Who beats Sonny Liston?

[crusader]

I've noticed that many members of this forum have Liston doing extremely well in hypothetical fights against other heavyweight greats.

Prime for prime, which fighters would you favor over Sonny Liston?

[Goodnight, Irene]

I would favour Louis, Ali, & no one else.

He would be evenly-matched, or near to it, against Holmes, Foreman, & Dempsey.

[yancey]

delete.

[ryanst1982]

I would favour, Louis, Ali, Johnson, tyson, foreman, dempsey, Lewis, Holmes, holyfield. All I can think of for now

[tennessee]

any good heavyweight who uses the phantom pole axe punch

[Crease]

I would say: Not that many but namely:
(And I am rating this over the course of 10 fights and who would win the majority of them)

Joe Louis
Muhammad Ali
Rocky Marciano
George Foreman
Joe Frazier
Jack Johnson
Jack Dempsey
Mike Tyson

Others come very close, like Holmes, Holyfield, Charles and Walcott

[crusader]

Thx for the opinions so far. Anyone else?

[King Carlos]

I'd favour Ali. I'd make Louis, Tyson, and Holmes even money.

[dr_devious]

Sonny would murder Tyson

[Syntax Error]

I've noticed that many members of this forum have Liston doing extremely well in hypothetical fights against other heavyweight greats.

Prime for prime, which fighters would you favor over Sonny Liston?

Obviously Ali, then I'd say Holmes, Louis & Johnson.

There are some other that make me sit on the fence like, Holyfield & Vitali. I thought about Frazier too, but I think his style & build would be made to order for Liston.

It's hard with Liston because no-one knows how old he really was, plus he was probably past his best by the time he became HW champ.

[King Carlos]

Sonny would murder Tyson

Of course he would. Because he wouldn't be scared, and the only thing it takes to beat Tyson is to not be scared. That's why Pacquiao would beat him, because he has no fear.

[ryanst1982]

Sonny would murder Tyson

Of course he would. Because he wouldn't be scared, and the only thing it takes to beat Tyson is to not be scared. That's why Pacquiao would beat him, because he has no fear.

You mean like how Ali stood up to liston, another known bully and destroyed him twice. Manny would not beat tyson, I really hope thats a joke. One punch connects and Mannys head clean off

[Roars Like Me]

I would say: Not that many but namely:
(And I am rating this over the course of 10 fights and who would win the majority of them)

Joe Louis
Muhammad Ali
Rocky Marciano
George Foreman
Joe Frazier
Jack Johnson
Jack Dempsey
Mike Tyson

Others come very close, like Holmes, Holyfield, Charles and Walcott

Good list but for the life of me I can't see Dempsey taking Liston

[tagjohnson]

In fairness I can only judge him against fighters that I'm very familiar with i.e., my own lifetime and I can't see anyone getting to him. Ali of course beat him, Frazier would be a Foremanesque slaughter, Holmes couldn't movie like Ali and gets caught and creamed, Spinks gets caught and creamed, Lewis the same, the Klitschko's Wladimar creamed (and fast too), if Vitali stays away and lands some of his own stuff he'd have a good chance. The big punchers? Tyson wouldn't be able to bully or manhandle Sonny like he could most of his opponents, Foreman would I think have the best chance being able to beat him, being able take Sonny's best stuff and definitely able to hurt him back. None of the pretend champions of the 80's like Coetzee, Dokes of Page would stand a chance.

[King Carlos]

Sonny would murder Tyson

Of course he would. Because he wouldn't be scared, and the only thing it takes to beat Tyson is to not be scared. That's why Pacquiao would beat him, because he has no fear.

You mean like how Ali stood up to liston, another known bully and destroyed him twice. Manny would not beat tyson, I really hope thats a joke. One punch connects and Mannys head clean off

Not as long as he stood up to him. I could beat Tyson so long as I stood up to him. That's just the way it is. If someone "stands up to him" (I don't actually know what that means, but it's still irrefutable fact) he crumbles.

[ryanst1982]

You can stand up to him all you want, if he connects with one big right hook, its a trip to the emergency room for you. To say its that simple is ludicrous. He was twice hw champ of the world, I dont know you but doubt you have ever been 1/1000 as successful as Tyson. You can stand up to him all you want your still getting ktfo as would pacquiao.

[Roars Like Me]

The stand up to Tyson and anyone can beat him theory is complete bollox.
Just because you're not scared of him doesn't mean 'job done'. I remember the Jesse Ferguson fight and he wasn't scared in the slightest, he went for Tyson and it was all over in 6.

[Goodnight, Irene]

Pacquiao > Douglas.

[ryanst1982]

Pacquiao > Douglas.

Means absolutely nothing. One is a hw, one is a welterweight.

Tyson would murder pacquiao
Surely s ridiculous debate to have.

[Ezzard]

I think Ali, Johnson and Louis would all be favourites. Holmes would be 50-50. Foreman would be close but I lean to Sonny. Lewis would be a 50-50. I think a Holyfield fight would be a war but again I go with Sonny.

I can't see him losing to any of the swarmers.

A fleet-footed smaller man like Tunney, Waclott or Charles might do well for 6 rounds and could hold on for a decision in 10 round fight.

[IRLangmaid25]

I would like to add Riddick Bowe to the list as well.

[cosimo]

You can stand up to him all you want, if he connects with one big right hook, its a trip to the emergency room for you. To say its that simple is ludicrous. He was twice hw champ of the world, I dont know you but doubt you have ever been 1/1000 as successful as Tyson. You can stand up to him all you want your still getting ktfo as would pacquiao.

I think your sarcasm meter may be broken.

[Goodnight, Irene]

You can stand up to him all you want, if he connects with one big right hook, its a trip to the emergency room for you. To say its that simple is ludicrous. He was twice hw champ of the world, I dont know you but doubt you have ever been 1/1000 as successful as Tyson. You can stand up to him all you want your still getting ktfo as would pacquiao.

I think your sarcasm meter may be broken.

No shit

[cosimo]

You can stand up to him all you want, if he connects with one big right hook, its a trip to the emergency room for you. To say its that simple is ludicrous. He was twice hw champ of the world, I dont know you but doubt you have ever been 1/1000 as successful as Tyson. You can stand up to him all you want your still getting ktfo as would pacquiao.

I think your sarcasm meter may be broken.

No shit

Unless he's doing the double-irony thing, in which case, it's well-played!

[Goodnight, Irene]

Youre giving him too much credit.