Prime liston vs prime holmes. Who would back sonny?

I have a respect for holmes. He basically ruled the division for 7 years. Yes he was never unified champ but I think most people recognised him as the truth champ despite the other belt holders.

But the more I study liston the more I think he would defeat him. Liston has that good long reach to battle against holmes excellent own jab. Liston would have been the stronger guy in the ring I believe to. Despite the ali loss s liston was a tough guy in there so I think he would have been walking through any thing holmes threw at him. It certainly wouldn't be a breeze for sonny but I see him knocking down holmes at least once, roughing him up and getting the decision.

 

Holmes UD. Prime Holmes would move and stick the jab all night. Liston who was a bit slow plodding would have triuble closing the gap

 

On the one hand where Holmes would usually have an advantage with his jab, this may be nullified by Liston's own jab, and his longer reach.
However has been said Holmes was a better mover, which may have given him the oppurtunies to get into a rhythm and out jab Sonny.
Liston had trouble with movers and I think Holmes would eke out a hard fought UD althouth he may have to get up off the canvas to do it.

 

Holmes is too much of what's wrong for Sonny- his movement's better, he's got a great jab himself (and a quicker one), a hell of a chin, and is a bigger heavyweight himself. Holmes UD for me.

 

Larry Holmes had amazing recuperative powers. Coming off canvas against Shavers , Snipes and
surviving some rough moments in prime against Weaver , Witherspoon.
LH would be caught and knockdown by SL and have some rough moments but Holmes would as
always find someway to survive and decision Liston.
Knockdown 0.43
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjK6L4kQwKo

This content is protected

 

If old shavers could drop Larry then can definitely see liston doing so. And I'm talking prime liston so he would be quicker off the mark. Snipes was another that dropped holmes. Yes he got up to win but liston could do some serious damage in their if he caught u.

 

Oh he definitely had great recovery and I don't think liston would knock Larry out but I think he could hurt him in there enough to shake him put him down at least once and grind out a decision. Larry s a great champ and ton of respect for him, just that he battled to the finish line with a ageing Norton, dropped by a old shavers, and struggled with witherspoon and Williams. This is not a criticism of Larry but a feeling that a prime liston would have a better night against holmes than a lot of fighters.

 

And I don't pick many heavy s really tu beat holmes cos he was so damn good but do think liston as the qualitys to do it.

 

Toss up

 

A good dream fight post ensures
A. Variety of answers
B. Robust debate
C. Open to interpretation
Fergy as always your dream fight posts cover ABC .

 

Good points. I can see the argument for Liston, too.

 

That's Awesome . But When did Holmes speak on fighting Sonny Liston ? Because I would love to read more about it .
Holmes rarely admits any fighter would trouble him , he must think highly of Liston to say that .

 

A decent argument for either can be put forward. Liston's jab and reach would offset the Holmes jab quite a bit. There would be trades at various points and if and when Liston hurt Holmes he would be a lot more difficult to fend off than lesser fighters like Snipes, Weaver and Shavers.

The first critical juncture is how the battle of the jabs pans out. If Liston matches him or thereabouts he'd win imo. If he doesn't he may have to rely on stopping him.

Great match.

 

There's not many HWs I personally would pick against Prime Sonny Liston . He was Extraordinary , Powerful and brutal with skill .

Its pain me to say it but I pick Holmes to beat Liston on points . He has everything that is needed to conquer The Big Bear .