Sonny Liston or Wladimir Klitschko who rates higher as a all time heavyweight?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Ryeece, Mar 12, 2025.


?

This poll will close on Mar 12, 2027 at 3:21 PM.
  1. Sonny Liston

    22.2%
  2. Wladimir Kiltschko

    70.9%
  3. Can't decide

    6.8%
  1. themaster458

    themaster458 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    That’s just valuing semantics over actual substance, which is a pretty ridiculous way to judge boxing in my opinion.
     
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  2. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Bob N Weave Full Member

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    Yours and most peoples!
     
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  3. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    This is delusion. Wlad would **** his pants at the thought of fighting Liston.
     
  4. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Bob N Weave Full Member

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    BUT there are favourites… who for example would rank undisputed champs of the modern era over Jimmy Bivins or Charley Burley? Who you beat matters… sometimes lol.
     
  5. themaster458

    themaster458 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Liston built his reputation bullying smaller fighters, Wlad is a 6'6", 240-pound athletic powerhouse who would manhandle him. Liston wouldn't be the intimidator in this fight; he'd be the intimidated.
     
  6. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Wlad was undisputed when the WBC was vacant and he held the other belts.
     
  7. themaster458

    themaster458 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Exactly
     
  8. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Bob N Weave Full Member

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    For a visual… Sonny Liston when he won the title is roughly the same size of Chris Byrd give or take a pound or so, the difference between Wlad and Liston is greater then Patterson vs Ali…
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  9. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Bob N Weave Full Member

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    Maybe he was also a little scared of Povetkin and pulled it out :sisi1 maybe Wlad can ask Vitali’s Ukrainian Mafia friends to counteract Liston’s mafia connections?
     
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  10. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    That first sentence is hilarious. Liston built his reputation by bullying smaller fighters but Wlad didn't? At least Liston didn't have to hug every time one of those smaller fighters got close enough to make conversation. Wlad is a 6'6 powerhouse who almost lost to Peter and did lose to Brewster. Liston KTFOs him.

    Liston scared everyone and Wlad had a tendancy to get spooked. You don't need to be genius to see how that works out.
     
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  11. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Liston is the guy who had a history of being spooked.
     
  12. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    We have to give it to the ugly duckling here, because he simply has too much depth and longevity.

    The way I see it, Liston was an arch underachiever, and Wlad was an arch overachiever.

    I think that Liston would very likely have beaten Wlad, but they both had their chance to be champion, and they came out with what they came out wit.
     
  13. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Sounds like you're in your feelings there, mate.
     
  14. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    I don’t know what I’ve done to make you so reactive. I hope you regain control.
     
  15. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Wlad is clearly the greater of the two; I see no argument for having Liston higher. Wlad has a better resume; both in terms of depth and top wins (sure, Patterson is the greatest fighter either beat, but like, I really doubt he beats Povetkin), an infinitely better title reign, better longevity, very dominant albeit in a less impressive way and his losses, surprisingly, aren't even as bad. Wlad is top 6ish, whereas Liston isn't top 10 imo.

    However, head-to-head, I'd take Liston every day of the week. Wlad shits his pants, panics, grabs, gets hit on the chin and goes to sleep.
     
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