Well I am quite happy to be in the minority here and take Baer by surprise knockout, not because Baer is better than Liston, but because he is so wrong for Liston -in my opinion. And I would bet a reasonable sum on Baer. As a great jabber, If there was one punch Sonny was susceptible to it was a right hand. Larry Holmes too. The right hand from an opponent comes within the space of the jabbing left hand. The jab is the greatest punch in boxing, but as one comes more reliant on it, when it becomes an instinctive punch, it can become difficult to anticipate oncoming right hands for the jabber. Think of all the great jabs in history. Larry Holmes, Joe Louis and Sonny Liston. What punch put them on their backs? And what was Max Baer famous for? A fast, long right hand. Cleveland Williams, the closest to Baer in some respects, was a handful for Sonny, but over rated in my opinion. Sure Sonny brutally flattened Williams both times, but the punch that Williams had success with was a left hook, not a right hander. Now Burt Whitehurst even wobbled Sonny with a right hand. What ever anyone thinks of Ali knocking down Liston it was a connecting right hand (that Sonny did not see coming) that produced that knockdown. And let’s not forget, Ali did wobble Sonny and hurt him with right hands throughout their first fight. Supposedly Zora Foley hurt Sonny with a right hand too. The indisputable knockout old Sonny suffered at the hands of Leotis Martin was also a counter right hand. So I see a real chance for a famous right hand bomber to be a real problem for Liston. I hear alarm bells. It’s even an antidote to the best punch Sonny has. The jab. Now, I am not completely overlooking the mighty powers of Sonny. He’s big built, he’s a come forward guy with two handed power. Dangerous at both long and short range. His footwork was excellent. But he has no physical advantage here what so ever. And this too is a strong factor here. Early in his career there were big men Sonny could not put a dent in. Sure he did sort out Dejohn, Valdes and Williams but those guys were second stringers known to keel over. Durable men like Summerlin, neal wealch and Chuck Wepner hung with Sonny till the end. Big Germans like Besmanoff and Zech lasted many more rounds simply because they were big. So Sonny was better suited to much smaller guys like Patterson, Westphal and Harris. Max Baer could never be confused with those guys in terms of size. The things Max was good at were the things that were the hardest thing for Sonny to overcome. Size, durability and counter right hands. If I were Sonny Listons manager I would not let him near Max Baer. There are easier fights for him.
Sonny should be favoured. MB is live. Not even going to bother to check the one solitary soul who voted for Baer though
I think Liston stops him in 7 or 8 rounds. Baer at his best would have some success earlier on, Liston could be caught with a big right hand over the jab and Baer had a heck of right hand.
I don't know too many others who will say Baer was known for a fast right hand. A strong overhand/round house right, yes but quick, no. Interesting to see you to paint Sonny with such a questionable chin. I guess if you're trying to build any case for Baer over him you have to fabricate. BTW, how many fights did Baer have in his mid to late 30's ?
Liston beats the h@@@ out of Baer. Those wide looping shots from Baer are going to be his undoing. Liston stops him under 5
Sonny is just all wrong for Baer. I would give Max a better shot against Ali, Patterson, Louis. Max has a punchers chance, but he will get outworked and outboxed, and Liston will win a decision.
Baer could win - it would depend on how serious/angry he was. Baer could be dirty and very rough; he hit harder than Liston, though Sonny was the better boxer. I also think Baer had the better chin (though Liston's was real good).
