Lennox Lewis vs Sonny Liston

Rocky Balboa · Post by **Rocky Balboa** » 09 Feb 2004, 12:16

Both at their best: Liston probably had the hardest jab in heavyweight histpry and had devestating power in both hands. He was simply a powerhouse, who was very strong, and very intimidating etc.

Lewis is the bigger man, has a really good right hand and boxes well when on the back foot, not going forwards. I believe Lisotn has a reach advantage over Lennox, because I am sure Sonny had the longest reach in heavyweight hisptory (I may be wrong!).

Who wins, why do they win and how etc?

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 09 Feb 2004, 14:15

A peak Liston KO2 Lewis.

No contest.

Eric the Viking · Post by **Eric the Viking** » 09 Feb 2004, 14:38

knockout artist wrote:A peak Liston KO2 Lewis.

No contest.

Not so sure about that. Liston faced only two big, skilled heavyweights near his and their primes: Big Cat Williams and Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) - he KOd Williams but was humiliated by Ali (though that was the complete-package Ali, in his physical prime and st his out-psyching best). I'd say Lewis' skills fall in between those two, and he's appreciably bigger than both (though his reach is listed as being still "just" as great as that of Liston, who had a monstrous reach for a guy just over 6' tall.)

IMO it depends on Lewis' questionable chin, and on which Lewis showed up for the fight - the lazy Lewis gets KO'd in the early rounds, but the man-on-a-mission Lewis manages to keep Liston off him and wins by UD or late KO.

mrbassie · Post by **mrbassie** » 09 Feb 2004, 14:41

Liston ko 4-6.
Liston was past it when he fought Ali.

Eric the Viking · Post by **Eric the Viking** » 09 Feb 2004, 14:47

mrbassie wrote:Liston was past it when he fought Ali.

At age 32, having suffered only one defeat (a SD very early in his career, in a fight he fought most of with a broken jaw), and coming off of consecutive KO1's of Floyd Patterson? I think not.

mrbassie · Post by **mrbassie** » 09 Feb 2004, 15:05

Think not all you like, many believe Liston was older than he claimed to be (including his own family), and fighters simply aged younger in them that days.Factor in that he'd fought two rounds in over three years and I think it's safe to say that he wasn't in the prime of his life nor even at the best that his age allowed.

Eric the Viking · Post by **Eric the Viking** » 09 Feb 2004, 15:22

mrbassie wrote:Think not all you like

Ok, I will, erm, I mean, I won't - argh - anyway, y'all know what I don't mean. ;)

The_Power · Post by **The_Power** » 10 Feb 2004, 05:23

I feel that it would take liston about the same amount of time as it took mccall.

Liston KO2

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 10 Feb 2004, 09:02

Were talking about a peak Liston, say 1958 or 1959

He was past it when he Ko'd Patterson.

A peak Liston wins by KO early.

mrbassie · Post by **mrbassie** » 10 Feb 2004, 10:19

I'd actually pick Liston over any of the 80's, 90's, 00's heavies.

The_Power · Post by **The_Power** » 11 Feb 2004, 16:52

mrbassie wrote:I'd actually pick Liston over any of the 80's, 90's, 00's heavies.

Even larry Holmes?

mrbassie · Post by **mrbassie** » 12 Feb 2004, 05:27

Except maybe Holmes. Forgot about him for a moment. Poor Larry

zurdo · Post by **zurdo** » 14 Feb 2004, 14:40

The Style Match up really favors Liston
In addition to crushing Power Sonny Liston at his best had considerable boxing and counterpunching ability ....

Lennox Lewis probably has the skills to outpoint Liston over 12 or 15 rounds ..as long as he makes no mistakes ..but I don't see that happening

.Lennox Lewis was knocked out by suprise counterpunches ..

Sonny Liston Definately has one punch power and counterpunching skills

Liston would win this fight by being patient and waiting for Lennox to Make a mistake and then BOOM!...

mrbassie · Post by **mrbassie** » 14 Feb 2004, 18:06

Is that story about Liston knocking a guy's gumshield out with four or five of his teeth with it true, if so who was it?

wouter · Post by **wouter** » 15 Feb 2004, 09:25

Willie Besmanoff

zurdo · Post by **zurdo** » 16 Feb 2004, 01:45

wouter wrote:Willie Besmanoff

I thought it was Mike De John or maybe Roy Harris..

wouter · Post by **wouter** » 16 Feb 2004, 06:32

Nah, pretty sure it was Besmanoff. I wasn't around myself to check it though.

Woller · Post by **Woller** » 16 Feb 2004, 09:46

And I am very certain that it was Wayne Bethea.
Any other suggestions?

Søren Woller

wouter · Post by **wouter** » 16 Feb 2004, 09:48

I agree with you on the initials