BoxRec

Liston was an excellent boxer with unbelievable power. Good boxers like Machen, Martin & Ali gave him trouble. If you came to him, he'd set you up with the jab & stop you with the hook & uppercut. Greats like Marciano & Frazier, would have been stopped. They say style makes fights & this is a guy who bears that out. Only guys with real good movement would stand any chance against him. A guy like Jimmy Young for instance. The only exception to this rule might have been Foreman, but prime on prime, I'd still take Sonny. He was a superior boxer & George would have taken more punishment. In his prime only the most skilfull of boxers in Ring history would have beaten him & Ali was certainly that. Tunney or Johnson, Holmes or perhaps Lennox if he didn't get caught. I think Sonny would have beaten him, though.

I agree with all of this, Bill. I think Charles and Walcott would have troubled Liston but wonder if they were durable enough for the full 15. Charles would have to be at his very best.

Ezzard wrote:I agree with all of this, Bill. I think Charles and Walcott would have troubled Liston but wonder if they were durable enough for the full 15. Charles would have to be at his very best.

I think Joe would trouble Sonny for awhile, till the first time he was hurt. Then, good night nurse. Ezzard I believe came to fight a little too much for his own good. He would have taken a licking. How about Louis?
He wasn't fast on his feet but had everything else. This is one fight I have trouble reading. What do you think?

Decagon wrote:Leotis Martin

Leotis Martin beat Sonny Liston right at the end of his career.....about 8 years past his peak. This argument holds no water

icejack wrote: Liston would have destroyed Jack Sharkey in 2 or 3 rounds! As some one said earlier watch him against Williams,he took some evil body shots and cameback to confuse and eventually destroy Williams in 3 rounds.One of the best heavys of all time. No more a bully than Tyson,Overcome the worst possible start in life to become a champ. I know this might upset some here but I feel he would have beaten Dempsey and given Louis all the trouble he wanted,he was great at cutting off the ring and his jab was almost up there with Holmes one.

Agreed