Evander Holyfield Versus Sonny Liston

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by ThatOne, Aug 1, 2025.

?

Who wins?

  1. Evander

    38.5%
  2. Sonny

    61.5%
  1. ThatOne

    ThatOne Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2022
    Messages:
    6,171
    Likes Received:
    8,495
    Who wins this banger?
     
  2. TipNom

    TipNom Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2019
    Messages:
    1,425
    Likes Received:
    2,938
    Liston close decision. I think Listons jab takes the win for him. Holy would get off with his own shots and combinations but for long stretches of rounds would be at the end of the jab.
     
  3. newurban99

    newurban99 Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2010
    Messages:
    1,196
    Likes Received:
    1,892
    Evander Holyfield wouldn't survive going toe-to-toe with Sonny. He would have to find another way, maybe like Machen fought him but with two hands.
     
  4. Devon

    Devon Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2018
    Messages:
    6,373
    Likes Received:
    5,522
    Holyfield wouldn’t be wise to fight him up close, and he also would struggle at range with Liston’s piston like jab, Liston extends his punches much better, Holyfield would have to try to get in and out rather than staying on the outside or staying on the inside, and take him by surprise with speed.
     
  5. Melankomas

    Melankomas Prime Jeffries would demolish a grizzly in 2 Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2022
    Messages:
    6,819
    Likes Received:
    8,446
    Holyfield if he doesn’t get sucked into a brawl.
     
  6. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2021
    Messages:
    14,305
    Likes Received:
    16,349
    Liston close decision but he's never seen an evolved specimen like Holyfield, this could be a 3 fight series like Holyfield/Bowe
     
  7. BoxingFan2002

    BoxingFan2002 Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2024
    Messages:
    2,004
    Likes Received:
    685
    Like Holyfield Foreman but closer, Holyfield by SD.
     
    InMemoryofJakeLamotta likes this.
  8. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 9, 2007
    Messages:
    16,184
    Likes Received:
    15,182
    I like Liston here. Liston's skills are underrated. Liston UD. Now if Holy falls into the mentality of brawling after getting stung then he gets stopped
     
  9. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2017
    Messages:
    16,088
    Likes Received:
    11,593
    I used to favor Liston, now I favor Holyfield. But it depends on the version. If the roided up monster that stopped Mike Tyson shows up, Liston be in trouble.
     
    BoxingFan2002 likes this.
  10. BoxingFan2002

    BoxingFan2002 Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2024
    Messages:
    2,004
    Likes Received:
    685
    He also beat Bowe with high output and Lewis while being past prime.

    I like Holy's chances here.
     
    Last edited: Aug 1, 2025
  11. jabber74

    jabber74 Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2012
    Messages:
    977
    Likes Received:
    1,029
    Holyfield. He would probably get rocked at some point, but he almost always came charging back to force his will. I think he would be too much for Liston.
     
    BoxingFan2002 likes this.
  12. Reinhardt

    Reinhardt Boxing Junkie Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2016
    Messages:
    13,941
    Likes Received:
    18,923
    Good night Evander
     
    Spreadeagle and FighterInTheWind like this.
  13. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2007
    Messages:
    50,954
    Likes Received:
    24,910
    I agree fully that it’s generally a BAD idea to slug in a war with Charles Sonny Liston. But hypothetically if he and Holyfield were to engage in such a battle, why is Holyfield sure to lose ?
     
  14. Reallymakesmethink

    Reallymakesmethink Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2019
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    257
    Exactly. Holyfield is much quicker and better on the inside than Liston. I don’t get where this idea that he’d get slept comes from he’s been in brawls with guys much bigger who hit just as hard, if not harder, than Liston.
     
    BoxingFan2002 likes this.
  15. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2007
    Messages:
    50,954
    Likes Received:
    24,910
    Yeah Holyfield has never been taken out early in his life except of course for that absurd comeback stunt he pulled a couple years ago in his fifties. And the man made an entire career of taking on big punchers - many of whom he defeated. To be clear, I’m not sure who’d win between him and Liston. But there seems to be this long standing idea that Evander would get brutally sparked in this matchup which I’m not so sure is necessarily the case.