Oh come on McGrain...just This content is protected This content is protected the Young magic!!! Eddie wasn't the defensive master Young was..Young could have matched and surpassed Machen vs Liston, IMO..and just askin'...do you think Eddie would have gone distance with Foreman or beat him as Young did? I haven't really considered it to be honest..maybe that would be worthy of a thread.
Champ- Ali 1. Holmes 2. Foreman 3. Frazier 4. Norton 5. Young 6. Lyle 7. Quarry 8. Shavers 9. Bonavena 10. Bugner Liston loses to Ali, Holmes, Foreman, and Frazier. He has trouble with Norton and Young.
1959/60 Liston? There are no 70s heavyweights that I see that would take him. I'd give an arm to see Liston-Foreman/Lyle/Shavers, but Frazier would be a fairly easy conquest. I think he'd beat a 70s Ali too. Who'd give him the most problems? Holmes.
I've always felt that the Machen who took Liston the distance would have had a good shot at beating Foreman. That will get you tarred n feathered on this site, but so be it. Eddie's footwork would have been troublesome and his quick, snappy counters would have landed easily against George, whom I've always felt was too wide open to not be vulnerable to a good counterpuncher. Then again, maybe GF catches him like Ingo did.
The best Eddie Machen was the 1957 version (25 years old). Fast, quick, elusive and good power. The 1957 Fast Eddie, gives anyone trouble, and probably beats Floyd Patterson soundly if they fought in 1957. 'Friggin' Pete Rademacher.
i have to admit this is one of the rare times i'll disagree with stonehands as well. it wasn't just ali's jab that so troubled frazier, but his movement and grabbing him behind the neck. foreman spent almost as much time shoving frazier as punching him and that wasn't liston's style. i see a liston win possible but frazier would be able to get close and relatively frequently; it's how liston handles the inside that determines.
Disagree how he wud have probs with norton . he does beat frazier n foreman . Ali might beat him , i am not sure , a prime liston is 1 completely different , animal , as is 70s ali . Holmes wud have 1 gr8 chance .
He'd stomp Norton within 3 rounds. The man could make several great heavyweights look average, but Liston is not one them..
Of all the fighters from the 60's and 70's I think Liston is the greatest besides Ali Its funny watching practically every single fighter Liston faces off against after his Ali bouts trying to be elusive at defeat him through ring generalship, only to receive their inevitable KO. They all thought it was that simple lol