Sonny Liston vs. Vitali Klitschko

I tend to agree with Morbius. While it's true that at HW a few pounds means a lot less than it does at lower weights, it's also true that past a certain weight advantage the skill and greatness of the smaller man have to become a lot to compensate. In this particular situation it's not just some random big guy, but a H2H monster whose stats speak for themselves. Liston has an uphill battle in my opinion.

 

Easy win vor Vitali. Sonny was too crude, too slow, too short. Only way Liston could win this if he manages to injury Vitali. Bad cut for example.

Otherwise a one-sided beatdown TKO win for big Vit.

 

Stop with the nonsense and explain how Vitali actually goes on about beating him "easily".

 

Hand on heart; do you really think that Vitally Klitschko’s opposition was as good as Liston’s?

 

Janitor,

How many big punchers did Liston really meet?

Cleveland Williams? Okay, look at the damage he did in short fights to Liston! I'm pretty sure he cut Liston.

Nino Valdes? Not really a puncher, but once again he closed Liston's eye in two rounds.

Leotis Martin? Not really a puncher, he had Sonny out cold for 60 seconds.

Now by contrast, Vitali basically turned Sanders, Peter, and Biggs into punching bags. Having his way and seldom getting his back. The faster boxers Vitali in Donald and Gomez didn't land much either.

I don't see how Liston is going to do well vs a MUCH better puncher and boxer than above opponents he faced.

While the opening rounds will be very interesting, I could see Vitali pulling away big time.

The poll is about even here, but I'm not reading many compelling cases for Liston to win.

 

Vitali isn't much of a puncher so that is irrelevant. I think he wins a decision but there is absolutely no reason to assume that he could knock out a man of Listons caliber. Liston was never even on the floor before Martin, if we're going to discount the questionable stoppage against Ali.

Williams was a great puncher. Not a great fighter but he could bang. Foreman raved about his power and ranked him among the top 3 hardest punchers he ever worked with. He's 49th on the Rings 100 hardest punchers list. I'm not too familiar with his credentials or the testimony of other fighters and trainers, but I'm sure there's a reason why he's featured there.

Vitali overwhelms Liston with workrate, size and speed. He isn't bombing him out.

 

I don’t think that is the critical question to be honest.

Vitally is a good puncher, but he is basically an attrition finisher.

Liston obviously isn’t going to just fold when he hits him.

 

That's my point it is beyond silly because people can argue facts and stats all they want but it eont change the outcome.

Sonny is bug enough thay size isn't an issue. He hit harder and had longer reach.

Style is the issue.

 

Janitor,

How many big punchers did Liston really meet?

Cleveland Williams? Okay, look at the damage he did in short fights to Liston! I'm pretty sure he cut Liston.

Nino Valdes? Not really a puncher, but once again he closed Liston's eye in two rounds.

Leotis Martin? Not really a puncher, he had Sonny out cold for 60 seconds.

Now by contrast, Vitali basically turned Sanders, Peter, and Biggs into punching bags. Having his way and seldom getting his back. The faster boxers Vitali in Donald and Gomez didn't land much either.

I don't see how Liston is going to do well vs a MUCH better puncher and boxer than above opponents he faced.

While the opening rounds will be very interesting, I could see Vitali pulling away big time.

The poll is about even here, but I'm not reading many compelling cases for Liston to win.

You missed my point. Next those who gave Liston some trouble when they landed, Vitali is HUGE puncher and a better boxer.

History shows Liston got marked up easy and starched by a lesser puncher. Lucky for him many of Sonny's opponents had glass jaws, were much smaller or were old. None of the above applies to Vitali.

 

I dunno about Vitali being a huge puncher. I think he's more of a guy where everything he throws is accurate and solid. He seriously messes guys up but over the stretch. Actually, for his enormous frame, I'd say he's a relatively average puncher.

Frankly I think that's worse for Liston, because I think it's easier to deal with a wild man with huge power than a solid technical fighter with merely good power.

My 2c.

 

I really don’t see a case for Vitally being a bigger puncher than Williams, let alone in a different class.

I honestly don’t think that there is a class of puncher beyond Williams, in terms of raw power.

I also don't think that Williams power gave Liston much trouble anyway.

 

Liston must have been 50 years old when he nearly killed 6'5" Chuck Wepner. As far as Valdez being washed up, I would match him against the majority of Klitc's opponents and bet Nino to win. When did height suddently become the measure of a fighter? Granted, Klitch did well against a shot Lennox Lewis, but he lost.

 

Valdess was a good puncher,so was Summerlin,add Dejohn

 

I am not dismissing all the arguments made for Vitally Klitschko, but we are seeing some fairly illogical arguments put forward for him.

His power, when Liston never really showed any vulnerability to punchers.

Losses that fell well outside Liston’s prime, and don’t tell us much anyway.

His size and that of his opponents being treated as an unqualified merit, without examination of anything else i.e. acomplishments.

 

vits is not a great puncher, his bother is the good one at certain punches.

vits instead relies on aggregate whilst absorbing shyte with his chin.