Tyson is too fast and explosive for Sonny. I honestly think Joe Louis would have a better chance because he could match Tyson's hand speed, although Liston could take the better punch.
I hear @Fergy made this thread having just watched Mike Tyson's post fight interview against Savarese for the 244th time. "He's no Alexander, I'm Alexander. I'm the best ever. There's never been anyone as ruthless. Im sonny Liston. Im Jack Dempsey. There's no one like me. I'm from their cloth". Get a life, Fergy.
assuming you are referring to head to head matchups: Liston Tyson Dempsey Marciano Sonny is too much them
Perhaps, but the flip side to that is Tyson struggled with strong durable fighters who could demand his respect and make him back up/maul him in the clinch/etc. Despite being a shorter fighter with short arms Tyson was easy to clinch and not that great on the inside. Bonecrusher Smith used these tactics but waited way too long to open up with the power punches. Holyfield did the best job demonstrating this. Tyson's other weakness was fighters with a powerful jab who had the ring iq to outbox him and outpoint him. Tyson had trouble with pinklon thomas' powerful jab the first few rounds, while also having trouble with james tillis and especially Douglas. Liston had a little bit of both. He had brutish strength and 2 fisted power, was durable, and had underrated stamina and ring IQ for a slugger. He also of course had his infamous jab and long reach. Liston also had a killer uppercut, a punch Tucker, Douglas, and Lewis were able to jolt Tyson with as he charged his way inside. As you pointed out the biggest issue for Liston was Tyson's hand speed and explosive counters. They each have major strengths that could frustrate the other. I don't remember seeing anyone go to the body against Liston or Tyson for that matter so it would be very interesting to see what sort of game plan their corners come up with. Tyson also had a sharp hook to counter Liston's upper and an overhand right to go over a long jab. Both at their best Id slightly favor Tyson but no more than 55:45. Liston has too many physical abilities, stylistic issues and x factors (intimidation being one of them) for me to confidently favor even a prime Tyson.
1. Liston 2. Tyson 3. Marciano = Dempsey. Liston is one of my favourite fighters. But also like Dempsey and Marciano. Love Tyson, too, he is SPINAL.
You make some good points for Liston. I guess one thing is that Tyson is more proven against more modern sized heavies, not saying Liston couldn't handle modern sized heavies, I think he could, but he's not as proven as Tyson in that respect. And Tyson is a modern sized heavyweight that's one of the best there ever was.
Well the funny thing is their average weights in their primes were fairly close. And Liston has the height and reach advantage so how they'd do against modern sized guys doesn't bare much relevance honestly. Its a murderous boxer puncher vs a slugger/counter puncher. A mid range slug fest for the ages. Both are technically sound but that's gonna go out the window after round 1 once they've felt each other out. Most likely a scary stare down or some fouls will trigger it given their personalities.
Liston would have to strenuously apply his amazing jab, and put a lot of his power in the uppercut. He could stop Mike that way. It's just...Mike was faster, and wasn't far away in power (Liston might not have had an offensive instrument as devastating as Mike's right hook to the body/uppercut to head). If it's up to chins, I give it to Liston. As far as combinations, Mike all the way. Single punch power I give to Liston...but not by too much (I think Sonny was closer to George's refrigerator heaviness than Mike's whiplash style of punching, but Sonny was quicker than George, too).
