And Liston never knocked someone Louis's calibre. Best Liston win was Cleveland Williams/Patterson while Louis was Max Baer/Schmelling. Compare Williams/Patterson/Folley with Bare/Schmelling/Conn and say which is better combo.
If Liston gets decked, It's not Dejohn or Williams. Louis was dropped by Walcott, but Walcott was better than Leotis Martin right?
Liston was completely washed up by the time he fought Martin. All's Liston had to offer by then was his jab.He wasn't throwing those brutal liver shots anymore and wasn't hooking off the jab. If someone proved that Liston was at least 42 by then i wouldn't be surprised. Walcott and Louis were the same age albeit Louis was near the end of his career and Walcott had a few more championship fights left.
Liston and Louis are 2 of my favourite heavies and out of respect I'm going to risk getting my ar5e full of splinters by sitting on the fence.
I feel exactly the same way. Still, I might have a deep think and venture a pick..but then again, maybe not.
And Louis was old too when he faced Walcott and Marciano, he was inactive unlike Liston because ww2. I think that Marciano Louis would beat Martin Liston. Just like in their primes Louis would beat Liston.You ain't beating Louis if you are slow like Liston.
Only Ali made Liston look slow and Machen who got on his bike. By the time Joe Louis fought Marciano he only had limited use of his right arm but still lumped up Rockys face with his jab. I'm playing devils advocate here because I like both fighters, Louis probably more but I still think it's a pick em fight.
Leotis and Elmer did that too. They are not only one who made Liston looks slow. Rocky beat him badly and Martin did that to Liston too, but Marciano was top ATG while Leotis was b class fighter. I think that Louis did better in later years than Liston did.
Sonny Liston's foot speed gets underrated, he was light on his feet for such a powerful bruiser, moved about the ring pretty darn gracefully. Although I think Louis wins this one, it's still an extremely dangerous fight for Joe. Another thing to consider is that Louis' chin tends to get underrated, as do many HWs from the past that fought a lot & fought tougher comp.