Street Fight: Prime Sonny Liston vs prime George Foreman, anything goes.

This is a closer call than Tyson, but I still pick Sonny.

 

I agree. 50/50 I could agree with either pick.

 

Unknowable unless we have a record of them fighting each other in the street. And even then...

 

The more that finding this place has refreshed my love of boxing and got me delving back into studying its history and, above everything, reassessing conventional wisdoms that I’ve held literally for generations, the more respect I have for what kind of incredible fighter that Sonny Liston was at his peak.

But in this particular situation I ask myself this: In a street fight, who would be not just meaner, but have absolutely no moral compass? Who would be more willing to do anything, absolutely anything, including ripping someone’s eyeball out like Denzel Washington did to Pedro Pascal in Equalizer 2 but in real life, to win? Who would have absolutely zero hesitation in killing somebody if it came to that? Liston or Foreman?

I pick Sonny. He was not a complete monster and a lot of his issues stemmed from the times and environment in which he developed. But when it came to legitimate bad dudes, he set a standard that IMO has yet to be topped among heavyweight boxers.

 

UFC approximates more closely to a street fight. How do we think Sonny or George would've fared in the Octagon?

We can wax lyrical about the claims of what both Sonny and George did outside the ring, but it would mean nothing without having witnessed their exploits inside the ring - the most reliable, important and impressive information we have on them.

If we were to witness this fight, some might be disappointed in so far as an educated kick the cojones might mean all over red rover in a matter of seconds - ala Paul Newman vs Ted Cassidy in Butch Cassidy.... They won't be fighting to entertain. It will be for survival and the goal would be to get it over with as soon as possible.

I have no knowledge of their grappling abilities - though one of Foreman's opponents from the Toronto Circus did a pretty easy take down on George. Haha. I can see Foreman was immensely strong, he was demonstrably so in the ring, brute strength being an obvious component of his style and strategy. I have to assume more that Liston was very strong also - Liston didn't necessarily manhandle his opponents so much - his boxing skill set was far more refined and reliable than Foreman's to have to resort to same within the context of a regulated boxing match.

Has anyone seen the clip of Foreman coming out for a round (first round I think) where he charges/rushes across the ring to simply push his opponent to the ground, no intention of even throwing a punch? Lol. That was insane and perhaps somewhat reflective of his street thug days. A lot of street thugs aren't looking for a protracted or difficult fight - they pick their targets or move in gangs - their victims are often notably smaller than themselves - the easier the pickings, the better. Very much like predators in the wild.

 

Larry Holmes wins this.

Guy was an assassin, an Easton Assassin to be precise.

He’d get there way ahead of time, find a tall building and set up his rifle and sniper George and Sonny before it ever got started.

 

This would be short and nasty. Maybe Liston being the older man puts doubts in the mind of George and uses this to kick his man to the floor!!

 

That would be a mega battle that’s for sure. I tend to favour whoever is the nastiest and has no conscience.
Having a conscience is a weakness in a street fight. “Oh no I’m so sorry for gouging out your eye, please have one of mine.”
I don’t know either chap, so I’m going in blind on this one (see what I did there) but from what I’ve heard, a conscience isn’t high on Sonny’s list of attributes.

Anyway the fight would be on the undercard of the main event…

Wonder Woman v Jamie Sommers (Bionic Woman) in a no holds barred fight to the finish. In mud. Whatever muddy street is hosting that event, I’ll find it.

 

If we’re talking Wonder Woman as in Gal Gadot, I’ll be right there with you Vic. Whoever comes out on top (or bottom or wherever), we the fans will be the ultimate winners.

 

You swerved me this time Pat. I thought you were going to build to a flying kick from Larry. Though he wouldn’t fare too well trying that little manoeuvre from a tall building. As to your scenario, it would’ve been a timely opportunity for Larry when Holmes was 48-0 to equal then surpass Marciano’s record in the same moment.

 

I cannot disagree! And Gal Gadot it is…though I still harbour a crush on Linda Carter. I saw her recently in an episode of Law and Order from the 2010s I think…and she was still a fine looking woman. She was rocking her middle age perfectly

 

Absolutely brilliant assessment.

 

Foreman was a beast inside the ring but outside is another world, I would put my money n sonny just because I think he had way more experience fighting outside the ring lol