Yes Williams had monster power but the better fighters were harder for Williams to hit clean. His KO ratio dropped off against some guys that lighter punchers could stop. However, Cleveland did nail Sonny forcing him to punch his way out of a sticky patch, but I assume Williams hit others harder. Clay had Sonny do a chicken dance in their first fight with a right hand early on.
Liston v Williams would give you some idea with a bit of the besmanoff fight. They are on YouTube.:good
I think Lewis is a very skilled, talented fighter. But I really suspect his chin would let him down against Foreman, Liston, maybe even Baer if he connects with a flush right hand.
The biggest subtraction from Liston is the complete absence of a top notch corner. He had to have, at best, the most mediocre of trainers and managers the division has seen. How he got that far is incredible. And that lack of a great braintrust will cost a guy fights, sooner or later. Especially when the other top fighter has a Dundee or Steward . What a gap. I would have liked to have seen what Sonny could have done with say the polishing of an Arcel or Brown Or Angie back then. Come to think of it, subtract the top corners of some of those heavies and insert the Liston braintrust. Any doubts they lose more?
Great post as usual janitor. I would just point out that Sonny had the same, not greater, very long reach as Lewis, 7'. Though the largest distinction between reach & height I have even seen in boxing, 11". What is your modest moniker about?
Cheers. Sam Langford started out in the sport as the janitor of a boxing gym. If no other opponent was available, people would fight the janitor.
Lennox Lewis Wladimir Klitschko Sonny Liston George Foreman Max Baer Vitali Klitschko H2H, I pick Liston to beat them all.
1. Sonny Liston 2. George Foreman 3. Lennox Lewis 4. Vitali Klitschko 5. Max Baer 6. Wladimir Klitschko
1) Liston with the right mindset (The one vs Ali would be 5th or 6th) 2) Foreman 3) Lewis 4) Vitali 5) Baer 6) Wlad
Max Baer would be the stand out here.He fought with reckless abandon with his hands down chin up and looked like he had few in many fights with his off balance swings but man the guy hit harder than Klitchko and Tyson combined. So again he doesn't need technique BC he fought in the era of when real fighters fought so there it shows no fighter today stands a chance. Baer is a sign of heart and determination and raw talent which rates over technique and ring generalship he would be undisputed and undefeated champion today.