Sonny Liston vs Mike Tyson: Battle of the monsters

Likely Tyson, remember speed kills, Liston wouldn't have the foot movement to keep Tyson's speed in check.

 

tyson

 

Ya that would of change the moment "one" hit.

 

You dont have a clue.
Listen had skill and power.
But most important , he had a hell of a jab.
A prime Listen feared no one and would destroy Tyson.
Now After Ali, he was never the same.
And if Tyson fought Ali, he would never be the same.

 

Liston certainly feared Ali....

Both these guys weren't the strongest, mentally. I wouldn't like to pick a certain winner, I suspect they're both rated about the same in the HW ATG list. One things for sure, it wouldn't be a long fight.

 

He didn't fear him until after he went a few rounds with him.

Then, his confidence was severely shaken and he feared Ali.

 

Actually, I have these guys #2a and #2b in my list of all time heavyweights, behind Ali. I'm not sure which one I would go with, if you held a gun to my head I guess I would pick a young badass Liston, because of his ridiculous reach and his willingness to throw that poleax jab. Mike would have to eat some shots to get inside, and Sonny could drop bombs.

 

Liston was old when he faced Ali for the first time, older than he claimed to be. It was horrible luck, and typical of his whole life, that when he finally got the title it was Ali himself coming up hot behind him.

 

He feared him because of the Black Muslim connections, if you believe the stories, and also because of Listons time in jail he was frightened of 'crazy' guys. The weigh in for the first fight genuinely spooked Liston by all accounts.

I'm not providing an answer as to who would win here, I'm completely neutral on that.

 

The closest comparison would be when Liston took on Cus's earliest disciple, Floyd Patterson.

Floyd was bobbing and weaving, right into the monstrous uppercut of Liston.

Obviously, Tyson is faster, stronger, and an all round better fighter than Floyd. However, Sonny has the tools to win, namely the jab and uppercut.


Hard one to pick.

 

I'd agree with that, yeah. As I said before I genuinely wouldn't like to pick a winner in this match up, they both had their mental failings but physically they were monsters.

My old man went to watch Liston train years ago when he came to England and he is still convinced both Ali fights had to be fixed, says that the guy had hands like shovels and hit like a truck. It's a nice story from the old guy but what happens when those hard punches find nothing but air for 6 rounds?

 

That's what has me second guessing this fight all the time. The obvious pick is Tyson, but Liston has a huge reach, a great jab and an uppercut, all of which were kryptonite to Tyson.

Both were mentally weak, which is why this is a pick 'em in my book.

 

Liston didn't fear Clay in Las Vegas when he slapped the **** out of Cassius at the gambling tables.

But, the weigh-in event was yet to come.

 

The black muslims came on the scene after the first fight.

And he certainly was spooked by Ali at the News conference.

Not surprising, since Ali spooked himself there too.

 

Liston had, in my opinion, the best heavyweight jab of all time (Larry Holmes is a close second), and maybe one of the best jabs of all time period. That thing was like a floating cannonball.

I honestly think he'd be able to keep Tyson off him.

Liston late KO.