Sonny Liston vs. Jersey Joe Walcott

look guys,sonny maybe was "only" 210 lbs or something,but he was naturally a very big guy.look at his hands,broad shoulders,massive back,strong legs...all that without weight-lifting and steroids.i would dare to say that he was naturally a bigger guy than lewis or klits.they weren't bulky and strong as liston in the beggining of careers,and probably used peds later(i don't blame him,most of pro athletes used them)...
so yes,even if liston was "only" 20 pounds heavier than walcott,he was much stronger.

 

I think Liston was simply an outstanding contender in 1960 alone, not an "uncrowned champion" for a number of years. The wins recorded in 1959 and 1960 Liston was eclipsed by the title winning efforts of ingo and patterson. in 1961 liston simply marked time against nobodys until he got a shot in 1962 off the back of what he did in 1960.

Wining against floyd indeed proved liston was without doubt the best in the world, but he had to beat him to do it. until then he was an outstanding contender who beat harris beter than the current champion but had not beat machen as easily as an ex champion had. 1961 liston did not fight a rated guy. Then he went 2-2 in title fights (3 in one round) up until 1965.

Its not cleaning out until the floyd fight but by even by then terell, jones and clay were around who he had yet to face.

 

:good

 

Well, he can fight to win and still win. I don't think Walcott lost to Louis the second time because he was fighting to win. Fighting to win and fighting risky aren't always mutually exclusive (Oscar-Trinidad, Pac-Marquez III). But yes, I don't want to get petty and pedantic. He will have to be risking himself in order to try and win and will most likely be stopped in the process. There's no reason the fight can't play out like Louis-Walcott I with the proper decision (Easier to envision. Louis was a legend. Liston was rather disdained), though, which was my only point I guess.

 

Everytime Joe Louis misfired, it put him squarely in Walcott's range. I think here, Liston could afford more mistakes due to that long, stopping jab of his. Sonny is very prone to be outmaneuvered for protracted spells in the fight, but eventually they'd clinch, Walcott would be the worse for it, and reset.

 

Liston by KO, but Walcott would be ahead no points at some point and would hurt Sonny quite a few times.

I think out of three Walcott would take one.

Thats prime Walcott - not the crap version that fought Rocky Marciano.

 

Walcott peaked later in his career. I think he was as good as ever vs. Marciano (at least in their first fight). He was at his best in some of his losses but there should be no shame in losing to Louis x2, Charles 2 out of 4, and Marciano x2. I'm not sure Liston would have done as well vs. these 3 all-time greats. He deserved the win vs. Louis in their first fight. He was up on points vs. Louis in their rematch and vs. Marciano (first fight) prior to getting stopped.

Walcott had quicker hands, quicker feet, better footwork, better stamina, and better defense.

He had good power but less than Liston, was very strong but maybe not as strong as Liston.

Both fighters were durable but I'll take Liston's chin over Walcott's.

I will add that when the going got tough Walcott stuck to his fight plan better.

I'll take Walcott on points in a great fight.

 

:good

 

crap version?? walcott was a great fighter in that fight and the film proves it. he fought, he boxed he countered - walcott went through his whole bag of tricks and his timing and heart shone through all the way.

 

Exactly that probably was the prime Walcott right there in the first Marciano fight - Walcott himself said he never better in a fight in his life - I think we can safely say that the first Marciano fight is where Walcott peaked - unfortunately in hindsight it was also the fight where he ran into the toughest fighter he ever faced in his career who was also peaking in parrallel

 

I think Walcott would cause all kinds of problems. 50/50 maybe slightly favor Sonny.

 

yes walcott was a fighter who often held something back for the next fight, thats how he developed into such a clever, slick fighter but a lot of fans felt he was a spoiler who stole fights with his punch. when joe finaly got the title he fought like a man whos life depended on it. walcott let it all hang out in the marciano fight. teddy brenner always said it was walcotts best fight.

 

Liston. Joe would duck, dodge and feint his way to a loss via UD.

 

**** i like this thread and i like this fight. haven't decided yet but really enjoying the posts

 

Hold on, they were highly regarded in old days, where do you get that misinformation form?