Wishful thinking, but imagine Liston in his 20s, motivated and trained by Steward. I think with Manny in his corner that a young Liston is the Champ in *any* era.
I am not sure that any of Steward's heavyweights boxed as well as Sonny did. He has a much better jab than Lennox Lewis, and is a far more fluid all around boxer than Wlad. Sonny's problem wasn't boxing ability, it was not being given a shot at the title until he was a bit long in the tooth.
I cant help thinking Manny might have become a Father Figure to Sonny, Taught him Social graces, sanitised and De-mystified that intimidating presence, and perhaps Lessened it, Father Murphy may have seen the misunderstood character behind the supposedly Brutal Image, but he did not "Market" it, and i think it may of suited Sonny's guiding "Associates" to have this Brooding Destroyer image to the fore.. I suspect, Talent aside, it helped in the ring on quite a few Occassions... Manny may actually of Taken something away from Sonny ? Sonny was an instinctual predator who probably did not have the Mental agility or indeed mental stamina to follow a diverse plan, as could say a lennox lewis, he was more Seek and destroy, or in the case of Shifty cagey opponents Hunt and Hurt with the Jab, I do not think Emmanuel brings too may, if any Benifits to Sonny, I do not think he would much with Tyson Either, Some guys dont think about it...They just Do... Stratagems Ruse's and Tactics are for the thinkers...and practicing Survivalists
Willie Reddish was one of his trainers. A very respectable heavyweight in his day, and a very respected trainer for decades in Philadelphia, during Philly's boxing heyday. I doubt Steward knew anything more than guys like that knew.
I think that the key thing Liston lacked, was the ability to motivate himself once he held the title. If you want to make him significantly better, give him that.
Sonny's dead too. So they'd make a team ... a sh!t one, or a good one, depending on your perspective, and your thoughts on the controversy of Sonny's afterlife. Big questions, big fists. Maybe you have to be nailed with a phantom punch to become one though. I dunno.
Some say Sonny got rubbed out. A hot shot. I dunno. Steward's death was kind of sudden too. Reminded me of what they did to Jack Ruby.
BE, Ok, yeah I realized that after I posted. You meant Sonny's dead. Yes, Sonny died, but that's not as bad as having no inside game whatsoever like Wlad, who dies a coward's death 20 times a round, every clinch. Wlad wishes he was decomposing in a Las Vegas home waiting to be found by his wife. I'd rather sleep with the fishes than do Octopus impressions on German TV.
Liston had some very good trainers in Reddish, Manny was best with the taller men and Sonny was 6" 1/2 inch so wrong guy to add anything
