Sonny Liston vs Rocky Marciano

Rocky in his prime would very likely have beaten the likes of Cleveland Williams, Patterson, Machen, Folley etc, imo. I would have liked to see how Rocky did with Valdes, but Moore beat Valdes.

La Starza gave Rocky decent tussles. Him against Liston would have been worth a watch for a while.

When it comes to Sonny vs Rocky in their prime years though, Liston's reach and jab would be a problem for Rocky. I think it's likely that Sonny's power and strength stops the Rock by rounds 8 or 9 after an extremely brave showing by Marciano.

Rocky with his underrated defense, power, pressure, stamina and champion's heart has a chance though, but it's 70-30 Sonny for me. I think the styles favor Liston and while it's not a gimme that Sonny would win, it's the likeliest result imo.

 

Liston could not Ko LHW bum Marshall in 3 rounds and Martin,Besmanoff and Machen who were not near Rocky level!

 

LET’S SETTLE THIS IN THE RING

The size differential is noticeable early as Liston looks mammoth compared to Marciano. Both fighters open up cautiously over the first minute of the fight, each respectful of his adversary’s punching power. Liston begins to work his jab and Rocky’s nose is already bloodied by the close of the first round. Liston controls the second round as well as Rocky has no answers for the powerful and long Liston jab. With 30 seconds remaining in the round, Liston finds Marciano with a crushing left hook which sends him to the canvas. Rocky rises at the count of 7. Marciano is seriously hurt but manages to survive the round.

By the third round, barely a whisper can be heard from the Fenway crowd as their hometown hero is absorbing a savage beating. Rocky is now suffering from a nasty cut over the left eye as he continues to eat a steady diet of jabs and power shots from Sonny. A Liston right rocks Marciano again as the round comes to a close. Liston continues to dominate in round four but now has a bewildered look on his face which seems to say: “I’ve hit this guy with everything but the ring post, how is he still standing?” Rocky is nothing if not courageous as he keeps coming forward in the face of severe punishment. Marciano lands his first telling blow late in the round, a terrific right which stuns Liston and backs him up.
Liston looks tired and frustrated as he comes out for the 5th round. Marciano just continues to come forward and is starting to find the range with his power shots. Marciano lands a wicked left to Sonny’s ribcage which causes him to visibly wince as the round comes to a close. Marciano continues to gain momentum over the first two minutes of round 6. However, Liston catches him coming in with a thunderous right late in the round. Marciano’s legs quiver. Sonny pursues him to the ropes, however, Marciano fires back catching Liston with a big left hook which backs him off as the round comes to a close.

By the start of round 7, Marciano is fully recovered and continues to effectively pressure a tiring Liston. However, by the end of the round, his face is becoming a bloody mask from the cut over his left eye. By the middle of the 8th, Marciano can barely see. Liston tries to finish him landing brutal power shots but Marciano refuses to fall. Liston shakes his head in disbelief as he returns to the corner.

Rocky’s corner is unable to stem the tide of blood between rounds. His manager, Al Weill, tells Marciano he has only one more round and better get it done! With Weill’s edict ringing in his ears, a determined Marciano comes out for round 9. Liston lands a number of power shots early in the round, however, they lack the steam they had early in the fight. Rocky is simply walking through them. With 1:00 remaining Marciano lands a tremendous overhand right which sends Liston to the canvas. An ecstatic Fenway crowd screams wildly! Liston rises at the count of 7 but looks defeated and exhausted. One final left hook closes the show dropping Sonny to the canvas again. Liston doesn’t even try to get up. Marciano has pulled off an improbable knockout victory!

Marciano wins KO 9!

 

That's irrelevant. If you scrutinize their careers, you can make a case against HW. A few fights where a boxer didn't perform at his absolute best don't matter.
I saw all that Rocky can bring to the table, and I saw all that Liston can bring.
Liston by KO.

 

I think Marciano was particularly difficult to keep at range with a jab. Joe Louis didn’t entirely succeed. using the jab exclusively to make room only proceeded in gassing Joe out. He eventually ran out of space and succumbed to the mauling strength of Marciano.

Liston was a good boxer really, with very heavy hands. He was immensely strong and had an excellent variety of blows.

however, Sonny was never difficult to hit. Up close Marciano will be landing blows whilst smothering the leverage of Liston.

Whilst Liston can physically March Rocky back Marciano can hit him from a lot more angles from the tighter distance than Sonny can hit him. And I don’t believe Rocky can be forced backwards for a long enough period to be dominated. His answer was always to dip low and crowed in, which always had a neutralising effect on what the other man wanted to do.

I think Sonny would find Rocky very frustrating to fight. Though Sonny can do serious damage, He can shake Rocky loose but won’t be able to get Marciano entirely far enough away to destroy. And Sonny was the kind of fighter who had to be fully in charge before he could destroy anyone.

I think Rocky will land more punches on Sonny than people realise. Whilst Sonny is the most dangerous fighter Ricky faced I would not be surprised if Marciano clubs Sonny down to grind out a win because I don’t see Rocky losing to a single guy Sonny Liston ever beat.

 

Wrong!
Liston struggled with any sub 200lb fighter with sollid chin!
I saw all that Rocky can bring to the table and Liston also and Marciano wins late by Ko due to better punch output,stamina,heart,endurance and chin!

 

" louis being a bigger man than Liston "

 

You could say Rocky is a class above Liston's usual opponents too.

Liston has the advantages here, Rocky has the intangibles. Both hit hard enough to earn a stoppage over each other.

It really depends on Liston's jab, without good use of it, this is 50.50

 

This the way I see it. Without the jab working for him I think Sonny might even be disappointing.

That jab of his really gave Sonny room and time.

Technically, I believe Sonny Listons type of jab won’t work on Rocky. Even when it lands Rocky will be too low for him to capitalise. They would also draw too many counter right hands over the top from Rocky.

The way to beat Rocky is to beat him to the punch at his distance. I don’t see Sonny doing this. If Sonny is giving up distance to land blows he’s getting hit first to do it.

I think that was the key with Marciano. He forced everyone to give up distance to hit him. And he got there first.

 

Honestly when I watch film of Charles, Moore, Walcott and then watch Rocky, I would have picked all three of those guys to beat Rocky but Rocky found a way to win those fights. Same thing with Liston. He is bigger, has better fundamentals and looks like the much stronger man.

All that said, I pick Sonny to win convincingly but then again, I would have picked Charles and Moore as well if I just had film study to go off of and would have been wrong.

 

https://www.fold3.com/image/314276570
Louis is bigger man with wider shoulders but did not have that long arms as Liston!

 

Get real, Marciano doesn't last that long.
Marciano struggled with an old Jersey Joe and La Starza, he can never win against Liston.

 

Sorry what? You give Walcott, Charles and Moore a 'fair chance' at beating Liston? Why?

 

Marciano was great but I wonder if he ever fought a puncher of that caliber.

And no, Louis with 3 ko's in his last 9 fights before Marciano is not a knockout puncher anymore

I'll pick Liston by tko with Rocky having a punchers chance.

 

plenty of lesser men got through fights with Sonny Liston without being knocked out.