BoxRec

15/Hwy, who wins?

I think Liston could've outboxed Tua, and he'd have been well advised to use his jab and superior skill to do just that. Liston had a good chin in his own right, so he may be able to win a slugfest with Tua too, but it'd be a hell of a lot harder than if he boxed him, and I'm sure Liston would be smart enough to know that. Especially after taking a few Tua hooks...if he takes em that is.

Liston UD

Tua wins a war. Too much punch output.

Two wrecking machines, while Liston could box better. I see Sonny winning by dec.

Liston points for me, but Tua could pull a stoppage out of the bag in the last few rounds.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑21 Dec 2025, 07:00 Liston points for me, but Tua could pull a stoppage out of the bag in the last few rounds.

I do feel like if someone is gonna get stopped, it'd be Liston. It's damn near impossible to imagine Tua getting stopped.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑21 Dec 2025, 12:23

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑21 Dec 2025, 07:00 Liston points for me, but Tua could pull a stoppage out of the bag in the last few rounds.

I do feel like if someone is gonna get stopped, it'd be Liston. It's damn near impossible to imagine Tua getting stopped.

Well it would be impossible for Liston to be stopped if he was fighting at his best. Anyways, Liston would box smart by not engaging Tua on the inside by outboxing him on the outside behind his 84 inches in reach with powerful left jabs, right hands and left hooks as Liston would take a decision like Lennox Lewis who also had 84 inches in reach did against Tua.

scorpio83 wrote: ↑21 Dec 2025, 15:13

gilgamesh wrote: ↑21 Dec 2025, 12:23

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑21 Dec 2025, 07:00 Liston points for me, but Tua could pull a stoppage out of the bag in the last few rounds.

I do feel like if someone is gonna get stopped, it'd be Liston. It's damn near impossible to imagine Tua getting stopped.

Well it would be impossible for Liston to be stopped if he was fighting at his best. Anyways, Liston would box smart by not engaging Tua on the inside by outboxing him on the outside behind his 84 inches in reach with powerful left jabs, right hands and left hooks as Liston would take a decision like Lennox Lewis who also had 84 inches in reach did against Tua.

Liston vs Tua would definitely have more action than Lewis vs Tua though. In spite of the long reach, the lower height would make him an easier target for Tua. Not easy enough to beat I don't think, but easier to hit and make an exciting fight of it.

Liston UD with the jab. If there is a KO, it's late and Tua wins.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑21 Dec 2025, 16:00

scorpio83 wrote: ↑21 Dec 2025, 15:13

gilgamesh wrote: ↑21 Dec 2025, 12:23 I do feel like if someone is gonna get stopped, it'd be Liston. It's damn near impossible to imagine Tua getting stopped.

Well it would be impossible for Liston to be stopped if he was fighting at his best. Anyways, Liston would box smart by not engaging Tua on the inside by outboxing him on the outside behind his 84 inches in reach with powerful left jabs, right hands and left hooks as Liston would take a decision like Lennox Lewis who also had 84 inches in reach did against Tua.

Liston vs Tua would definitely have more action than Lewis vs Tua though. In spite of the long reach, the lower height would make him an easier target for Tua. Not easy enough to beat I don't think, but easier to hit and make an exciting fight of it.

The future and former champions whom Tua beat like Michael Moorer, Hasim Rahman, Oleg Maskaev and John Ruiz just to name several were a level below Sonny Liston. Also, "The President" Ike Ibeabuchi who was compared to Liston, survived Tua's left hooks and landed his big blows of his own got the decision while you could argued that Tua was robbed in that fight. Third, if Lennox Lewis wouldn't allow Tua to walk through his long jabs as he boxed brilliantly to take a decision nor would Liston who would also not allow Tua to land his big left hook as he would block Tua's big left hooks and countered him with jabs as he would take a decision as well. Like Elmer said, Liston was in a level above Tua and I would be surprised if a prime Liston stopped Tua late on his feet since Tua had an iron chin. Despite being 4 inches shorter than Lennox Lewis with the same reach at 84 inches, Liston wasn't easy for Tua to hit him that you think. This was why Liston would boxed his way behind his long jabs, right hands and left hooks to take a decision. The only way Tua would KO Liston was not the prime Liston before the two Ali fights, but the Liston was upset by Leotis Martin who KO Liston in 1969. Anyways, it would be exciting which I agreed with you.

One thing for sure is that Sonny Liston is not stopping David Tua. But, Tua could stop Liston. Liston by unanimous decision in a war.