More powerful and durable: Sonny Liston or Mike Tyson?

Tyson. He was proven against modern sized heavies with top notch boxing skills. Tyson could blow through Liston's best opponents like a hot knife through butter. With the possible exception of Ali. On the other hand, Liston COULD beat Tyson's best opponents, but I don't think he would look as dominant as he did in the late 50s and early 60s and he would struggle.

 

At his best, it seemed as if it was harder to actually hurt Liston than Tyson. The thing is, Tyson faced better competition overall, so it kind of cancels out. Both guys were generally harder to actually hurt and were very durable guys, but never got off the floor to win. Liston did win fights with broken jaws, busted noses, etc and Tyson did keep fighting after getting rocked in many fights. Liston was never knocked down in his prime and might've been as old as 34-36 the first time he did (in an extremely controversial rematch with Ali). Tyson was down at age 23 and lost to Douglas who wasn't know as a big puncher and suffered an additional 4 KO losses. I would give Liston the slight edge in durability, if Tyson's an 8, Liston was a 9, but again neither guy was known for pushing through adversity once they did get hurt.

As for power, that's a little bit trickier since they fought nearly 30 years apart in different eras with different rules. On the heavybag, they both look terrifying, but Tyson is crisper and more explosive. The hand speed does make a bit of a difference. I would say Liston's jab was clearly way more powerful and arguably #1 all time, and he had a very nasty bludgeoning hook. Tyson had the better uppercuts, combinations, and overhand right. Slight edge to Tyson for power, if he's a 9, Liston was an 8.

 

Liston for both imo.

 

Tyson had more explosive one punch power and had an iron chin, one of the most underrated chins in HW boxing, sonny had a good chin and power, probably physically stronger than Mike and better stamina, threw a lot more punches without getting tired

 

Power is equal. More Durable - Liston. Tyson talked about how he has some problem with his lungs and that his boxing is not designed to last 12 rounds. So Mike gave us the answer.

 

I don't see Liston staying on his feet as long as Tyson did during Tokyo Douglas' barrage

 

Tyson for both, IMO.

 

Liston for Power, Tyson for durability imo

 

I personally fancy Tyson for both and I find Seamus' argument to be convincing. Tyson never got wiped out in short order by a light hitter like Ali.

 

Tyson for both.

 

Tyson's kryptonite is a jab and Liston had one greatest jab in the heavyweight division.
Tyson's intimidation would be non-existent against Liston instead he would be the one getting bullied.

 

Sonny Liston was superior in all four of those listed facets IMO. The only advantage Tyson held was a significant hand/foot speed advantage. Regarding durability, I'd argue Tyson wasn't really durable as he was completely ground down and stopped in all of his losses. That kinda argues that he wasn't durable no?

 

IMO Sonny could hit harder, but Tyson had superior speed and accuracy.
Strength, Sonny also has an edge.
Chin, edge goes to Tyson.
Neither was renowned for stamina, but had no problem going the distance.

 

You did not have to grind Liston down because he flat out quit..................twice.......Fact.................vs a then unproven green Clay.