rate Liston's top 10 opponents

That was the sarcastic bit.

Actually Q said he was an "A-level slickster". (Although to be fair he also called Povetkin "A-level" - but then it's an even more tenuous basis to prop up Liston's legacy on.)

He also said Liston "cleaned out a decade of talent" or something similar. And you rated Liston #3 ATG HW once. So yes, there is precedent for this.

 

...I was exaggerating.

 

I said he was an A level boxer. I never called him a "genius slickster"...your making that up.

Now your way off. I said "Liston cleaned out the late 1950's crop of talent." Yes, I stand by that.

 

He beat

A. An ATG heavyweight who was in his prime(Patterson)...TWICE.

B. 2 Elite level contenders who happened to be top level technicians(Folley and Machen)

C. A powerful fast slugger who would be dangerous in any era(C Williams)

D. Big near/rated Punchers who posted a threat to anyone in the division(Valdes, DeJohn, Clark)

E. Rated Boxers with a good record(Roy Harris)

F. Durable Swarmers who could spoil many top fighters in the division(Bethea, Summerlin)

Not that bad of a resume when you look at the top quality, depth, and wide variety of styles faced.

 

Summerlin was good. Bethea, not so much. Watch Summerlin vs Machen online. Summerlin was kinda a pit bull in there. A swift swarmer who was fearless. He didn't have the most talent, but he was very smooth with his upperbody movement in his crouch. He also had decent punching technique for his style, and utlized his long arms well both on the inside and outside. Lastly, he really attacked the body aggressively.

You may not like Bethea, but he gave a lot of good fighters nightmares with his style(Valdes, Charles, Summerlin, Folley, Terrell).

 

I like this one a lot, but Leotis Martin belong in there. I'd put Martin in around 7th, and move everyone else down a peg, inching Clark out.

 

Your right. I agree. My bad, I forgot Leotis Martin. I edited.

 

Here is my revised list

1. Muhammad Ali 2x- 6'3 210lb
2. Floyd Patterson 2x- 6'0 195lb
3. Zora Folley- 6'1 195lb
4. Eddie Machen- 6'0 195lb
5. Cleveland Williams 2x- 6'3 215lb
6. Nino Valdes- 6'3 211lb
7. Leotis Martin- 6'1 200lb
8. Mike DeJohn- 6'5 207lb
9. Johnny Summerlin- 6'1 195lb
10. Roy Harris- 6'1 195lb

HM: Henry Clark- 6'3 215lb

I can definitely see arguements for Clark being rates as high as 7th.