He wasn't very slow, but quick fighters could confuse him. He also wasn't great at cutting off the ring.
Well, according to some, his main weakness would be a short armed, face first bleeder who, conveniently, never stood in the opposite corner.
Exceptional hand and foot speed with excellent defensive skills and boxing ability. Fortunate for him theirs only been one of those in the history of Heavyweight championship boxing.
I think his fighting spirit was not the greatest, compare to other champions, like Frazier, Marciano, Ali...
Not the fastest on his feet, although his hand speed was a bit quicker than is generally considered. Movers gave him problems and has been already mentioned he wasn’t great at cutting off the ring. His fighting spirit is a strange one, because up until the Ali fights I don’t think it really could have been questioned.
Yes, to the posters saying he was a little slow. That's true but I think we really only saw the slower and more deliberate liston has he became champ. Age was creeping in by the Patterson fights,I always believed that if he'd faced anyone but Floyd he'd have had to work for it. Patterson was totally intimidated and his chin undoubtedly wasn't cast iron.
Not really. Liston was in perfect condition, prepared and focused because he really wanted the title. According to Emanuell Stewart and others, Liston only became careless after he won the title , did not train much, drank a lot of alcohol and played golf. He saw Ali and thought he was a joke and thought the fight would only last a few rounds. This fact that he doesn't take Ali seriously + Ali was the worst style match up for Liston + Liston didn't really train was the beginning of the end and the worst scenario. So let's assume Ali would have taken the role of Floyd in 1962 i'm sure that the fight would have gone over 12 rounds with Liston as the Winner on Points or late TKO because most people wanted to see Liston win.
Hmm? I seem to recall a fight of his where he was rocked and had his nose broken by a very hard puncher and came back and ko'ed him
His biggest weaknesses I would say would be: His management, for making him seem like a brutish and slow witted man. When he was more quiet and reserved than most but still very smart. In addition for him getting involved with the Mob in some way. His overuse of trying to put his opponent away, seems to rush in a bit which has worked a lot, but his setting up approach with his telephone pole like jab and ability to box is something that could have been expanded, Liston with patience is great. Getting into boxing as late as he did.
Personally, I an surprised Sonny could beat anyone of he was as bad as everybody says he was. A lucky fighter. The real Cinderella man.
