Vitali Klitschko vs. Sonny Liston

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Hookie, Sep 10, 2012.


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  1. Hookie

    Hookie Affeldt... Referee, Judge, and Timekeeper Full Member

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    Who wins, seriously? H2H, Prime vs. Prime, both at their absolute best.
     
    Hookie, Sep 10, 2012
    Hookie, Sep 10, 2012
    #1
  2. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    At his absolute best Id pick Sonny Liston by decision.

    If it was the heavier, slower Sonny who was slightly off Id go with Vitali.
     
    ETM, Sep 10, 2012
    ETM, Sep 10, 2012
    #2
  3. tommygun711

    tommygun711 The Future Full Member

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    Liston
     
    tommygun711, Sep 10, 2012
    tommygun711, Sep 10, 2012
    #3
  4. Andrei00

    Andrei00 Active Member Full Member

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    Liston by KO.
     
    Andrei00, Sep 10, 2012
    Andrei00, Sep 10, 2012
    #4
  5. DaveK

    DaveK Vicious & Malicious Full Member

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    Vitali is great at maintaining his preferred distance and has the effective movement to land his shots and evade Liston's, even if it isn't pretty or on-balance.

    Ali made Liston look smallish in he ring, and Vitali would make him look downright small.

    Liston had trouble tracking down movers and defensively adept fighters. Vitali, although he has an ugly style, is still very effective. Liston looked like a monster if you came to him. Vitali may do that, but only in spurts.

    I have trouble seeing how Liston would be effective consistently enough to give Vitali much more than a handful of lost rounds on a wide decision scorecard.
     
    DaveK, Sep 10, 2012
    DaveK, Sep 10, 2012
    #5
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  6. Hookie

    Hookie Affeldt... Referee, Judge, and Timekeeper Full Member

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    45-2 (41) overall and 15-2 (12) in HW World Title Fights. He even took a 4 year break between late 2004 and late 2008.

    He has never been down. He has never been behind on points in a fight. He has 2 TKO losses in spite of these facts though. He lost to Chris Byrd in 2000, LTKOby9 (quit due to a shoulder injury) and he lost to Lennox Lewis in 2003, LTKOby6 (ref stopped due to cuts). He was up 7 rounds to 2 vs. Byrd prior to the stoppage. He was up 4 rounds to 2 vs. Lewis prior to the stoppage. He became even better after these losses. Since the loss to Lewis he has gone 13-0 (10).

    He has beat plenty of good fighters... giants, big punchers, slick boxers, good southpaws... guys with good speed, good footwork, good chins, etc.

    Maybe he hasn't beat any future Hall of Famers but Liston only beat 1 HOFer in Patterson. Pretty sure, Vitali would have beat Patterson as well. I'm sure he'd beat Cleveland Williams, Machen, and Folley as well.
     
    Hookie, Sep 10, 2012
    Hookie, Sep 10, 2012
    #6
  7. Hookie

    Hookie Affeldt... Referee, Judge, and Timekeeper Full Member

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    Explain
     
    Hookie, Sep 10, 2012
    Hookie, Sep 10, 2012
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  8. DaveK

    DaveK Vicious & Malicious Full Member

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    Whitehurst made it to the finish, twice for that matter.

    Machen went 12 rounds in a losing effort.

    Vitali definitely does better than either of those guys.

    I don't think Vitali or his bro gets enough credit...





    Yet.
     
    DaveK, Sep 10, 2012
    DaveK, Sep 10, 2012
    #8
  9. grumpy

    grumpy Member Full Member

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    I gotta go with Liston. His jab would be too much, and cut him up bad.
     
    grumpy, Sep 10, 2012
    grumpy, Sep 10, 2012
    #9
  10. DaveK

    DaveK Vicious & Malicious Full Member

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    I'm confident Vitali's jab would be busier, longer, and stronger. Faster too.
     
    DaveK, Sep 10, 2012
    DaveK, Sep 10, 2012
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  11. Hookie

    Hookie Affeldt... Referee, Judge, and Timekeeper Full Member

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    Cleveland Williams sucked! He stopped Terrell in 7 (who improved after the loss to Williams) and he was beat by Terrell in a rematch, LSD10. He drew with Eddie Machen. What else did he do except for get knocked out in the early rounds vs. every other top fighter he faced. Yeah, yeah... he was shot by a cop in 1964.

    Machen and Folley were very good fighters but Cruiserweights. Neither was exceptionally fast or exceptionally powerful. Machen was a bit more durable than Folley but Folley was the better overall boxer IMO. H2H Folley went 1-0-1 vs. Machen. These guys were 6' and 6'1" and under 200 Lbs.

    Patterson was fast and powerful but not very durable. He was a blown up LHW who came right at you. He was made for a guy like Liston... imagine what Vitali would do to him. Sure, Patterson might last longer vs. Klitschko but he'd get hurt bad.

    Who else did Liston beat? Johnny Summerlin x2? Marty Marshall 2 out of 3? A washed up Nino Valdes who was never that good anyway?
     
    Hookie, Sep 10, 2012
    Hookie, Sep 10, 2012
    #11
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  12. kingfisher3

    kingfisher3 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    i dont think either guy can be judged well from their resume, liston's big fights were against perfect/terrible style matchups and vitali's is basically the lewis fight

    liston can't hurt vitali without getting hurt himself and gets demorilized then ud/tko vitali
     
    kingfisher3, Sep 10, 2012
    kingfisher3, Sep 10, 2012
    #12
  13. MagnaNasakki

    MagnaNasakki Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I'd go Vitali.

    Too big, too long, too good. He'd be lighting Liston up with right hands over the top all night. Awful styles clash for Sonny.
     
    MagnaNasakki, Sep 10, 2012
    MagnaNasakki, Sep 10, 2012
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  14. Hookie

    Hookie Affeldt... Referee, Judge, and Timekeeper Full Member

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    Vitali like his brother in that other popular thread has many advantages over Liston...

    Height (about 7"), Weight (about 35 solid Lbs), Reach (well, let's not go there), Strength (both strong but Vitali has the leverage), Punching Power (both good, Vitali's durability makes his power a bigger factor), Chin (V. Klitschko has never been down), Speed, Athleticism, Footwork, Conditioning.

    I'm not saying Liston doesn't have a chance, I just don't understand why he is so loved despite having just a few wins over top fighters and falling apart in 3 fights.
     
    Hookie, Sep 10, 2012
    Hookie, Sep 10, 2012
    #14
  15. PetethePrince

    PetethePrince Slick & Redheaded Full Member

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    Exactly. Vitali matches up incredibly well to Liston.
     
    PetethePrince, Sep 10, 2012
    PetethePrince, Sep 10, 2012
    #15
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