Liston (1963) vs Holyfield (1995) ?

Liston W15 Holyfield

 

I think Holyfield can comfortably beat Liston with the right fight plan. If he has Emmanuel Steward in his corner he can work mostly behind the jab and on the outside where his large edge in speed will make sure he beats Liston to the punch most of the time. Holyfield will find tons of counter punching opportunities as he did with a similarly slow and strong opponent in Foreman. Still, Foreman did get through now and then, so the danger of Evander's "I'm not a real heavyweight but i'll slug it out to prove my worthy"-syndrome remains there. Holyfield's chin is awesome and will see him through tough moments.

 

What guarantee do we have that if a slugfest were to occur, that Holyfield would be on the losing end of it? How many fighters did Liston face who had the tools to stand up to him under those types of Circumstances. Holyfield would arguably be one of the biggest, strongest, best conditioned, most durable, and all around best fighters he ever faced. How many inside wars did Liston have such as the ones that Holyfield had with Dokes, Bowe, Lewis, Tyson, etc? I can't think of any. That said, it would be interesting to see how he responds to the kind of pressure from a fighter who was capable of taking the fight straight to him, and wouldn't go anywhere once he was tagged. I think this would be like culture shock for Liston who was hardly accustomed to this breed of animal.

 

Wow!

Holyfield's chin is awesome, but if Riddick Bowe could dent it, then I am willing to believe that Sonny Liston could do so too.

Also, I don't think that Holyfield could have out-jabbed Liston. His slight (yes) edge in speed would have been more than offset by Liston's big edge in reach and clear edge in power.

Holyfield was the better boxer but Liston was the better thinker in the ring and thus could adapt much better to styles. In fact, Holyfield often was foolhardy in trying to prove his power and toughness which would be suicidal against Liston. But to give him his due, he was patient and wise with an old Foreman. So what is to stop us from believing that he would not act likewise against a prime Liston? Point is, he still got hit quite a few times by good ol' George. And I am positive that a '63 version of Liston would be a lot faster than George in his second - no make it his third coming.

Both had excellent chins, with Holyfield's being decidedly better. But I am afraid this, coupled with his bravery would be just too bad for him against Sonny Liston.

Liston by late stoppage.

 

Holyfield fought twice in 1995.

He looked pretty good beating a surprisingly fit, competitive and fired-up Ray Mercer. Holyfield knocked Mercer down (left hook) and outworked him in an entertaining competitive fight.

Against Bowe, Holyfield gassed out quite badly quite early on in the fight. He showed tremendous heart and put Bowe down with a powerful left hook, but was reduced to slugging flat-footed, totally spent and got stopped in the 8th.

Liston only fought once in 1963, he probably didn't train much at all for that rematch with Patterson.

 

Good points, although Liston looked invincible in destroying Patterson, I think it was more of a case of him beating a fighter who was haunted by their previous fight as well as being taylor made for him. I really don't use that bout as an indication for how he'd do against other great champions. The 1995 version of Evander Holyfield (as we both know) was hardly the best rendering of the real deal. He was coming back after a layoff due to health issues, and was supposedly recovering from Hepatitus when he faced Riddick for the third time. I would still give this Holyfield a fair shot at beating Liston, while having enormous confidence in him had this been a 1990 Holyfield instead.

 

Is this the Holyfield in 1995 who looked good in beating Mercer?

Or the one suffering from HGH-itis who lost to Bowe?

 

Liston beats him down for a stoppage in 8.

 

A late 1950s Liston was about 100x faster than 42 year old foreman, far more skilled...far better jab, far better puncher. I really think liston at his best would make dogmeat out of holyfield. I rewatched his fights in the ealry 1990s......couldnt believe how much he struggled with an old michael dokes and bert cooper, not to mention 44 year old holmes and foreman. I think Liston would tee off his jab at holyfield, when holy came inside to counter with his combinations he would outphysicaled and dominated by uppercuts on the inside like riddick bowe did to him, because liston was a very good inside fighter. Liston was the better fighter at all ranges. at long range, liston destroys him with his 84" reach........when liston has him on the ropes like bert cooper did liston finishes holyfield. holy loved to brawl, and he will get smoked by liston every minute he tries to brawl.....he tries to box liston was a very scientific boxer just as skilled as holy expect better tools........I see this as a TKO win for liston.



I dont understand why he has 1963 liston(who was past his prime by then) and 1995 holy(who was past his prime by then)

 

Liston mugs Holyfield within 3 rounds.