Sonny Liston vs Joe Louis

Personally i feel it is the intangible that ensures Ali a victory. Joe is good in rematches but this suggests an inability to adapt infight whereas Ali will change up and find a way that works no matter how unorthodox

 

I am picking Joe Louis in this one, and I would definitely put my money where my pick is if we could put this fight together some way. Sonny is out of his league here...in my opinion.

 

Not quite as easy as that. First and foremost both of the fighters you listed fought Louis years apart. Secondly, it just doesn't work like that.

You woulda though Manny Pac woulda destroyed Oscar Larios, I mean, Vasquez did. But Larios went the distance.

Louis would beat Liston IMO; as soon as he'd figured out that wonderufl jab, he'd be too fast and beat Liston to the punch, decisively beating him IMO, in about 9/10 rounds

 

But Liston is not as a crafty as Walcott. Walcott floored Louis by setting up a master mouse trap that louis walked right into. Did Liston set counter traps like Walcott did? No.

 

I don't think that Louis's struggles with Walcott should even be factored into the equation here. As suzie already mentioned, Liston and Walcott had virtually nothing in common stylistically. Futhermore, I will ad that this was not a prime Louis.. He was 34 years old, off for over a year, and had only fought in a professional ring maybe 3 times over the previous 5 years. This was a far cry from the Louis who was 24 years old in 1938 and destroyed Schmeling in one round, and no amount of Army exhibitions was going to bring that Louis back..

 

Interesting match-up but evidence shows Louis had too much speed,power combo's, ring smarts and heart for Sonny. Sonny would be a presence but I see this one much like Louis/Baer

 

That's like me saying that certainly if Ali can knock Liston out in one round, surely Louis (with a better punch) can easily stop him in one round. Things happen in the ring and great fighters get knocked down sometimes. Betting on Sonny Liston beating Joe Louis is a losing proposition...in my opinion. I'm not saying Liston couldn't do it say once in five tries, but I'm not betting that way.

 

A little over the top there, Suzie.

 

Depends whether he's talking P4P OAT or HW OAT.

He's right in that Louis does have an amazing set of attributes.

 

Cant see it, regardless of HW or p4p

 

I'd like to see how you'd populate top fives in each of those categories at HW without Louis.

 

I'll go with Louis. I have a bias in that I believe that Liston is overrated due to the fact that a lot of fighters (Machon,Folley,Williams,Ali) accused Liston of the cheating via ointment in the eye. Real champions do not have to cheat.

Liston seems to have at least equal power and and and a much better chin. But Liston was noted in his day and being a slow fiighter. Joe was sometimes noted for is slow footwork, but watch the footage, and when he came to life, he was as quick in hand and foot as Ali.

I think Joe takes is just on skills.