Sonny Liston. What if?

[NYDominican]

July 22, 1963. Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada. ----------------

Sonny Liston fought Floyd Patterson in their second fight. Sonny beat Floyd by a knockout at 2:10 of the 1st round.


Had Liston retired right after this fight, what do you think Sonny's all time rank would be in the heavyweight division?


Do you think that most boxing fans would rank Liston as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time? If so, why?


If not, why not?



Please explain.

[gilgamesh]

He would've been remembered as he is now as a very dangerous Heavyweight puncher with sharp skills. If anything the fact that he went on and lost to Muhammad Ali probably enhances his overall legacy. Obviously the fights with Ali themselves don't do him any favors, but because of the notoriety and popularity of Ali, I'm sure a lot more people look back on Liston's past fights than would've if not for the fact that he's the guy that lost the crown to "The Greatest".

So...I don't think his legacy would be much different, but he wouldn't get as much attention.

[Kalan]

He would be remembered like Harry Wills... The guy who waited for years to get a Title Fight... Though Liston might have been 40 when he won the Heavyweight Title, 2 successful Title Fights doesn't earn you legendary status... I don't think Ali's wins over Liston are that savory.. He won the first fight because Liston was injured and the 2nd fight because the Keystone Kops were the officials.. Ali should have been disqualified.

If MIke Tyson retired after recording his 37th straight victory over Carl Williams??? Now that includes 10 World Title fights -- so I think he would be very highly overrated if he retired right then.. But with his potential to make money he WOULDN'T have retired..

If he were shot and killed or died in a car or plane crash??? Overrated for sure... What if Willie Pep died in his plane crash??? ... He'd be 108-1-1

[Nile4000]

Probably as a top 15 guy.