Joe Louis vs Sonny Liston of 1960?

One account said that when he was born they marked it on a tree. Somebody chopped the tree down. He was one of 21 brothers and sisters. Whatever his age was his body was probably 10 years older because of the lifestyle he lived. Sonny was ripping and running his whole life.

 

Yes he picked a date at random but the year he chose was accurate. In any other circumstance this would be a closed case. In 1940 it was discovered Charles and Wesley had been born to that family since the 1930 census. Charles was ten and Wesley was two. Curtis, at six months, had previously been the youngest child. Now he’s eleven. Sonny was either Curtis or Charles. That’s all he can be. Sonny cannot have been Wesley. Not unless you think he was 12 years old when he went to prison in 1950.

 

Absolutely. Old before his time.

 

Yeah, ridiculous

 

Actually prime Liston was in the era of jack johnson, he was 80 against Ali

 

This^ pretty much says it, for me.

Very close - but, I'm more likely to back Louis than I am Liston.

 

It could even be the other way around. Remember those photos of Tyson at 11 years old?

Sonny was himself such a hulking youth that he did men’s work as a child. In all likelihood Sonny was really Wesley Liston. He just never knew it. Meaning Sonny was so much younger than he ever thought he was.

Just imagine...He went to prison in 1950 at 12 years old thinking he was 20. And turned pro at 15 in 1953.

if Sonny had never assaulted that policeman in 1956 he could have been the youngest heavyweight champion we never knew we had!

 

Liston was born in 1899 so he was 63 against Floyd Patterson.

 

so he was 71 when he fought Chuck Wepner!

 

so he didn't really overdose, get murdered, or take his life, he just died of old age.

 

Liston was very good but louis is a class above him...Louis by ko

 

Joe did not stop Tommy Farr.

 

I think Farr applied some fancy footwork to last the distance. He gave a good account of himself in defeat. Perhaps like Machen did with Charles.

 

Styles and fights. Liston's style would certainly be a challenge to Louis. Sonny had a great jab, was patient and well organised and carried serious power.
Louis shared many of the same attributes but also possessed genius level ring IQ.
The key to the fight is taking away Liston's jab. The jab was the platform for everything Sonny did and he simply couldn't function without it. I can see Louis drawing it by taking a half step back and the countering with a 1-2. Alternatively, Joe could move to his right which would have Sonny constantly having to adjust his centre and taking the power off his jab.
Once Joe had established his own jab by removing Liston's, he can begin to open Sonny up, Louis had great variety as well as the ability to disguise his intentions. You always pretty much knew what Liston was going to do, the challenge was to prevent him doing it.
I see this being a hard, grinding, wearing down type of fight with Louis's all round ability being the deciding factor.
Joe by late, exhausting KO.

 

Some great points here. I think you found it: Liston's jab was the key. Machen and Ali proved that. Machen by ducking, bobbing, and weaving it, and Ali by staying out of the way and using his own great jab. That's why Louis would struggle more. He wasn't a good ducker like Machen or Jimm Young, or a runner, or a hit-and-run fighter of any kind, and he wasn't a good outfighter. If Louis jabs with Liston jab-for-jab, he gets his eyes closed.