Would Liston have intimidated Jack Johnson !?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Feb 6, 2018.


Page 1 of 5
  1. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    29,470
    35,995
    Jan 8, 2017
    I know its very much a hypothetical question ..but if these 2 were matched would Liston have been able to shake up Johnson?
    He did it with Patterson and no doubt others , tried it with Ali .
    But I just don't see it with Johnson.
    Jack had gone through his life dealing with **** , so my feelings are Jack would laugh in Sonny's face .
    Just a personal opinion .
     
    Fergy, Feb 6, 2018
    Fergy, Feb 6, 2018
    #1
  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    112,937
    47,957
    Mar 21, 2007
    Makes a list of the twelve greatest heavies of all time.

    None of those guys would have been intimidated by any other heavy in a way that mattered.
     
    McGrain, Feb 6, 2018
    McGrain, Feb 6, 2018
    #2
    BCS8, mcvey, louis54 and 3 others like this.
  3. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    29,470
    35,995
    Jan 8, 2017
    I get u ,but it probably didn't stop a fighter trying .To some like Sonny , it probably came natural ,to get in your opposition s head .
     
    Fergy, Feb 6, 2018
    Fergy, Feb 6, 2018
    #3
  4. PhillyPhan69

    PhillyPhan69 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    18,095
    15,563
    Dec 20, 2006
    No
     
    PhillyPhan69, Feb 6, 2018
    PhillyPhan69, Feb 6, 2018
    #4
  5. The Kentucky Cobra

    The Kentucky Cobra Boxing Addict banned Full Member

    3,576
    2,517
    Jan 9, 2017
    Johnson faced some physically intimidating guys:


    [url]http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/images/mcvea-sam-22.jpg[/url]


    [url]http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/images/willard-jess-11.jpg[/url]


    [url]http://www.fightsaga.com/images/stories/AJackJohnsonJimJeffries.jpg[/url]


    [url]http://cdn1.thecomeback.com/queensberryrules/wp-content/uploads/sites/93/2015/02/Joe-Jeannette-1.jpg[/url]
     
    The Kentucky Cobra, Feb 6, 2018
    The Kentucky Cobra, Feb 6, 2018
    #5
  6. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

    55,255
    10,354
    Jun 29, 2007
    Who knows, I think Ali was a bit scared of Liston. Johnson was a superstitious cat, always wanting to enter the ring first, and according to stories, had to be pushed out of his dressing room to enter the ring for Jeffries.

    I think Liston whacks Johnson. Bad match up.
     
    Mendoza, Feb 6, 2018
    Mendoza, Feb 6, 2018
    #6
    Longhhorn71 likes this.
  7. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    29,470
    35,995
    Jan 8, 2017
    I can't think of another heavyweight champion pre Liston who had that aura of intimidation ,who actually tried using it to his advantage. Maybe Dempsey had it with out Even trying .I may be wrong but Liston is the main one that spring s to mind .
     
    Fergy, Feb 6, 2018
    Fergy, Feb 6, 2018
    #7
    InMemoryofJakeLamotta likes this.
  8. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

    55,255
    10,354
    Jun 29, 2007

    Foreman said his knees were knocking when during the staredown with Frazier just before the start of the fight. Its okay to have some nerves before a fight, actually is nearly an essential if you in there with somebody good.

    Liston was an intimidating dude.

    I believe Tyson before he was beaten, had some his opponents scared so intimidation can matter, especially early.
     
    Mendoza, Feb 6, 2018
    Mendoza, Feb 6, 2018
    #8
  9. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    112,937
    47,957
    Mar 21, 2007
    So it matters.

    Dempsey was fearful before the first bell for Willard, too. There are probably no greater examples of fighters who benefited, rather than suffered from intimidation than Foreman against Frazier and Dempsey against Willard.
     
    McGrain, Feb 6, 2018
    McGrain, Feb 6, 2018
    #9
    BCS8 likes this.
  10. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    29,470
    35,995
    Jan 8, 2017
    And in a round about way perhaps it worked against Liston when he faced Cassius. Ali seemed to do his best work when he faced guys that could be dangerous .When he took some one lightly he sometimes paid for it .Against Sonny , the fear may have worked for him , spurred him on so to speak .
     
    Fergy, Feb 6, 2018
    Fergy, Feb 6, 2018
    #10
  11. Combatesdeboxeo_

    Combatesdeboxeo_ Well-Known Member banned Full Member

    2,991
    1,140
    Nov 19, 2016
    No...
     
    Combatesdeboxeo_, Feb 6, 2018
    Combatesdeboxeo_, Feb 6, 2018
    #11
  12. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,563
    27,192
    Feb 15, 2006
    No.

    Johnson took a much more nuanced approach to intimidation than Liston, and he would win the psychological battle here.
     
    janitor, Feb 6, 2018
    janitor, Feb 6, 2018
    #12
    Combatesdeboxeo_ likes this.
  13. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

    16,176
    11,655
    Sep 21, 2017
    Liston and Tyson's aura of intimidation was based on the reality that they were capable of causing great bodily harm to physically strong, grown men who were professional fighters.
     
    InMemoryofJakeLamotta, Feb 6, 2018
    InMemoryofJakeLamotta, Feb 6, 2018
    #13
    Mendoza likes this.
  14. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    29,470
    35,995
    Jan 8, 2017
    That's what I'm getting at. Liston may have tried imposing him self physically in from of Johnson , stuck towels in his dressing gown to look bigger , the dead man's eyes stare .But against Johnson it wouldn't have fazed him .
     
    Fergy, Feb 6, 2018
    Fergy, Feb 6, 2018
    #14
    InMemoryofJakeLamotta likes this.
  15. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

    71,563
    27,192
    Feb 15, 2006
    Johnson's condescending smile got into his opponents heads.

    His strategy was to convince them that he saw them as a joke, and was almost looking at them with an element of pity.

    When Jeffries seconds suggested that they flip a coin, to decide who got the corner with the sun in their eyes, he just smiled sympathetically and said "pick whatever corner you want Jeff".
     
    janitor, Feb 6, 2018
    janitor, Feb 6, 2018
    #15
    louis54 likes this.
Page 1 of 5