SCOTS boxer Walter McGowan successfully defended his Empire flyweight title against the Jamaican, Kid Solomon, at Paisley Ice Rink in September 1963.
But much attention that day was fixed on the reigning world heavyweight champion, Sonny Liston, who had agreed to take part in a three-round exhibition prior to the fight, and spent much of the day in a kilt.
As it turned out, Liston’s exhibition,” Alastair Phillips wrote in the following day’s Glasgow Herald, “included skipping, shadow-boxing, and jousting for three rounds with his sparring partner, a big and nimble man who nevertheless seemed to be about half his size. We ... could only wonder gruesomely what would happen if Liston went berserk and started hitting with his might.”
Some fans, however, could not hide their impatience. “Hey, pit doon yer message basket,” roared a small man in the crowd. Another, even smaller, and flexing his little muscles, cried: “Ah could tak’ a len’ of the two of youse mysel’”. “Liven up”, yelled a third, with what Phillips felt was a superfluous officiousness. ‘Paisley Infirmary’s no’ that far away’.”
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