Which Heavyweight Champs beat Sonny?

You cant believe it but I do think Liston was a great fighter. At least an ATG #13-14 in my view. He either faded fast or had a short prime. Even on this thread I said he beats the Klits and one version of Lewis.

 

I don't think the list is very long either. Especially if we're talking about Liston at his best which was likely between about 1959-1962, and NOT The one who fought Clay. Muhammad Ali would still always be a heavy favorite in my book even when Sonny was prime. A good number of the other ones are 50/50 bets.

 

If someone over rates Liston, says he will knock out Marciano or Frazier I will defend marciano and Frazier because it is my belief that they had better resumes and were more proven. I still rate Sonny. I suppose it's biased towards the over rating. Bowe is another fighter who is over rated. I still don't think he was much better or better at all than Buster Douglas. Does that make me biased toward Bowe? I think you picked up on something I said a long time ago and took it the wrong way. Maybe I went too far one time I can't remember, but you are the one who takes it personal not me.

 

Liston had the style and look to beat certain guys. The best guys he beat Machen was bombed out by INGO in 1and Foley was Ko'd by Doug Jones. Williams had already been stopped by Bob Satterfield and for me never really proved much in the ring although I heard good sparring stories, so the best fighter he beat was Patterson.

I will not get into the Ali fights and when I was a kid Sonny was the baddest man on the planet until George Foreman but my opinion has changed on both men over the years.

I like Sonny's chances against the guys who could be intimidated but the guys who could battle back or out-gut or outbox him had the best chances and then there are always the boxers or bangers

I think the strong word here is could and the ones that could not would are

Jack Johnson - Johnson may be able to box and give Sonny trouble, punch, clinch and move....Sonny a big force with a reach but JJ was strong and had a chance

Jim Jeffries - never fought a guy like Liston but visa versa-what would happen if these 2 clashed Sonny had the reach and jab and I would lean towards him based off film but I have heard Jeffries was strong and quick so he may have a chance

Jack Dempsey-interesting fight Dempsey had the power and speed, fight could go either way

Joe Louis- I favor Joe Louis I think he did everything better

Max Baer- depends on which Max shows up but Max could take a shot and hit so he had a chance

Gene Tunney- Sonny would be a force but Gene could move and outbox Sonny

Marciano- early rounds may bring some friction and trouble for the Rock but I think this is where he has to let Sonny feel his power. I think Marciano gets stronger as the fight goes on for a late stop 9-10 rd

Ezzard Charles- fight could go either way Ezz was gritty and could box in the pocket, a much better version of Leotis Martin

JJ Walcott- Walcott could move and punch, i know I am in the minority but JJ could steal a UD

Joe Frazier - smokin Joe may get rocked or hurt early but If he can get past that and dish out some body punishment and get his motor going could break Sonny down

Mike Tyson- Mike started fast and I favor him to get Sonny in the early rounds but should Sonny survive and keep the range I favor him by rd 8-9

Lennox Lewis- Lennox had the size and power but he also got KO'd by guys that were not punchers of Sonny's magnitude

Vitali- had a solid chin good movement and late power, could get cut but I like his chances vs Sonny

Vlad in current form should be able to outbox Sonny and take him out before the 8-9th round but Vlad also got stopped by guys like Brewster and Sanders but I would bet on WK

Bowe had a good chance but got hit an awful lot to be hit by a puncher

 

I agree. It is not that long. Not as long as I thought it was. ALI, Holmes, Louis, Tyson, Marciano, maybe Frazier, May be the lighter Lewis.

 

:good I think Sonny has 50% chance with most if these guys. Sonny might beat the Klits with his workrate but I agree with the rest.

 

Sonny is in thay rarefied class that he CAN beat anyone and no one is gonna steamroll him (on the level, that is).... You can only say that about a handful of heavies.

 

Ali, Louis, Holmes beat him

prime Bowe and Lennox have a chance, but Liston would more than likely win

 

If you actually believe this or try to spin it for debate it's irrelevant .. you're not serious one way or the other.

 

I need to do a study on this.

Thanks. So far I have checked into the two Patterson fights. Patterson engaged in the first fight but the second he Liston cut the ring off pretty to my eyes. Patterson may have gotten out of the corner once or twice but he was getting hammered close to corners or very near ropes.

Again, I will have to do a little more research. Thanks.

 

Joe Louis(maybe), Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, George Foreman(maybe), Mike Tyson(doubtful) Lennox Lewis, Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko

 

World class fighters actually get hit, and hit flush, in fights over a decade. So, he's either the greatest defensive genius since Willy Pep or his chin is better than many desire to believe.