Is Liston The Most Intimidating Heavyweight Of All Time?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Azzer85, Aug 7, 2011.

  1. Azzer85

    Azzer85 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I came across a couple of comments frrom George Foreman and Mike Tyson regarding Sonny Liston. These 2 guys were obvious bad asses in their own right but they seem to hold Liston in high regard.

    So is he the 'baddest' heavyweight ever?

    I cant seem to find the articles now, but Foreman stated something like "they all ran from me, Frazier tried but he ended up running, Ali just lay on the ropes, the only person who pushed me back was Sonny Liston"

    And Tysons also commented that the one man hed be scared of would be Sonny Liston.
     
  2. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace

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    I read that article too. It was about a sparring session he and liston had. He said liston had enough power to keep him at range.
     
  3. Azzer85

    Azzer85 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    im sure it was posted on here somewhere, it was only a short interview.

    Liston is the daddy of them all
     
  4. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. Full Member

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  5. crippet

    crippet Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Foreman is very self effacing - He said he looked into Nortons eyes hoping Norton didnt see his knees trembling.
    A prime Foreman is a force of nature, beatable yes but I dont see Liston pushing him back in a real fight, not a sparring session
     
  6. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    You could make the argument that he was the "original" bad guy of boxing.

    However, much like Tyson and Foreman did after him, Liston patterned himself after Joe Louis. When asked, Liston would say that his "emotionless" demeanour was the result of his first fight with Marty Marshall where Liston was openly amused and had his jaw broken as a process. The cold stare on the other hand came naturally to him, but he never made a show out of it like Foreman.

    Unlike Louis though, Liston had a criminal background which made him a "villain" to the public. But Louis's behaviour in the ring was quite similar to Liston's. They'd be all business in the ring and then congralute their opponents after the fight was over.
     
  7. RockyJim

    RockyJim Boxing Addict Full Member

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    No...
     
  8. frankenfrank

    frankenfrank Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Not at all , especially not after you see/know about his KO losses.
    Tyson , Tua , the Klitschkos , Foreman and many more are way more intimidating .
     
  9. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I wouldn't call Tua intimidating. He looks easy to handle in the ring, until you taste his power.
     
  10. EverLast

    EverLast Well-Known Member Full Member

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    **** off with the Klitschkos being intimidating seriously. David Haye, as **** as he performed had wlad holding on for dear life all night long.

    Anyway, its hard to say who was more intimidating out of liston, foreman, and tyson...but they are all the top dogs in this regard
     
  11. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    Not this.

    But this.

    :rofl Again the translation of "all night long" is "a few seconds here and there".
     
  12. frankenfrank

    frankenfrank Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    i must have confused him with someone else then , tua looks like a sissy boy
     
  13. Longhhorn71

    Longhhorn71 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Liston won many of his fights at the Weigh-in.

    He told his trainers to put him in position so he could put his "evil eye" stare on his opponent at the scales.

    (plus he used to put a bunch a towels under his robe to make him seem even bigger when he walked into the ring)
     
  14. Armstrong!

    Armstrong! Active Member Full Member

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    Well he was certainly intimidating to an extent. He fixed a cold, dead stare on people and combine that with the fact he was built like a brick shithouse and could knock over trees with his punches, he's one of the most intimidating heavyweights of all time for sure.
     
  15. romulus9

    romulus9 West Virginia Mountaineer Full Member

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    I don't know that he was the most intimidating heavyweight of all-time but I'd say Floyd Patterson sure thought so.