Is Mike Tyson’s legacy bigger than Sonny Liston`s?

Tyson legacy was bigger than Liston by a great margin. He had
more title defenses , he usually ended his fights more spectacularly,
He beat better fighters overall.
Liston's legacy would've been bigger, but unfortunately for him,
Ali was right around the corner. Also the mass media juggernaut
was getting it's footing around Tyson's championship run. That's
also very important.
How important? Most people would recognize Jake Paul today
Than Sonny Liston. Most may recognize him over Tyson TBH.
And that's very, very sad.

 

Tyson's "legacy" is greater than any fighter not named Muhammad Ali. I'm defining legacy by his impact on the sport, presence in the media, effect on popular culture, not fighting ability.

 

To be fair, that was Mike as well until he became a pothead. Usually, drugs have a rather negative impact on a person's life, but he's the odd case of copious amounts of a certain drug improving his life.

(no judging -- I think that if alcohol is legal, marijuana 100% needs to be or the laws make no damn sense)

 

Maybe it's just age. Mike is in his 50s now and age tends to mellow a person out.

 

Beyond the fact that he was an international superstar and is a highly relevant pop culture icon to this day, Mike had a huge influence on the way people box. He made the peek-a-boo style so prominent it almost became the default, and when most people think of the greatest, for better or worse, the question is usually "Ali or Tyson?", in the same way that it used to be "Louis or Ali?".

Personally, I wouldn't even put Tyson in my top 5 heavyweights of all time. But his impact has been enormous in a way Sonny Liston's doesn't even come close to approaching.

 

Sure it is! But I'm not sure that made him a better fighter...in fact, I don't think any of us can know that for sure because Liston was both extremely avoided and somewhat inactive as Champ. Iron Mike kept fighting in the 80s, very active. I have Mike comfortably ahead as ATG, but losing h2h.

 

The only difference separating the Mike Tyson and Sonny Liston was longevity, Tyson was champion from 1986 until 1990. Liston was champion from 1962 until 1964. Both were defeated by boxers in losing their titles. Both were stopped by their conquers, one lost his prime at age 23, the other lost his title as a way older man.