1968 Sonny Liston vs 1987 Evander Holyfield

Sonny looked good in the Clark fight, fundamentally sound in technical terms but was still that much slower than in his prime.

I don’t know that he would have had too many more viable rounds in him if the fight had not been stopped when it was.

I’d probably go with Evander, particularly given Liston’s reduced gas tank, only good for 6-7 rounds, but just as he did, even in the late 60s, Sonny would still present as a somewhat risky proposition, just imo.

 

Run Evander run!!!!!

 

I don’t know. In 1987 Evander Holyfield still had under twenty pro fights and had a lot of muscle to gain ( legally or illegally ) before he was ready for the power of the heavyweight division. On the flip side Sonny Liston was long past his prime and wasn’t far off from getting KO’d by a man who wasn’t much bigger than a cruiserweight himself. It’s a tough bet but I’m thinking if Holyfield could make it beyond the mid rounds then he likely takes over late and wins….. but this is all based on “ an IF “

 

Holyfield's a winner. He was still young, physically, already very durable, but already experienced. I think he finds a way against an older Liston.. believe it or not.

 

• "Joe Frazier or Jimmy Ellis wouldn't last more than 3 or 4 rounds with Liston." - Henry Clark

 

What does that mean?

 

That was what Clark said immediately after fighting Liston.

 

OK
But Liston would have real problems with Holyfield's speed (Holyfield was fast twitch). And quite frankly Holyfield's innate toughness. He won't back down to Liston. You must know that.

belay my last (Holyfield wasn't first ranked #1 at heavyweight in 1987.. that was 1988).

 

Certainly possible

 

I know this is a totally different argument and I don’t want to derail the thread. But do you really think Evander in 87 at cruiser was better than Ellis at heavy ? I mean for all I know he might have been but Jimmy was kicking some serious @ss in the late 60s

 

It wouldn't surprise me if he was. Holyfield is all-time P4P great.. because he was a really good technical boxer, when he wanted to. He should have been recognized as an Olympic gold medalist. Hard luck champion.

Liston was already old by the Ali fights. And Holyfield is underrated anyway. Too fast for Liston.

 

Even that Evander was too durable and too fast for that Sonny to stop early enough to keep Sonny out of trouble late. I think Evander stops Sonny later in the fight.

 

I think there's a chance Liston's big power can keep an underweight Holyfield cautious enough for Sonny to get the honey.

What does that mean?