Could Jack Dempsey Knock Out Sonny Liston?

Unlikely. Dempsey would make things interesting as he is one of the greatest punchers ever, but Liston's jab would dominate and I'd favor Liston in a slugfest agaisnt a guy 20 pounds lighter. Dempsey definitly could KO Liston though, he's one of the three best punchers ever along with Louis, and Tyson. I think Liston by clear but tough UD.

 

If the question is did he have the power or ability to knock out Liston then i would say yes.
As for a H2H, it would be a very tough fight for Dempsey but he was very good at avoiding shots (using the famous dempsey roll) so i would definatley give him a chance.

 

There's a big difference between whether Dempsey could knock out Liston and whether or not he would. He most certain "could" knock him out, whether or not he would is debatable.

 

Of course Dempsey *could* knock out Liston, he was a ferocious puncher. I'd give Dempsey no more than a 1 in 4 or 5 chance of actually doing it in a matchup with Liston. Liston would control the outside with a heavy jab and make Jack pay too heavily when trying to get inside.

Liston TKO5 Dempsey. The ref stops it with Dempsey on his feet but getting a nasty beating.

 

Not if Listons actually trying to fight back

 

Whitehurst, Machen and Martin all proved that a heavyweight of Dempsey's size could compete with Liston. Jack hit harder than all three combined. Even in Sonny's title winning blowout of Patterson, Floyd had some fleeting success ducking under some shots in the opening moments.

On the inside, Machen was able to spin Liston around and rough him up a bit. Whitehurst demonstrated in their rematch that Sonny was not an infallible finisher when he had his man hurt. If stunned, Dempsey was far more dangerous.

Jack had the speed to nail him, the power to hurt him, the elusiveness to make him miss, and the toughness to withstand his attack. "These big slow guys are easy meat for me."

 

Dempsey would have to train for Liston's era.

Dempsey was a brawler, he would have gotten out witted with Liston.

 

Dempsey is a serious issue for anybody willing to stand in front of him.

I dont think that anybody in history would be much better than even money against him in this scenario.

 

Machen boxed Sonny ... Dempsey could not ... I think Sonny flattens him early ... bad style match up for Jack ...

 

I think it depends on whether or not Sonny could weather Jack's early assault. Dempsey would likely edge the early rounds, but I think Sonny's got more than enough fire power and game on the inside to match Jack. It's not at all a sure thing. We tend to look at Sonny as almost invincible due to the aura surrounding him, but he could be hurt by a game fighter. I just think it's a bad style match-up for Jack, and I would favor Liston to get to him towards the middle rounds.

 

Liston was more hype than anything else, Dempsey would tear him up. Marty Marshall, a light heavy, broke Liston' s jaw in one fight, (win over liston) floored him in another. (loss to Liston)

 

And Dempsey got knocked out in one by Fireman Flynn.

 

I rate Dempsey higher than Liston but head to head it would not be an easy fight , then again it would not be an easy fight for Sonny.Dempsey had power and fast hands. This one is a KNockout for sure but Dempsey could score a KO