I don't think Chris would have any answer for that jab. The more patient and methodical Sonny plays it, the sooner he wins it.
Byrd could be quite the slickster and if he fought safety first (which he might as soon as he realises what he's in the ring with) he could go the distance, but he ain't winning it...
Depends...... Pre 1964 Liston probably KO's the 1999 to 2003 version of Chris Byrd in a time machine.... However, the Byrdman who schooled a 40 year old Holy in 2002 would likely school the post 1964 Liston in a time machine...... BUT! Prime-4-Prime, I'll take Liston by TKO in 8 rds... Byrd was way more slippery than Floyd Patterson.... MR.BILL
What if it is Old Liston with a broken shoulder m8? Would it be anything like Ali VS Liston 1964 or Byrd VS Vitali 2000? I am not 100% sure Old Liston wins, IF he breaks his shoulder swinging And missing for Byrd. But PRIME Liston wins every time like Liston VS Patterson. Foreman Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooook!:smoke
If it happened 2 young Vitali y wouldn't it happen 2 old Liston really ? Liston may have won but stands almost no chance at stopping Byrd like he did Patterson . Byrd lasts longer 4 sure and if Eddie Machen lasted 12 , y wouldn't byrd really ?
I think Byrd does pretty well in this. And I think Sonny would not be as effective fighting a southpaw with that upper body movement the Byrdman had. Eventually, Sonny would make adjustments and solve him, but I think Byrd peppers his way to an early lead in this & makes it a competitive fight for 10 rounds anyway.
It depends on how Byrd chose to defend himself. When on the move, hunting a pecking, and actually punching or spinning out of trouble, he might give Liston some trouble. He ultimately wouldn't be doing the damage or scoring with the authority to win rounds, and his points situation would be further complicated by Liston's jab and his own inability to hold his ground, but this Byrd I can see surviving and having some moments en route to losing a decision wide. SOmetimes, Byrd likes to stand in the pocket and try to duck and dodge and block with his shoulders. Against a Liston, a brutal hitter who can work off a damn, damn good jab, this is quite literally suicide. I'll assume Chris executes the first plan, because he wasn't an idiot. If he has a brain fart and does the other one, he gets stopped in the very round he makes that mistake.
The jab really is the key here. As slick as Byrd was, he never found answers for a good, thudding jab. He didn't defend them correctly, pulled back more than to the side. Whether or not he gets hit with enough behind the jab to get himself clobbered truly does depend on how much he decides to move his feet, which is a key factor in how Chris Byrd wins and loses.