Foreman accomplished way more than Liston, they don't compare. The young Foreman would take Liston out in 3 or less.
LISTON WON FIGHTS PRIMARILY BECAUSE HE WAS A VERY STRONG HEAVYWEIGHT. THAT GETS NEGATED AGAINST FOREMAN WHO IS BIGGER AND STRONGER. I ALSO THINK FOREMAN HAD MORE OF A FIGHTING HEART. MY GUESS IS THAT FOREMAN KO's LISTON IN ABOUT 4 ROUNDS.
Why am I reminded of Mac Foster and Clay Hodges..... As usual, way too many possibilities here,,,,,, Can Sonny take one of George's early haymaker bombs,,,,,, And would George run out of gas by the 5th round,,,,,,
Liston, more compact technique and straighter punches overall. I think Liston is the better technician and he gives away nothing in power here imo. Liston KO4.
I always used to say that Liston would pick off Foreman firing more accurate shots inside of Foremans looping punches but the more i watch of both men the more i doubt it would play out like that. Prime Foreman i think would take Liston out it's basically a harder punching, physically stronger, much more durable and much more aggressive Williams.
For my pick, only two attacking forces could beat Foreman, and that's Tyson (would hit him far too often) and Louis (see above). The more I consider Foreman's ability, the more I find myself picking him over people I neevr previously would have. I think a few defensive guys could beat Foreman by allowing him to gas and beating him to the punch (young, byrd, ali etc) but anyone brave enough to exchange shots would pretty much have their **** pushed in.
Trying to be serious here............where is this Liston power ? He never ever fought anybody close to Foreman aka modern sized Hwt with some skill and lotsssss of power. What makes you think he would have that much of a impact ? The beansticks or lt heavies he actually fought don't count..........and Cleveland Williams is a yourneyman AT BEST, Foreman would blow him out in one..and if you think Patterson would have a prayer against George I would like to try the stuff you are smoking..Foreman also never ever quit blatantly with some BS shoulder excuse or even more BS , the Mafia excuse, lol, the truth is , Sony was weak upstairs, when the going got rough against the only comparitvely sized fighter with talent he faced he cashed in his chips............and his upstairs weakness also ultimately caused his demise as a junkie.... Sonny Liston is the most hystericely overrated fighter next to Caveman Jack Johnson on ESB, bar none.
Liston by knockout in 5 or less. It would be explosive. He rivals Foreman in strength and power. Sonny is the sharper puncher, better boxer, better chin, has better balance and definitley uses his jab to greater effect. Nothing like Frazier/Foreman. Liston doesnt bob, weave and crouch into Big George`s brutal uppercuts. Thats Foreman`s wheelhouse. Sonny worked behind that "jab" which was more like a straight left. I think Foreman is the easier target here. Young Foreman gets slightly overated. Sonny Liston isnt made to order for him the way Frazier and Norton were.
atsch WELL Shannon "Brick Brain" Briggs said VITLAY punched harder than Lenny Lewis. :nut :nut :nut IF you watch footage of Foreman VS Wepner And Lewis VS Briggs, you can easily see they hit a shitload harder then Liston/VITLAY. :deal A protracted slow brutal beating from a boxer who hits less hard, But lands a lot more for a lot more rounds, HURTS MORE then being knocked senseless early in a fight by a bigger-puncher. :deal Foreman Hoooooooooooooooooooooooooook!:hat
The early Liston was a better conditioned fighter, more skill and stamina but Foreman had the better power....Hard to say if we go by the Foreman-Lyle fight and I think Liston hit harder than Lyle...depends a lot on intangibles