Sonny Liston (Cancelled Bouts)

Liston DID Spar with Bugner though, late in his career.

 

Harold Johnson sparred with him, was not intimidated, and no stranger to huge punching opponents like Moore. However, it's hard for me to watch Oakland Billy Smith knock him out, then see Harold somehow prevailing over Liston. (Then again, Machen went 12 after being far more recently starched by Ingo.)

Pastrano is a provocative choice though. He could take a shot, run for 15 rounds, and had the speedy jab to give Sonny headaches. No stranger to world class heavyweight competition, he was a veteran campaigner who'd beaten taller opponents than Liston, and could load up if he chose to try keeping an attacker honest.

Floyd might just have turned the tables on Sonny in a 1969 rematch after gaining the new experience of going the championship distance with Ellis. His win over Chuvalo showed a far more resourceful and smarter competitor than the one who Liston wiped out twice. And the disciplined Patterson would have at least retained the advantage of at least three years of youth over Sonny. Liston wouldn't have been the first opponent to beat him badly who he subsequently reversed roles with.

 

Awesome Il Duce. Pitty that fight with Harold Johnson was off. Marty Marshall went on as a replacement. Having Johnson and Johansson on resume would upgrade Sonny's legacy a lot I think. I rate him top 10 HW but many still identificate his great career with Clay/Ali fiascos...

 

Some real potentially great matchups there, a fight with Quarry is one i particularly wished happened.

 

Sonny was certainly enthusiastic about the idea after stopping Clark. He was smart enough to know who the best opponent was for moving further back into the picture. While I've always liked Jerry's chances with Foreman, Liston had the jab and skills to make him pay dearly for his lack of height and reach. This would be another cut loss stoppage for JQ.

 

It is a shame that the Harold Johnson fight never took place.

That one would have been a good barometer for comparing two eras.

 

A slugest with Johansson in '63 would've been mint. :!:

 

Ingo would be continually retreating as he was when he ambushed Machen. At some point, his "Toonder" would connect, and it was known to come as late as round 13. How Sonny responded to it would be interesting.

 

Fight would be over very quickly imo. If Johannesson couldnt take Pattersons punch i doubt he can take Listons.

 

I'd have loved a Chuvallo-Liston fight at any point.

 

quarry probably would tko a past prime liston 68-69, prime liston would kill quarry.