What Would Happen If Your Two All-TimeFavourite Fighters Had A Fight?

For me this would mean Charley Burley (weighing around 155) fighting Sonny Liston (weighting around 215)!

There's only ever going to be one winner here. Burley has to give up on the two-fisted attack he often employed in the opening rounds (giving him a chance at a KO, a good feel for his man plus a lead on the scorecards) and I fear he'd also have to give up his body attack. Two big weapons by the by already.

So Burley is back to what he is probably most famous for, magically staying out of range whilst in range and he's got to do it whilst, for once, out reached - hmmmm.

Burley could probably demonstrate an astonishing array of survival techniques and counter punches here, last of all his amazing chin but Liston would get him, probably in the middle rounds. Be fascinating while it lasted.

What would happen if your two all-time favourite fighters had a fight?

 

A great match up and a brave prediction.

I'll have to find out some more about this man Cribb.

 

I think Robinson would get a split decision.

Interesting mix for your two favourite fighters.

 

This is the heavyweight fight i'd most like to see. I am a big Louis fan, and would pick him, but it would be heart in the mouth time right at the first bell, because peak Tyson has about a 49% chance of winning IMO.

You can see Burley fight Oakland Billy Smith (in two parts) on YouTube. Bare in mind that this is a WW fighting a LHW and also - horrifically - it may be the only fight where Burley set out to carry his man as well as the only fight that is on film.

I got drawn to the Burley story on account of his reputation amongst hardcore fight fans. Many (TBooze for one on the boards) has him near the top of their all time p4p list.

Anyway, once I was involved I was near hypnotised. It's bull****, what most people think of Burley, think he's a purely a defensive master etc., he was a warrior when it was all on the line.

He was cheated out of so many different things, decisions, title shots, Zivic actually bought his contact so he wouldn't have to fight him. Aside from the great black HW's, i consider him the most avoided fighter of all time, and he perhaps give even them a run for their money.

He was honest, possibly never taking dirty money, despite the fact that it cost him in terms of career advancement, money etc. He retired at 29, still one of the best in the world p4p.

There's a story that SRR's people offered Burley a 3 fight contract with Robinson. But he had to ditch the first one. Charley declined.

SRR had already ducked Burley twice and Charley had never earned more than $1500, and never would. Whether the SRR story is true or not, there can be few men in fighting history with his kind of moral courage - and for what it's worth I think it's possible he may be the very best man who ever laced them up.