Prime Holyfield vs. Prime Liston

:deal This sums up almost everything I could've said on the subject.

Holyfield should simply have too much skill and versatility, and even hit too hard for Liston.

I would expect Liston to be outboxed, staggered, discouraged, and ultimately folding, basically the way he did against Ali.

 

In that case, he'd be fighting a less technically developed, more hittable version of Liston.

Even assuming this Liston would have the mental toughness to hang in for longer, he'd probably be dominated even worse and soak up a lot more punishment.

 

If Marty Marshall busted up and dropped Liston, and Ali's punches staggered him and convinced him to quit, what would Holyfield do? :good

 

Holyfield was strong enough to push around Tyson, who was himself renowned for his strength.

Who was the strongest fighter that Liston proved he was stronger than?

 

I disagree with you there.

Tyson was known for his punch power, not his physical strength. A lot of lesser fighters pushed Tyson around, Tyson was easy to push around

The strongest fighter Liston pushed around was George Foreman

 

Spoken like a true D Bag! People make too much of the comments Foreman made about Liston... comments he made out of respect for his one time hero. Foreman also said that he was scared of Frazier, Norton, and Cooney. All 3 were stopped in the 2nd round by Foreman and were knocked down so many times that I lost count.

If Foreman didn't want Liston to push him around, it wouldn't have happened. Foreman didn't want to embarrass the aging fighter. Foreman actually felt sorry for Liston at this point, he had discovered how depressed Liston was, and that he could barely read. Liston died in December of 1970. At this point Foreman had won a lopsided 10 round decision over Peralta and stopped the almost impossible to stop Chuvalo in the 3rd round. Frazier was the only other fighter who stopped Chuvalo (TKO4). Liston and Foreman stopped sparring before Foreman fought either one of these guys. Foreman was very green when he worked with Liston. Prime vs. Prime... Foreman crushes Liston.

So, who pushed Tyson around? Douglas, Holyfield, and Lewis did it. Any other fighter that did it, did it when Tyson was washed up.

Quit making Liston out to be more than what he was. He struggled with small HWs like Summerlin (close wins) x2 and Marshall (decision loss and broken jaw, he did beat Marshall x2). Liston did get better after these fights. He beat good but small HWs like Patterson x2 (KO1 x2), Folley KO3 and Machen W10 (Machen wasn't an easy win). Williams was considered big but really is kinda small compared to many of the fighters Holyfield faced. Williams was C level and was stopped by Liston x2 (KO3 and KO2).

Holyfield whips that ass!:bbb

 

tyson never had great functional physical strength, plus evander was using roids at this time, tyson was pushed back by anyone, even berbick did push him back in the early moments,i am picking holyfield here, but you are crazy or you are a biAsaed guy if you are debating who was stronger here. foreman said that liston was very strong, ron lyle said that liston was strong like hell, these guys were very very strng guys so you must to listen them when they said it about liston. clevelan williams was a very strong ripped guy and liston proved that he was clearly stronger.

who was the strongest fighter that holyfield proved he was stronger? uh?

bowe,40 years old foreman,lewis all them proved that they were much stronger than evander.

 

Two factors that give Holyfield an edge for me is handspeed and his preparations for a fight.

Holyfield was always the man with a plan. Holyfield's preparations were meticulous, and Holyfield usually followed his corner's instructions to a T.

I think Liston's excellent jab would pose a significant problem for Holyfield though. Despite his many fine qualities as a fighter, Holyfield was never hard to hit, and both Foreman and Bowe jarred him several times with their jabs. Liston arguably had a better jab than both, and I can see the punch giving Holyfield problems.

But still, I'd pick Holyfield to prevail eventually; he for me is more well-rounded as a fighter with less weaknesses.

 

You have proof of that?

Berbick wasn't "anyone," he was known for being a strong fighter himself.

Bobby Czyz said Tyson was very strong - do you simply accept what he claims?

Williams pushed Liston backward at the outset of their fight just like you criticize Tyson for being pushed backward by Berbick.

After Tyson? Thomas, Tillis, Dokes, Mercer, Oquendo, etc.

You mean fighters that all weighed 240-260 pounds? How many fighters did Liston beat that even weighed 230?

 

People overrate Liston so much in the classic Forums because of his wins against glass chin 170 pound Floyd Patterson. Liston's couldn't bully Holyfield and Holyfield was bigger and fought the better fighters.

Evander by stoppage.

 

This would be a war of a match.

Holyfield fought his heart out in the Bowe fights. I think I will use that version against Liston from the Cleveland Williams fight. I see both fighters as very similar in build and style. Both are boxer-punchers, both hit hard, Sonny hits harder. I would say that Sonny has better boxing skill including a great jab. Holyfiled puts together better combinations.

This is an even match up. I want to pick Holyfield but I think he engages too much to be able to handle the power of Sonny. Sonny at his best, jabs, slips and rolls with punches making him very hard to hit.

I like Sonny versus Holyfield. Holyfield will make Sonny, rock and roll and work but with Sonny's boxing skill will be able to withstand and establish his game and KO Holyfield in 10.

 

Berbick pushed Tyson around, Tucker pushed Tyson around, Smith pushed Tyson around as did Tillis.

Tyson was easy to push around. Physcially, he wasnt that strong.

Holyfield, a former CW pushed Tysona round like a rag doll, its one of the reasons why Mike was unable to launch any type of offense, aside from the odd 1-2s.

There was an interview with Foreman, yes i know he does talk **** sometimes.

But he said something to the effect of 'They all ran, all of them, Frazier thought he was tough, but he ended up running, Ali just lay on the ropes, the one guy who didnt run was Sonny Liston'

Find the interview somewhere on the net.

In my opinion, Foreman sounds pretty honest there.

Tyson has also admitted, the one man hed be intimidated by was Sonny Liston.

Ali also stated the scariest guy he fought was Sonny Liston.

he said something to the effect of the Scariest was Liston, Frazier was the toughest and Foreman the hardest hitting. Or something like that.

Im not a Liston fan, but im also not one of these people who overrate Holyfield just because he beat a post prison Mike Tyson

 

sonny liston was clearly naturally bigger and stronger than holyfield.

(ali said in his book " the soul of a buttefly" liston was the scariest, frazier the toughest and foreman the most powerful)

and naming james tillis at a strong fighter was just laugable

 

Marshall scored a flash knockdown. Ali staggered an old Liston. You can rip any fighter's record to shreds; Ali was nearly kayoed by Henry Cooper, Ketchel floored Johnson etc. I am a big fan of Liston and Holyfield and rate both fighters. I pick Liston. If you favour Evander, fair play to you, it's just opinion!

 

Dickhead strikes again. How is Holyfield a better puncher than Liston. You are seriously pissing me off, now.