Sonny Liston vs George Foreman. Prime for Prime?

Unless the films lie, absolutely. Plus he punched straighter, had a better defense and a longer reach. All these things add up to Liston beating Foreman to the punch. Considering the power that both men possess, the man who beats the other man to the punch in this fight is going to be the victor. In that respect, all signs point towards Liston.

 

sound argument.

I wonder who could absorb the others shots better though?

 

Sonny would tuck his chin and stuff that big jab down the pipe. Then follow with his power shots. I don't think it would take that long for Liston to get his respect in there. Just charging into Sonny Liston is bad for your health.

Also if George Foreman tries to push Liston {same tactic he used against Frazier} it would be risky because Sonny can reach and hurt Foreman from the outside. Where Frazier couldn't reach him. Plus I think Liston was just as strong as George.

 

Liston by stoppage ..

 

I must admit, I'm being swayed. It helps that liston does look so immaculate on film.

I think foremans stamina weakness could be the key here as he will tire down the stretch.

Tell ya what I'll settle for, if someone can convince me liston is able to withstand the earl onslaught of foreman, if he's able to force his respect, if he's able to take George into the second half of the fight, I'll change sides.

 

I think a more pertinent question is can Foreman withstand the early onslaught of Liston?

Sonny proved that he could take the onslaughts of powerpunchers who tried to get him out of there (Williams I and II, DeJohn). Foreman fought one powerpuncher who actually mounted a good offense (Lyle) and we saw what happened there. Hurt, bounced all over the canvas and almost stopped.

When Foreman is actually being hit back, he's not so effective. Liston will hit first AND hit back. I don't see this fight going into the later rounds, personally.

 

I dont think liston is as incredible an offensive beast as George is though. He cut through Frazier and Norton like a knife through butter. The only time anyone beat him is when they ran (like liston really). But only Foreman destroyed better men than sonny did.

I am wholly convinced that George is a better offensive machine but if Liston can outlast him then he would win.

 

On this we differ

I think Foreman caught Frazier at the right time (gettin' soft, fat, lazy and unfocused- la dolce vida!). Norton? Liston destroys him just as quickly. Again, Foreman looks amazing when he's not being given much resistance. Give him resistance and he starts looking like a flailing amateur (to me).

 

Once Liston stings/hurts Foreman and gets his respect what then for George Foreman? If he loses the edge of his aggression and starts to think a little before he comes in then what? It becomes more of a boxing match.

Sonny is gonna have the time and room he needs to tee off with that jab and Foreman wasn't hard to find in there. It might get ugly for Foreman.

 

George

 

If he stings foreman i imagine it will just become an all out war rather than a chess match.

In a war there are very few i pick over foreman in a war. i think Tyson out punches him and i think Louis out lasts him. Could liston do either of those?

It's a good matchup, as the poll suggests.

 

But why? We only saw Foreman in one fight that could truly be called a "war" (vs Lyle) and he looked far from unbeatable. In fact he barely got out of that in one piece. I could think of several HWs who could beat him in a war where he had to take as well as give.

When GF is doing all the giving he looks monstrous. But when he has to take some in return the "monster" factor goes WAAAY down from what I've seen.

 

Could go either way. Foremans hooker cuts could be unpredictable.
Does Foreman just walk through Liston's jab? Liston's boxing skills may
Be too much, I feel Foreman eats many shots but eventually batters Liston
who weathers the storm and starts to control the pace with his jab.
Liston KO 8.

 

When it comes to blowing out an opponent early and impressively, there may indeed be no more impressive a heavyweight as a prime George Foreman. He was a great "mugger". But I can't fathom where he has procured this rep as some great warrior who engages in shootouts and comes out the winner. I saw him in one war; one which he barely survived and the only thing that came out looking good was his heart.

Rocky Marciano deserves this distinction because he had to give and take in several fights and come out on top. Same with Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali. Prime Foreman? We only saw one give and take war. I don't see him coming out on top of a give and take war with Sonny Liston; a fighter who is on the same tier in strength and power, but more skilled offensively and defensively and provably every bit as durable (perhaps even more so).

 

Liston will always be an absolute monster and force on paper. But as most observers of the sport eventually learn, boxing is not fight on paper and is often times far more about the mental than the physical. This is no truer in match-ups pitting ATGs against one another. Fights will always be fought in the squared circle. Liston will always be more special on paper. It's apart of his lure and mystique. It's something difficult to rationalize so his fans insist he was bossed by his only stylistic weakness (Not in actuality but in all fantasy fights). How he lost means nothing to them.

Yes, Liston has the stylistic edge. So there is nothing unreasonable about picking him. But acting like the reverse is is silly. What do stylistic disadvantages have to do with quitting on your stool and rolling around on the canvas, clearly not wanting to get up. Liston was the greatest frontrunner in the history of HW champions.

There's no guarantee he destroys Frazier as easily, let alone beats him.