knock-out for Liston since he began his latest come-back campaign in September, 1967. The 36-year-old former title-holder knocked Rischer

down for a count of seven midway through the opening round, but the San Francisco boxer managed to last out the round by back-pedalling and weaving from side to side as he evaded Liston's wild blows. After a dull second round in which Liston appeared in no hurry to end the fight, the former champion went to work in the third, battering Rischer all over the ring before he put him flat on to his face with a short left hook to the body.

The crowd booed loudly, apparently thinking the punch was not hard enough to keep Rischer on the floor. But it took Rischer’s handlers about 15sec to get their man on to his feet. After being dropped from the rankings for more than

a year, Liston now is rated fourth heavy-weight challenger by the World Boxing Association and fifth by Ring magazine. He hopes to gain a title chance against either Jimmy Ellis, the W.B.A. title-holder, or Joe Frazier, recognised as champion by New York and four other United State.s states.