Who was more heavy handed: Liston or Tyson?

Liston from what I can tell, Tyson even at the end threw faster, crisp type punches where Liston being slower appeared to have more thud. It is a difficult question to answer given the speed difference and more importantly the size of the opponents being much larger and stronger in Tysons era.

 

Depends on how you look at 'power'. Tyson is probably the most explosively powerful heavyweight in history, and could do real damage. But others, like Liston had equally damaging power, just not as explosive.

 

Thudding power? Liston

 

Tyson miał szybsze ręce, Liston miał cięższe ręce, po prostu

 

Liston actually knocked out a guy's mouthpiece with several teeth embedded in them and broke sparring partners ribs wearing 22 ounce gloves!!! THAT's friggin KING-KONG power! Tyson had a lot of power but nothing like that!!

 

There's really not much in it. Tyson's raw power has become underrated in the quest to put forth his speed and combinations. The guy had massive power, just like Liston. You might be able to argue Liston an a little heavier but it wouldn't be by much if any.

 

I couldn’t tell you because I don’t fully understand “Thudding” power is a form of arm punching to me and Tyson didn’t arm punch. if you mean who hit harder? then Tyson based on all the full sized HW’s he was KOing regularly but it’s very possible there is no difference if they hit you properly, like all those guys.

 

Don’t turn out to be another one of these.

 

I think that Liston probably had more raw power.

If he did not, then given Tyson's speed, he woudl probably appear to be a tier above Liston as a puncher.

Best I can do.

 

I'd edge Liston but Tyson was possibly the all time best combination of speed w power ... he's neck and neck w Louis ...

 

In general, Liston could appear to throw more casually than Tyson but still hit equally as hard.

I guess that can be one indicator of possessing greater raw power than Mike.

Most of the time, Mike seemed to put in a lot more effort to unleash his power shots - but however Mike put it together, his power was ultimately and materially still in the same class. - but Liston had that ridiculously long and powerful jab atop all else.

As to putting his power punches together, Liston’s best effort on film is vs Bethea, imo.

Talk about making all the right moves from opening bell. The hand speed of Miami Liston was a far cry from that earlier version of Sonny.

 

Well put. It is too facile to say, “Well, they both had power but one was fast, so he must’ve had less raw power,” while the logic is not bad, it’s simplistic. Tyson still had a shot Heavyweights feared once the speed was gone.

Their power is six of one, half a dozen of the other for mine.

 

Liston was the heavier puncher, but Iron Mike wasn't far from that kind of power.

Mike's hands truly looked like stone at the finish of the Botha fight imo.

 

Tyson's power was enhanced by his speed. He had that snapping popping power. Liston's power was more the Foreman type crushing punch.