Who had the better chin Louis or Liston?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by swagdelfadeel, Jul 20, 2020.


Who had the better Chin Liston or Louis?

  1. Sonny Liston

    25 vote(s)
    75.8%

  2. Joe Louis

    8 vote(s)
    24.2%
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  1. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    I personally never thought this was up for debate. Liston was down twice in his entire career, one of them likely staged, and the other as an old man when he was probably in his 40s or at the very least very close to it when he was as a drug addict who also had the flu (confirmed by Foreman) "The only time I saw a chink was when he fought Leontes Martin. But then Liston was sick prior to that. He got a cold he just couldn't recover from. And he would go out after a boxing match and start drinking and it would sometimes last a month. Then he'd come back and get into training. I think he finally went to the well, and there just wasn't any water." https://www.b0xingscene.com/george-foreman-discusses-friendship-with-sonny-liston--47293 Replace 0 with o. Liston in his prime, took monster shots from Williams, Valdez, and Dejohn. Police also used to hit with nightsticks over his head as hard as they could muster, only to see it had absolutely no effect on him.

    "Williams hit Liston with a left hook that would have finished any other man" Gross remembered. "It would have torn some fighters hears off. Liston just blinked and came right back."

    Source: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54152307/fort-lauderdale-news/

    Louis on the other hand was dropped just as many times in single bouts alone numerous times (Schmeling, Marciano, and Walcott) Other than that, he was dropped by Galento, Walcott in the rematch, and Buddy Baer off the top of my head. Hell even Braddock, an old arthritic who hadn't even fought in 2 years, floored Louis.

    That's 10 knockdowns at least, compared to a mere two of Liston's.

    Hmmmmm this is a close one.

    Please don't vote for Louis on the sole basis that you have a personal preference to him, or you think he'd win in a match-up between the 2 or vice versa.
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2020
    swagdelfadeel, Jul 20, 2020
    swagdelfadeel, Jul 20, 2020
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  2. The Long Count

    The Long Count Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Liston got Knocked out in one round by a single shot from a heavyweight not known for single shot Ko power.
     
    The Long Count, Jul 20, 2020
    The Long Count, Jul 20, 2020
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  3. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    That KO was most likely a farce, and Liston was badly out of shape and at the very least in his mid-30s, either way. Let's at least TRY to be fair.
     
    swagdelfadeel, Jul 20, 2020
    swagdelfadeel, Jul 20, 2020
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  4. GOAT Primo Carnera

    GOAT Primo Carnera Member of the PC Fan Club Full Member

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    In contrast of Liston, Louis fought anybody. But yes, we might give Liston the benefit of the doubt. I don´t see him fall ten times facing the Louis gang.
     
    GOAT Primo Carnera, Jul 20, 2020
    GOAT Primo Carnera, Jul 20, 2020
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  5. JLP1978

    JLP1978 Member Full Member

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    I have to go with Liston.

    I also think Liston had better defense and more of a standard boxing style.

    Joe Louis entire style was designed for timing, speed, and immediate counters. He wasn’t a swarmer or particularly aggressive but he was extremely locked in to hit you and most of his knockdowns came because he got caught on the hunt.

    I mean, he wasn’t hurt previous to the knockdown, it was more he was so focused on what he was doing or about to do that he had a lapse and a professional fighter clocked him. Usually, Louis jumped right back up and got right back to what he was after with no real residual effects from the knock down.

    After his prime (Maricano etc...shouldn’t count so much unless we count Ali’s beat down against Berbick which I still haven’t watched)
     
    JLP1978, Jul 20, 2020
    JLP1978, Jul 20, 2020
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  6. GOAT Primo Carnera

    GOAT Primo Carnera Member of the PC Fan Club Full Member

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    Agree.
    I´d add that Louis indeed was looking to punch more than he was looking to box someone. Next to his counter abilities, thats not the preferred style to box defensively (or buying time when hurt), which Liston imho could apply better behind his long jab.
     
    GOAT Primo Carnera, Jul 20, 2020
    GOAT Primo Carnera, Jul 20, 2020
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  7. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    If you believe that was kosher then it's a very valid point .However-----
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2020
    mcvey, Jul 20, 2020
    mcvey, Jul 20, 2020
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  8. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Louis fought better competition and he was more agressive fighter. Most of the time he was knocked down due to getting caught by counter, not because he was visibly hurt.

    It's close to me, maybe Liston took one shot a little better but their overall durability was on the same level. I don't see any reason to call Liston much more durable.
     
    70sFan865, Jul 20, 2020
    70sFan865, Jul 20, 2020
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  9. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Then why you include Walcott and Marciano fights? Louis was also old, rusty and past his prime by then.

    Let'a at least TRY to be fair ;)
     
    70sFan865, Jul 20, 2020
    70sFan865, Jul 20, 2020
    #9
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  10. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    I was listing every instance each men was dropped. I mentioned Martin for Liston as well. I don't see what the problem is.
     
    swagdelfadeel, Jul 20, 2020
    swagdelfadeel, Jul 20, 2020
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  11. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    10 knockdowns of Louis to Liston's 2. That alone isn't any reason to call Liston much more durable?
     
    swagdelfadeel, Jul 20, 2020
    swagdelfadeel, Jul 20, 2020
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  12. JLP1978

    JLP1978 Member Full Member

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    Wow...Louis was down ten times?!

    Do you mind listing them? Thanks either way. I am actually stunned however it does not change my position because he usually jumped right back up.
     
    JLP1978, Jul 20, 2020
    JLP1978, Jul 20, 2020
    #12
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  13. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing

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    No problem mate. 3X Against Walcott (twice in their first bout and once in the rematch), 2X against Marciano, 2X against Schmeling. Once against Braddock, once against Galento, and another against Buddy Baer. He was dropped the most outside of any champion outside Patterson. Now despite all this, I still don't think Louis's chin was glass or anything. I made this thread primarily in response to Chokab and to a lesser extent 70sfan whom I felt weren't being very objective.
     
    swagdelfadeel, Jul 20, 2020
    swagdelfadeel, Jul 20, 2020
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  14. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    No, because flash knockdowns aren't good indicator of durability. Especially when one fighter faced better competition. Not to mention that Louis had different style, he fought more agressively and with narrower margins of error.
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2020
    70sFan865, Jul 20, 2020
    70sFan865, Jul 20, 2020
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  15. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    oh come on! everyone knows that Liston took a dive, and a very unconvincing one at that .
     
    Reinhardt, Jul 20, 2020
    Reinhardt, Jul 20, 2020
    #15
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