Would Sonny Liston rule the HW division now?

NO PROB with vitaly??? U don't think he could beat lennox do you??? and he had problrms with VK...VK would own liston as wouls lewis and wlad...they are too BIG and have skill...anyone else liston could prob beat

 

I see Vitali giving him problems.

But after Vitali goes, I think Liston rules.

 

Joe Louis at 6' 1" fought big opponents and just blasted them apart.

If Chris Byrd can reach Vitali, and Lamon Brewster & Russ Purity can hit Vlad, then
Liston and Louis would get their power shots in too.

 

Chris was getting close to shut out till V tore his shoulder.

 

In his days Liston was the big dude, today he would be the small guy and "modern" training/nutrition ain't gonna make a difference unless he roids.

He is slow and bulking him up would certainly not help him in that department.

While he had a good jab the Klitchkos easily match him , WK might even have a slight edge there.

I am not sold on his chin. Tested mainly against cruise/middleweights who happpen to be able to break his jaw. Went down from the phantom punch and was knocked cold one shot Lemmie style in his farewell fight. He is going to eat some serious leather no doubt about ,because , while sound on defence , was not particular hard to find/hit.

Quit twice against a unproven (by the time) up and coming green loudmouth.

Movement he no likey so much either.

His weakness for drugs.booze and chicks would be even more amplified due to a much less restraint society. He found bad company back then , he would find REAL bad company now.

He will certainly beat the Missing link, Haye and I would make him a favor over Povetkin, Chagev will be diffficult and IMO will be a distinct underdog against the Klitchkos. I also think Austin or Thompson will not be a cakewalk either.

So, most likely he will be a top 5/10 guy who could pick a ABC belt but ruling the division ? No way no how.

As a matter of fact ,I believe his career would unfold the same as when he was alive. Come up strong thru the ranks fighting the usual cans and contenders, notching up a couple of good wins against quality opposition, failing miserably when doing the big step and falling out of the spotlight til' the bitter end.

 

He would have some tough fights with Wlad. In the end I would favor Liston if Wlad couldn't get his game optimized.

I would definitely favor Vitaly over Liston.

There are only about 4-5 fighters I would favor over Vitaly.

 

That's a nice avatar you're sportin' there slick. What's with the Liston kick?

 

williams and valdez were 215/211, which is not exactly the modern hw's standard. i'm not saying liston wasn't a huge puncher but facing fighters that average at ~200 pounds is also a factor. imagine wlad or tua vs. some 190 lbs dudes - they would literally murder them.
liston could pick up a belt, but he would lose to both klitschkos, and have a competitive fight vs. chagaev, ibragimov, arreola, povetkin.

 

:thumbsup

 

No.

 

Personally, I think Liston would clean house today, he was one of the greats in my eyes.