Ingemar Johansson vs Sonny Liston

I think Ingo has a good chance here.

Ingo's only losses were to Patterson. He lost two out of three vs. Patterson (WKO3, LKOby5, and LKOby6) but all three fights were great. He knocked Patterson down 7 times before stopping him in their first fight. He knocked Patterson down twice in their third fight.

He also beat Henry Cooper KO5, Joe Erskine KO13, Heinz Neuhaus KO4, Eddie Machen KO1 (Machen went the 12 round distance vs. Liston and gave him problems), and Brian London W12 among others.

26-2 (17) overall and 1-2 (1) in HW World Title fights (all vs. Patterson).

6'1" and 200 solid Lbs with a 73" reach. Liston had a much longer reach and was just a little heavier. Their height was similar.

 

:rofl:rofl:rofl


atsch

 

The question isn't who would win, it's would Ingemar Johansson get out of the first round?

 

That was the most horribly thread bare attempt at an analysis ever. You have basically just stated the obvious. Everybody knows who Ingo beat, what his record was, how tall he was and how much he weighed. Now how about we discuss the intangibles and abilities of both fighters and then come to a firm agreement that Liston wins by knockout?

 

42 of Sonny's fifty fights saw the opponent survive the first round, I think Ingo gets past the first.

 

The only way I see Johansson being stopped in the first is if he lands and hurts Liston, and as a result becomes overly aggressive and gets caught. I imagine he would spend the first couple of rounds dancing away and flicking the jab with Liston pressuring him and picking him off with his own superior jab. Johansson's right hand could hurt anybody, but only possessing a strong right hand is not going to beat Liston. He might be able to get to Liston like Cleveland Williams did, but Liston would fight through it and systematically beat Johansson down inside 6 rounds.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReNxJnrvig4[/ame]


A big part of why Johansson was so successful is because he was under-estimated. If Liston has to fight the relatively unknown European challenger that was Johansson when he KO'd Machen and Patterson, he might be in serious trouble if he gets hit. However after 1959 everyone in the division knew what Johansson was about, and it was easier to prepare for him.

 

Ok....I will give him 3 rounds at best :good

Sonny will put the fear of god into Ingo..worst than Ed Sanders did. He will pounce on those weak whiskers of ingo like a hungry tiger.

 

Bold prediction?

Liston climbs off the deck in the first three rounds to win by knockout.

Liston did not respect Johansen and that would be a mistake. Johansen was dangerous with that right.

Ultimately however Johansen only had one dimension, and Liston would not need ten seconds thought to navigate round it once he saw it.

Johansen could only win by sparking Liston early, which is highly unlikley.

 

Ingo would start off retreating, just like he did with Machen. Unfortunately, that puts him on the end of Sonny's jab. Even if Johansson landed his monstrous right with full impact, we saw how Liston weathered the storm from Cleveland Williams.

Sonny is not taking Ingo out in one. Johansson was too cautious, and Liston did not typically starch his opponents that quickly. What would happen is that Ingo would retreat cautiously, letting Sonny establish his jab. Then, Ingo would discover that he was in over his head. Johansson might then forfeit any hope of winning a decision in favor of producing a late knockout over an expended and fatigued Liston. Could he do that? He did win the European Title by knocking out Cavicchi in 13 rounds, and he stopped Erskin after 13. Would he do it? I can't see it happening. Unlike Patterson, I think a primed and ready Liston could recover from any single flashing bomb Ingo nailed him with. The Liston who decisioned Machen would have no great trouble outscoring Ingo early. If Johansson did opt to try for a come from behind knockout late, Sonny would get him out of there.

 

Good read Duodenum. Liston did those neck bridges everyday. he built up an 18" neck..to be able to absorb big blows. Its going to take more than one right hand to beat sonny.

 

I think Sonny would win in a short, action packed brawl.

 

When I was kid....Saga or True Magazine had a article on a future Liston vs Ingo fight when Ingo was champ.

They speculated that Ingo would bounce a few right hands off Liston's chin....Liston would walk thru them.....then knock Ingo out.

 

After 3 pretty exciting rounds, Liston by KO4 is my pick.

 

Well, some people around here act like Lisotn was 10' tall and bulletproof. Just putting the tale of the tape into perspective. They were actually the same height and Liston only weighed about 10-15 more Lbs.