Heavyweights: Prime Sonny Liston vs prime George Foreman.

[StrabaBox29]

Who would win?

[oogiebe]

I don't know but I'd love to see it! Which Prime George?

[gilgamesh]

I'm assuming we're talking 1963 Liston vs 1973 Foreman when both still had their full aura of "Don't f*ck with this guy" going on.

[DrDuke]

I could be a great slugfest. But not Foreman-Lyle type, cause Liston was more of a boxer, than Lyle. I can see Liston looking good and maybe even winning the majority of the rounds by the moment Foreman stops him. I think, Foreman's durability and punching power would be key factors.

[oogiebe]

I've heard they sparred quite a bit in the late sixties, but I've never found any.

[HomicideHenry]

I've heard they sparred quite a bit in the late sixties, but I've never found any.

They actually fought exhibitions with each other, too, but where those reels are who knows.

I interviewed Chuck Wepner once and asked him, "Who hit harder?", since he fought them both and he didn't hesitate in saying Liston was more destructive than Foreman.

That intrigued the heck out of me because it was Liston's last fight, nowhere near his prime. So it's difficult to imagine just how deadly Liston was in his prime because he'd of been faster, more accurate, etc.

I'd probably lean towards Sonny by unaminous decision. The prime Foreman could be reckless and wasn't as sharp as Liston could be. Unlike George, too, is the fact Sonny was actually light on his feet. Both had great chins despite being big bangers.

[elmersalsa]

After watching some of the great Sonny Liston's fights right now, my review about him got me very impressed. Especially, from 1958-63 era, this guy Liston was a hell of a fighter. He was technically sound, especially on the inside. He could cover himself and block punches very well. I see Liston stopping Big George by the 10th round. This guy is not Smokin' Joe here. The PROBLEM is that his two questionable fights with The Greatest got him rated low in the top 15 greatest heavyweights. I can also see him beating a lot of these big heavyweights because he was very technically wise and had a great jab to top it off. And boy! Could he hit! He was much better than what we give him credit for.

[Jaywheel]

lol no. Juste because you just realized how great was the great Sonny Liston doesn't mean we were as clueless as you. It's as if you saw his fights for the first time this week. Oh really, he had a great jab?!? And he hit hard?? Are you sure we're talking about the same great Sonny Liston here?

[elmersalsa]

lol no. Juste because you just realized how great was the great Sonny Liston doesn't mean we were as clueless as you. It's as if you saw his fights for the first time this week. Oh really, he had a great jab?!? And he hit hard?? Are you sure we're talking about the same great Sonny Liston here?

The guy was incredible! The way he fought was unique. If you see his fights in his prime, he really didn't get hit much. Most of the punches thrown at him were mostly blocked. He was very good inside, too. Great balance and poise. The Ali fights is where we get distracted. He looked terrible in both fights.

[oogiebe]

lol no. Juste because you just realized how great was the great Sonny Liston doesn't mean we were as clueless as you. It's as if you saw his fights for the first time this week. Oh really, he had a great jab?!? And he hit hard?? Are you sure we're talking about the same great Sonny Liston here?

The sarcasm dripped onto my keyboard!

[gilgamesh]

For the record. In the matchup that I proposed 1963 or perhaps '62 Liston vs 1973 Foreman. I think Liston wins the fight. Foreman would definitely have his moments but I think Liston had a better developed skill set, and would've been a real hard nights work for Big George. George had a jab, and all, but Liston had a better one, and I just feel like Liston would be picking his shots a lot better than George. George may hit harder between the two, but that alone wouldn't win him this fight I don't think.

[BoxBuzz]

Just a pic....no actual video, but they did "share space" in a ring on a few occasions. They were warming up shadowboxing in the same ring in this pic.

[Seamus]

Those who pick Liston pretty much base their argument upon claims of what Liston was allegedly capable of doing. Those who pick Foreman base their argument on what he actually did do in the ring.

[oogiebe]

Those who pick Liston pretty much base their argument upon claims of what Liston was allegedly capable of doing. Those who pick Foreman base their argument on what he actually did do in the ring.

Um, how about folks make their arguments on what they saw in the ring from both fighters.

[Seamus]

Absolutely !

[Brian Seneca]

Liston massively underrated. I read an article about the Ali rematch and it said before Ali suffered the hernia that Liston was in the BEST condition of his career. The writer suggested that Liston may have stopped Ali. He was hungry and embarrassed by the first fight. After the fight was changed to Lewistown Liston was supposedly visit by the black Muslims or the Mob and threatened. No one will ever convince me for as long as I live that the rematch wasn’t a dive. Yes the punch landed but Liston’s reaction was WWE stuff. Walcott was confused. Just a horrible outcome. I would never debate or cheapen Ali’s greatness, but that fight was B.S.