BoxRec

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Evander would be too quick for Liston, although he would endure some uncomfortable moments because he could easily be lured into a slugfest & that would have played into Liston's hands.

I'd take Holyfield on points.

I think holyfield's biggest issue is that jab, faster tempo would benefit him. I'd take Sonny by decision.

It would take the disciplined Holyfield of the Douglas/Foreman fights to stand any sort of chance. To brawl with Sonny Liston would be lethal.

Weird, I guess it's just me. Brawling and outgutting Liston is Evander's best chance in my estimation. The slower the pace, the more that jab carves him up. Holyfield is one of the greatest counter punchers in history, always had his feet prepared for a hard shot. Liston's reach would be a nightmare in a 'boxing' scenario.

Anyone who ever stood up to Liston got squashed. He put punches together so well, and his hands were so heavy, that the results were always horrific. Ali and Martin beat him by gliding around, slipping the jab and sticking him. Obviously Martin beat an old man but he still had to scrape himself off the floor to do it. I think Holyfield bouncing on his toes, moving in and out, is the most sensible mode.

Holyfield always bounced on his toes. Lol

Holyfield could always be dragged into a war (why we love him).

This plays into Listons hands. I'd take Liston by late stoppage.
I know Holyfield has a granite chin and a heavy heart and I see the ref saving him.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:Holyfield always bounced on his toes. Lol

He stood and punched with Cooper, tried take it to Bowe in 92. Those weren't pure cool boxing strategies. He fixed Tyson up-close, which would be murder with Liston, en mi opinion.

Tuan_Jim wrote:

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:Holyfield always bounced on his toes. Lol

He stood and punched with Cooper, tried take it to Bowe in 92. Those weren't pure cool boxing strategies. He fixed Tyson up-close, which would be murder with Liston, en mi opinion.

He bounced on his toes when he was in rhythm, it was a sign he was about to engage. In the Cooper fight too. Evander would never fight anyone without warring, that's like asking shavers to stick and move.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:Weird, I guess it's just me. Brawling and outgutting Liston is Evander's best chance in my estimation. The slower the pace, the more that jab carves him up.. Liston's reach would be a nightmare in a 'boxing' scenario.

Agree 100%

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:Weird, I guess it's just me. Brawling and outgutting Liston is Evander's best chance in my estimation. The slower the pace, the more that jab carves him up. Holyfield is one of the greatest counter punchers in history, always had his feet prepared for a hard shot. Liston's reach would be a nightmare in a 'boxing' scenario.

I agree. Holyfield's biggest advantages would be the fact that he's a better conditioned fighter, and I'd say had more fighting heart than Liston. I think he could outgut him, but I think he'd need to make a war out of it for the same reasons you said. Liston is a dangerous, hard hitting man so Holyfield likely wouldn't be too eager to get into a brawl with him early, but knowing he was losing the Boxing match I think he'd step it up and make a War out of it at least by Round 6 or so. Would be a damn good one.

I always felt that, out of heavyweight history, if you were looking for a perfect opponent to stop Evander Holyfield, Sonny Liston would have been it. Sonny was exactly the kind of opponent, Holyfield struggled so much against and, if I could draw a parallel between this fight and any other from his career, it would most likely have been the first Lewis fight. However the difference I expect is that it would have been significantly more intense and it wouldn't go the distance. Evander Holyfield was a great champion and a man of exceptional boxing skill. But considering his mentality, he was a fighter first and foremost, and this is what would cause his demise in this match.

The Match:

Round 1: they both start at slower pace, Liston taking the center of the ring, jabbing and looking for his opening and Holyfield relaxed, staying out, moving well and trying jab with him early. Both are cautious in the beginning not wanting to make any mistakes. Near the end of the round Liston goes for a right hand lead, but Holyfield times him, weaves and gets through with a solid left hook counter, which gets his attention. 10-9 Holyfield

Round 2: starts in similar fashion with Evander staying on the outside, moving laterally and trying to box and Liston intense, just looking for his opportunity. He notices that Holyfield may be getting a little to comfortable early and at one moment suddenly he steps in, cracks him with a 1-2, right hand gets through the guard and there's the knock down. It's flash and Holyfield isn't hurt, but he now realizes in no uncertain terms who he's up against here. Liston dominates the rest of the round and looks to get him with a couple of more big shots, but Holyfield is ready for them. 10-8 Liston

Round 3: Liston takes the initiative now and opens up with a jab and two crushing body hooks which definitely hurt Evander. He goes quickly for another assault but gets tied up in the clinch. Holyfield takes advantage here and gets him with a solid uppercut just as they break up but Liston takes it well. Moments after they both come in with a 1-2, but Liston follows up with a killer left hook which only just misses. He pushes forward again and gets Holyfield on the ropes where he lands few more solid body shots as the round ends. 10-9 Liston

Round 4: Liston taking the center again, looking to unleash his attack and turn this into a brawl. But at one moment he over commits as he lunges with a left hand, misses, goes of balance and Holyfield catches him with a short right hand on the temple which hurts him. Liston covers up as Holyfield now comes after him. He fires in a 1-2 then a left hook to the body and another to the head and another right hook after it, but Liston manages to weather the storm, he blocks most of that well and ties him up after the last shot. After the break Holyfield tries to unleash again but is met by a stiff jab which stops him in his tracks for the moment. He finishes strong non the less and gets through with another combo right on the bell. 10-9 Holyfield.

Round 5: Liston is now recovered and he starts powering forward again, but more cautiously this time around. He comes through with a double jab - right hand which sends Holyfield backwards. Liston follows him on the ropes looking to open up, but Holyfield moves out well. Evander now with a left hand of his own, but Liston walks right through it and cracks him with a solid left hook counter and now an exchange breaks out and he gets the better of it. Another exchange as the round ends and again it goes to Liston. 10-9 Liston

Round 6: starts very aggressively. Holyfield wastes no time and nails Liston with a solid left hook lead, but Sonny takes it and fires right back. Now a fight is breaking out and this is exactly what Holyfield doesn't need. They get into another trade where Liston gets through with a huge right hook which rocks Holyfield as they clinch up. The referee breaks them up, but Evander now is seriously shaken. Sonny picks up on that immediately and takes full advantage. Quickly he steps in, fakes a jab and crushes him with a crippling right hand lead and Holyfield goes down hard. He manages to beat the count, but only just and now Liston is all over him. He bulls him on the ropes and unleashes. A short right to the temple sends Holyfield stumbling to the side as Liston jumps right after him and fires in another wide left hook which drops Evander again. Miraculously he picks him self up again, but he is out on his feet now and this match is all but over. Another quick barrage by Liston finished by a big left uppercut after which the ref jumps in to stop it as Holyfield sinks down again.

Liston by TKO in 6.

Well, I am divided in opinios, here. The Real Deal loved to engage in a slugfest. He was almost never in a dull fight. I have not seen much of the great Sonny Liston's fights pre-Floyd Patterson. I shall take a look at his fights pre-Patterson to judge that.

first of all holyfield would be bigger then liston not a tiny patterson/machen/folley/ ect / 2nd of all listons staredown woukd not intimidate the real deal / holfield would use angles turning liston all nite long and holyfield 19 1/2 inch neck would absorb listons one punch at a time / holyfieds reflexes and 3 and 4 punch combos would be to much for liston ....holyfield knocks out sonny liston out around rd 9

Someone spends a night in hospital.
Not sure who or how but it ends up with someone getting hurt.
Thats my expert view on this match up

Holyfield gets nailed to the canvas after one of boxings bravest performances.

Liston was murder, only very fast boxers like Ali would beat him imo.

davie wrote:Someone spends a night in hospital.
Not sure who or how but it ends up with someone getting hurt.
Thats my expert view on this match up

So what you're saying is that you predict PAIN

I'd back Holyfield by decision either over 12 or 15 rounds, just on how Liston fought against Ali and how Holyfield fought Tyson. I'd back Holyfield's in ring tactics and natural athleticism over Liston's power and aggression.

badkatt wrote:first of all holyfield would be bigger then liston

If you just look at the tale of the tape I guess you could say that but Liston may well have been the strongest heavyweight ever to put on a pair of gloves. Liston would be stronger than Evander, hell even Foreman said Liston was the only man that ever forced him to move backwards.

I agree with Saad, Holyfield would slug and have his moments but in the end he'll lose a decision or suffer a late round tko. I think it would be similar to Holyfield-Bowe I, a great fight where the strength of Liston would be the deciding factor. On the outside the Liston jab would dominate, Evander never defended particularly well against a good jab.

northern wrote:I'd back Holyfield by decision either over 12 or 15 rounds, just on how Liston fought against Ali and how Holyfield fought Tyson. I'd back Holyfield's in ring tactics and natural athleticism over Liston's power and aggression.

Holyfield a special talent, I agree. I don't know enough about Liston's style of boxing to make a proper opinion. Concussive I guess might describe it....but does that have to mean one-dimensional, I don't know?
I never even knew that Foreman boxed Liston, as mentioned above ^^^

badkatt wrote:first of all holyfield would be bigger then liston

Well yeah, an inch or so taller than Liston but reach-wise Sonny has an enormous advantage and knows how to use it. And of course Sonny was a big heavy guy who worked down to his weight, Holyfield was a serious weight lifter. I'm not sure I follow your logic here.

Holyfield has a heart as big as himself Liston is a strong guy who is a murderous puncher and most of his opponent's ended up sprawled on the canvas in front of him.................And especially against some-one who would stand in front of him and slug it out like we all know Holyfield would do at some stage of the fight probably even a few time's during the fight Holyfield wouldn't be able to help himself his
Warrior instinct would take over and this would turn into a war while it lasted the fight would sea-saw over the first 6 round's with Holy
having a slight edge by round 8..... Listons corner would be pumping him up between round's and in round 10 with Liston becoming slighty desperate traps Holy on the rope's and put a devastating barrage of punche's together....And with Holy not responding giving the ref no
option but to jump in and save Holy from further punishment in a barnburner

a prime evander is very difficult to beat.
my guess is he wins two out of three in
an old style trilogy. it wouldn't be a beauty
contest and evander's "god wants this" thing
gives him a second wind late in the fight.

liston has more power, but holy has granite
under is nose. in all other departments sonny
has no edge and that would mean evander can
outlast him.