1936 Max Schmeling vs 1960 Sonny Liston

No. Max Baer overwhelmed Schmeling with sheer size strength and power...Liston was an even bigger puncher with a sledgehammer jab. Schmeling never moved his head, just leaned back to set up the right. The problem is, he never learned how to stop a good jab. Schmeling was very dangerous counterpuncher, and can hit, but Liston would jab him to death from outside and bully him around in close, remember Liston threw really nice uppercuts and short hooks. Schmeling would get bullied and beat up then knocked out

 

While Max's victory over Joe in 1936 was no doubt his greatest victory, it was based on a strategy to work on Joe Louis specifically. Or at least to work on a fighter who dropped his left after throwing a lazy left jab. Against another fighter, that strategy may not get the chance to work. While it is true that the Max of 1936 had gotten himself into top fighting condition, he would have to devise a strategy that would work against Liston. The strategy that worked best against a 1960 Liston would appear to be that used by Eddie Machen, who moved a lot. Max was not particularly known as a mover in the ring, especially backwards. As noted above, I see a replay of the Baer-Schmeling fight with Liston scoring a mid-rounds stoppage.