Who would you pick to win a barfight *against Sonny Liston*?

Hmmm, this bar sounds like one of those on the Boulevard of Broken Dreams……I guess Monzon’s there too..sitting in a booth in a darkened corner, chain smoking and drinking, arguing with his Mrs, too pre-occupied with his own sh*t to lend a hand….

Why not just go to Bill Brennan’s Club Tia Juana, just down the road? Way cheaper prices than what that bum Galento charges and very safe I hear……..

I’m snagged on my being so stubborn - I can be reasoned with - believe me, sure, I could spend the night at home instead, throwing some drinks back with some friends while watching films of Liston beating up OTHER people.

However, after some cogitation, I’d realise that I’d have to face up to my fear at some point. Desperate, I ring Sonny’s wife Geraldine and explain my dilemma - she says don’t fret, whenever Sonny starts ramping up, she simply sings to him: Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty… - works like a charm. The Big Bear then just curls up into a foetal position and goes to sleep.

I just hope my throat doesn’t become so dry that I can’t get the lyrics out when time comes.

 

Angus MacAskill - imqgine 7'9 500 lbs perfectly healthy guy with immense strength and athleticism. I'm sure he wouldn't be intimidated by the little Sonny and that's a key part.

If that's reaching, I'd take Asashoryu at his physical peak. Can't find more intense and stronger fighter in the world and his grappling advantage would turn Liston's boxing into useless skill.

 

On a second thought, if you want to engage instead of intimidate Sonny, you can go with the Great Gama. The guy was 5'8, but he was unbeaten wrestler champion for almost 40 years. He faced so many different styles, opponents and rules, his experience ie unmatchable. He spent his entire life on training.

I don't see any boxer troubling him in street fight.

 

I dunno. Rahman bodied him in that interview.

 

I would enjoy a couple of drinks with Sonny's mom. I think then he would have to pull himself together. Another option would be his prison chaplain, Father Alois Stevens.
Well, if it has to be a boxer then maybe his stablemate and friend Foneda Cox or his idol Joe Louis.

 

John L. Sullivan. Just for the entertainment value of seeing an old-timey tough as nails streetfighter with handlebar mustache throw racial slurs at a bigger man.

Liston might laugh himself into a coma.

 

Somebody with a good ground game.

 

Big George

 

Yes, great story. I've been lucky enough to meet Peter, he was larger than life,

 

Here's the story as told by Hugh McIllvanney and been posted on here before


"An advantage in weight did not help the late Sonny Liston when Peter Keenan, an archetypal Glaswegian who once held the Bantamweight championships of Britain, the British Empire and Europe, brought him to order at a party given to offer a Clydeside welcome to the then heavyweight champion of the world. Liston, in one of his less congenial moods, had knocked a cigar from a fellow guests mouth and demanded rather loudly that he, Keenan, too, should refrain from smoking in his presence. 'Listen', said Keenan, glaring up from the level of Sonnys chest, 'you may be the heavyweight champion, but I have never lost a street fight in my life. If anything is going out, its not the cigar, its you.'

'Aye' said a voice from from the bristling group at Keenans elbow. 'And not by the door - by the windie.'

Sonny, who was aware that the party was being held several storeys up, cooled abruptly. Keenan then sat down on Listons knee like a ventriloquists doll...'

From page 92 of McIlvanney on Boxing.

 

Ming / Haku ... there is no second choice

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A boxer to beat Sonny in a bar?

I’m taking John L Sullivan with me.

I loath to credit a MMA guy or a Wrestler over a boxer but in fairness those guys skills are better suited to a bar fight…

I recon The Boston Strong Boy was more of a hand to hand combat/ wrestler guy than modern boxers are…he also cleaned out more than a few clocks in a saloon. so john’s my guy. Nothing he ever saw he couldn’t handle. And with a drink in him he would be pretty much unstoppable.

Pretty certain nobody would be taking a liberty with John L on the loose.

 

You have to most likely eat punches (suicide against Liston) to get close enough to get it to the ground.

 

There are jujitsu specialists who would have taken him in an MMA fight.

 

[QUOTE="70sFan865, post: 21512797, member: 120837

If that's reaching, I'd take Asashoryu at his physical peak. Can't find more intense and stronger fighter in the world and his grappling advantage would turn Liston's boxing into useless skill.[/QUOTE]
A fellow sumo fan?! Nice. Good choice, Asashoryu was relentless.