BoxRec

... would he ever have been relevant on the title scene again?

He was getting old (nobody knew his real age) and the loss to Martin definitely damaged his ranking, but Wepner was a reasonable win; in fact his best win since he lost title. He obviously was still a big name and Ali wouldn't get back to the title 'til 1974. Could anyone see Liston getting to a title shot vs Frazier? And if so, how would he have fared?

By that stage of his career, almost certainly Frazier's tenacity would have broken Liston's resolve, as Liston was an "on top" fighter even in his younger days. But we would go on to see what a powerful early assault from an intimidating aggressor could do to Frazier when he fought Foreman, and the comparisons between Liston and young George have been made before.

Or, if he didn't get as far as a title shot, how would you have seen Liston doing against other contenders of the early 70s?

His career had reached about the same point as Diego Corrales' had, when he passed away.

Liston was effectively said & done. No title shot would be forthcoming.

After the fight with Chuck Wepner win,(June.29.1970)
Liston's team(Johnny Tocco,Davey Pearl,Lem Banker) were hoping to get a fight with Jerry Quarry.
(Reportly Liston had owed on a bet 10 thousand dollars of his 13 thousand dollar purse money from the Wepner fight,
From betting on Mac Foster
to win against Jerry Quarry in their fight June 17.1970.
Quarry knocked out Foster.

oliverfennell wrote:... would he ever have been relevant on the title scene again?

He was getting old (nobody knew his real age) and the loss to Martin definitely damaged his ranking, but Wepner was a reasonable win; in fact his best win since he lost title. He obviously was still a big name and Ali wouldn't get back to the title 'til 1974. Could anyone see Liston getting to a title shot vs Frazier? And if so, how would he have fared?

By that stage of his career, almost certainly Frazier's tenacity would have broken Liston's resolve, as Liston was an "on top" fighter even in his younger days. But we would go on to see what a powerful early assault from an intimidating aggressor could do to Frazier when he fought Foreman, and the comparisons between Liston and young George have been made before.

Or, if he didn't get as far as a title shot, how would you have seen Liston doing against other contenders of the early 70s?

The answer to your topic question is a definite no.

In fact, one could argue he became irrelevant beginning in May, 1965 with the Lewiston debacle. The smell of a possible fix was extremely strong from that fight. Liston became a pariah (witness his exclusion from the WBA tournament) and he began his comeback fights way off in an apparently more forgiving Sweden. He was pretty much a sideshow after Lewiston.

From roughly '65 through '68 he was still a formidable fighter. By 1970, he was pretty well faded, to my recollection.

oliverfennell wrote:... would he ever have been relevant on the title scene again?

He was getting old (nobody knew his real age) and the loss to Martin definitely damaged his ranking, but Wepner was a reasonable win; in fact his best win since he lost title. He obviously was still a big name and Ali wouldn't get back to the title 'til 1974. Could anyone see Liston getting to a title shot vs Frazier? And if so, how would he have fared?

By that stage of his career, almost certainly Frazier's tenacity would have broken Liston's resolve, as Liston was an "on top" fighter even in his younger days. But we would go on to see what a powerful early assault from an intimidating aggressor could do to Frazier when he fought Foreman, and the comparisons between Liston and young George have been made before.

Or, if he didn't get as far as a title shot, how would you have seen Liston doing against other contenders of the early 70s?

Liston was likely in his early or even mid 40's when he died.
He always had a cloud hanging over him of the mob forcing him to drop fights etc.
So its a very difficult question to answer.

if liston hadn't died when he did.......he'd be in his seventies now..

Some good points here already made on his skills at the late stage of his career.
I also dont think he really had his heart in the game anymore right before his death.
He seemed to be floundering a bit out in Vegas at the end.I dont think he was living a spartan life really.

You know what theory I subscribe to?
(Allegedly)Liston was dealing drugs in West Las Vegas(heroin) and one of his main customers was Joe Louis.
So if you want to protect Joe Louis(or use that as an excuse to get rid of the competition) who do you get rid of?
nasty old Liston no one really liked or America's beloved Brown Bomber?