Late 40's Charles vs early 60's Liston. Could Charles follow the Clay/Machen formula and outpoint or TKO Liston?
Yes, I think Ezz had the skills and mobility to pull off a decision win. Whitehurst, Marshall, Machen, Joiner and Martin all proved it wasn't necessary to weigh over 200 pounds to hang with Liston, and peak Charles was superior to all of them put together.
I think that too. The Walcott brutal k.o. of Charles was one of those "lifetime" punches. Charles might be just able to "pepper" Liston with punches.
Against a prime Liston? My vote is no, Charles would have not been able to win. Ezzard was a very intelligent fighter, but I think his whole strategy and gameplan would go right out the window as soon as he got hit by a few of Listons jabs and hooks. Yes Ezzard proved he could fight well against the strongest of them when he defeated Walcott, but I think Listons jab is the key here
liston was a big guy but no bigger than baksi, johny haynes, billy gillium, coley walace and the best big guy charles ever beat elmer ray. elmer violent ray was as heavy as liston and an inch taller, from 1943-47 ray went 44-0 knocking out all but six. ray beat charles, walcot and KOd savold. so ray was no slouch, rated #2, on a 7 fight winning streak when charles avenged his split decision loss with a KO win in 48'. charles knocked him flat. even though liston was beter than ray, there is cause to say charles had room for improvement. 46-54 charles was beter than marty marshal, a game boxfighter lightheavyweight who always gave liston tough fights. marshal once outpointed, decked and smashed the bigger listons jaw. burt whithurst was another smaller heavy no bigger than charles who also gave liston awkward moments . peak heavyweight charles was only beat without dispute by walcott, you could argue liston would have to get as lucky since this was once out of a series of 4 fights where walcott otherwise had no noticable edge but than with that one punch. although many could quite fairly claim liston did KO a poor mans charles in zora foley there are question marks about that win since the same burning solution was said to have found its way into zorras eyes as it had in alis later on. its just my opinion, i dont intend to offend but i beleive a peak charles could duplicate what leotis martin did but to a younger liston. whilst a younger version of liston would no doubt beat that martin i doubt hed also beat a much superior version of martin as charles was.
The comparison between the clowning, backfoot Marshall and Ezzard Charles don't make any sense to me.
Charles as a heavyweight is becoming very overrated on this board while Liston is becoming highly underrated ... A prime Liston was too good and too strong ... if Ezzard ever dreamed of fighting him he'd be crushed .. if he boxed cautiously he eat Sonny's jab and lose. Look how a old Louis busted him up with the jab ..... I would make a case that even though he was dominated by Charles, Moore was a better heavyweight ...
Can't see Charles winning at all myself. He's flatfooted too often over the full duration and small (to fight that style) to beat Liston IMO.