could any heavyweight today beat this verison of Sonny Liston

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by ivanovichjones, May 8, 2020.



  1. ertwin

    ertwin Active Member Full Member

    1,328
    1,066
    Aug 2, 2016

    No. There has been no good hw shorter then 6‘2 since the 90s.
     
    Toney F*** U likes this.
  2. FuryFTW

    FuryFTW Active Member banned Full Member

    605
    619
    Apr 21, 2020
    Fury would humiliate midget liston

    Liston would have to put a department stores worth of towels under his robe to make himself look bigger in the stared own with Fury hahs
     
  3. George Crowcroft

    George Crowcroft Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    26,101
    41,915
    Mar 3, 2019
    Fury does, Usyk has the style to but is way too unproven to pick yet.
     
    TipNom likes this.
  4. It's Ovah

    It's Ovah I'm your huckleberry, that's just mah game Full Member

    13,566
    17,006
    Sep 5, 2016
    Usyk.
     
    TipNom likes this.
  5. It's Ovah

    It's Ovah I'm your huckleberry, that's just mah game Full Member

    13,566
    17,006
    Sep 5, 2016
    I think he'd do pretty well, but it's not a given he'd just plough through guys the way he did back in the 60s. Usyk is a nightmare for him, as is Fury. Joshua could knock him out, but I see that fight being quite competitive if Liston isn't overawed by Joshua's physicality.

    Liston often gets a bad rap as a crude slugger but this fight alone shows he had a lot of quite subtle skills that many HWs today don't have or don't do as well. His head movement was excellent, just subtle enough to avoid Cleveland's shots without putting him off balance or unable to fire back, and his sense of distance was very good too. He knew exactly when he was in range and when he wasn't. Compare that to Wilder who reacts to everything and is constantly wasting energy leaping or swaying backwards and often puts himself way out of position to throw any sort of effective counter shots, or Whyte with his wild swings that constantly throw him off balance.

    The only question mark for me is how well he copes with the juiced up power of these guys.
     
    Last edited: Jun 18, 2020
    juhave, OvidsExile and RingKing75 like this.
  6. Jackomano

    Jackomano Boxing Junkie Full Member

    7,839
    6,255
    Nov 22, 2014
    Usyk’s mobility would give him problems and especially Usyk being a southpaw. Chisora despite being past prime could catch Liston slipping as could Ruiz, since Liston would be coming at them.

    I think he does very well against Joshua, Wilder, and Fury, since they’re such big targets.
     
  7. RingKing75

    RingKing75 Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

    8,037
    5,140
    Dec 23, 2013
    I agree I dont think he'd plow through guys like he did then but he'd be a player in the division. Most of what you said is pretty spot on.
     
  8. catchwtboxing

    catchwtboxing Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    20,444
    24,424
    Jul 4, 2014
    I would pick Fury, but it should be noted that Liston had an 85 inch reach, so the size difference is not as bad as all that, despite the height disparity.

    Also, Sonny could HIT, as attested to by George Foreman himself.

    I think it would be one hell of a fight, actually. Certainly better than Wilder II.
     
    OvidsExile likes this.
  9. FuryFTW

    FuryFTW Active Member banned Full Member

    605
    619
    Apr 21, 2020
    Stand an put your fist straight out so that it just makes contact with a wall.

    Now without moving your feet raise your fist 8 inches
     
  10. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

    11,700
    14,935
    Oct 4, 2016
    No they couldn't beat Sonny
     
  11. OvidsExile

    OvidsExile At a minimum, a huckleberry over your persimmon. Full Member

    31,008
    31,553
    Aug 28, 2012
    Two 6'5" Sonny Liston KO victims= Chuck Wepner and Gerhard Zech
    This content is protected

    This content is protected


    Oddly enough, even though he's only 6'1 Sonny Liston had freakishly long arms. With an 84" reach, he'd only be giving up one inch to Tyson Fury and he'd have reach advantages over Deontay Wilder or Anthony Joshua.
     
    ivanovichjones likes this.
  12. SmackDaBum

    SmackDaBum TKO7 banned Full Member

    5,194
    1,713
    Nov 22, 2014
    Those cruisers from the 60's are far less skilled than the cruisers of today.

    Usyk, Gassiev, Dorticos, Breidis, etc...

    >>>

    Ali, Williams, Liston
     
    moneytheman12 and ertwin like this.
  13. ivanovichjones

    ivanovichjones Member banned Full Member

    199
    184
    Apr 12, 2020
    good eye
     
    bbjc likes this.
  14. ivanovichjones

    ivanovichjones Member banned Full Member

    199
    184
    Apr 12, 2020

    thanks good videos, yeah he is similar to sam langford in that
    his reach is way longer then it "should be"
     
    OvidsExile likes this.
  15. dangerousity

    dangerousity Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    20,252
    2,288
    Jan 4, 2005
    Exactly this, look at the ring dynamics. You can see Liston fighting at a range, reaching with the jab. He won’t be able to do that with Fury or Joshua who is a bigger version of him.