Put a prime Sonny Liston in the 70s...

You make a good point. It's not just that Foreman was a big, strong puncher that made Frazier tailor made for him, but also that his best punch was the uppercut and that he was extremely physical and almost always dictated fights by pushing the guy to the right range.

I also remain convinced that extremely few would be so unconcerned by good left hooks by Frazier, and I don't think Liston qualifies in this very exclusive company.

 

To answer the question, I'd probably make a prime Liston a favourite against the 70's crowd with the exception of an early 70's Ali. It would be a tough fight, though, and Ali would have to be at the top of his game.

 

Frazier - i think Liston would hammer Joe.

Foreman - I think his superior punching fundamentals would carry him to a 5th round stoppage of George.

Ali - Muhammad wins via late round stoppage or decision.

Norton - Easy fight for Liston.

Shavers - Liston via early KO.

Young - Liston via decision or latter stoppage. Sonny wastes less punches than Foreman and would be more accurate vs Young.

Quarry - Liston by mid to late TKO.

Lyle - Liston TKO 7.

 

I see him beating Ali but not Foreman this is a fight I can't pick my feeling with foreman is if he can hit you then he will beat you, I suppose you have to ask yourself how he would handle the Liston jab but, I still feel he would get to Liston I see the fight like the Williams fight but Foremen hits harder and is more resilliant it is a close call though.

Liston would handle the slower 70's Ali in a very tough all out war and maybe even knock him out.

 

Cheers. I put the stoppage down as a possible as 15 rounds (i am thinking a 15 rounder here) is a long time and Ali might wear him down. If we look at history Liston only once ever went past 10 rounds, and that was 12. Who knows what happens with an Ali after 10. Liston has virtually zero experience past 10 so anything can happen.

I think Liston would stop both Fosters, possibly only decision the durable Bugner (tho Liston is surely a chance of a stoppage), i think he'd smash Cooney tho he'd have to be firing on all cylinders, Holmes i'd slightly favour to decision Sonny and possibly stop Chuvalo on his feet.

 

I think a prime Liston beats every one of them including the 1970's Ali excluding the prime Holmes.

 

Ali would still beat Sonny. If we're talking the BEST 70's version of Ali. Still too much movement,as well as his jab and right hand. Liston would also get a bit discouraged when Muhammad would still be there after he takes Liston's best blows.

 

This post is worth quoting because it is so telling about how people's perceptions of Sonny Liston are far off from reality. If Young is tiny, then what is Liston, who weighed as much and was 2 inches shorter? atsch

 

What is heavier, a pound of feather or a pound of concrete?

 

:think