Roy Jones Would Destroy Sonny Liston

On paper it sounds like a mismatch but after analyzing hours of tapes of each fighter, I've come to the conclusion that Jones presents a very difficult match-up to Sonny Liston. Jones as we know only fought at heavyweight once, weighing in at 193 lbs (unofficially around 200), and defeated top 10 heavyweight of the past decade John Ruiz by an easy unanimous decision. Keep in mind that this wasn't the best Roy Jones, he was in his mid 30's, imagine if a late 90's Jones stepped up to the heavyweight division.

Sonny Liston as we all know had troubles dealing with speed and movement, most notably against Ali, but also against 190 lbers Bert Whitehurst and Eddie Machen who both took him the distance, but didn't quite possess the sheer talent of a Roy Jones. Liston did KO Patterson, but Patterson at that point of his career was strictly a come forward fighter who tried to take the fight to the bigger Sonny Liston and ended up getting caught early. Muhammad Ali strongly believed that the Patterson who fought Chuvalo could have presented many more problems to Liston.

Liston does have a strong jab, but Jones has a way of nullifying an opponent's jab with his impeccable reflexes and timing. Everytime Liston attempts the jab, which would look as if thrown in slow motion to Jones, he'll get countered with a left hook or a right hand over the top, and even though Jones doesn't possess devastating power as a heavyweight, it will be enough to get Liston's respect, especially when Jones begins to land consistently on the slower Liston, much like Ali did in their first fight.

I would give Jones a 60-40 advantage over Liston in a head-to-head match-up, with Liston having a fair chance due to his strength and power.

 

OBC you didn't even give a defense of Jones. Isn't the TS supposed to do that?

 

Yep. The GreatA has done a fine job so far, though...

 

you can't be serious.. liston would kill him. roy's speed would get him some success, but against a big strong hardhitting heavyweight like Liston, he would eventually get knocked out.
Liston's advantages:
power
size
reach
exp @ heavyweight
better chin

Jones'e advantages:
Speed
mobility maybe?


that's it. I don't think he would even go the distance with Liston. sure he owned John ruiz, but ruiz is a slow hugging heavyweight at best.

 

absurd but believable....

 

Power: Liston
Size: Liston
Chin: Liston
Speed: Jones
Footwork: Jones
Defense: Jones
Reflexes: Jones
Counter punching: Jones
Athleticism: Jones
Combination punching: Jones
Body punching: Jones
Triple left hook: Jones
Footspeed: Jones
Explosiveness: Jones
Fighting with hands behind back: Jones
Playing basketball: Jones

Clear advantage for Jones

 

:good

I dispute this, though. But rest is good.

I guess the verdict is in. Jones by torture.

 

who do you think would win then TheGreatA?

 

Liston did display his body punching ability in the Machen fight although I'm not sure if blows below the belt should count.

 

Jones by TKO in 11, Liston retires on his stool.

 

It's settled, then.

 

We were talking about Sailor Liston, right?

 

Pfft, if he gets knoked out by Danny green in one round (I know jones was washed up), what makes you think he could take a flush right hand from Liston? or when he got countered Badly By tarver and he get knocked down easily. I don't think he can take liston's heat, even If he is faster, I just think he'll get caught eventually.
retires on stool? are you really saying that because Liston quit twice? he didn't train for the first Ali fight, and he was shot against Leotis Martin.

 

There's actually a very good point in this: when posters itemize "stats" like power and speed in hypothetical matchups, their judgment depends a lot on which stats they deem important.

Not a very objective method.