2017 Anthony Joshua vs 1960 Sonny Liston

I'd go with Sonny at the present time.

 

Liston wasn't creatively skilled, but he was text book skilled.
Constant head movement, smart positioning, quick 90 degree pivots, and intelligent usage of angles.

A smart puncher with accurate rhythm. A range demon, who could close the distance of the entire ring with a leaping double jab.

AJ is actually not too dissimilar. While their rhythm and skills vary a bit, they both are very grounded in classic technique. They both have tons of strength and power.

Liston has the edge on power, AJ has the size, and the height.

I think the key for Joshua would be to use his feet to augment the height advantage. In effect, keep his distance, and keep circling near the center of the ring. Make himself as frustrating as a target as possible, because Sonny will most definitely stalk. Then I would focus on blocking, parrying, and slipping Listons jabs, and then sneaking a hard jab whenever AJ gets the opening. Be humble, take opportunities as they come, this man is tough, do not get eager.

If Sonny shows up over eager, he's toast. However, Sonny is not the most over eager power puncher around. He is in fact often the opposite, with the Ali fights being the primary exceptions. If Sonny approaches the fight where he is reading the rhythm, matching the rhythm, and finding openings in that manner, he could out-counter and out-punch AJ for the KO. However, if he goes balls to the wall, and tries to create attack opportunities every two seconds, he will fall flat on his face.

AJ showed tremendous will, courage, mental durability, and maturity against Klitschko in front of 90,000 fans. He was knocked down, and that could've easily invited massive amounts of doubt to fill his head as he crumbled to obscurity. But he thought better of himself, got up, and turned the fight back around in a brilliant display of ruggedness and mental strength.

I will join some of my peers in saying that I would bet on Liston today. However much could change in the next 5 or so years. If AJ emerges victorious against Wilder and Fury, which I personally don't think he will, he would probably have to get the nod.

I believe Liston sneaks his way into the pocket with constant head movement, surprises AJ with the rock hard 80~ inch jab. Lands a thudding right while AJ tries to return fire. AJ starts to go loopy, trying to catch his balance, Liston closes the show with an unforgettable finish.

 

Good post!

 

Just because I took issue with someones fantasy that Joshua would be scared into submission doesn't mean I am unwilling to give Liston credit for his achievements. I mentioned that Sonny is impressive, just not to the degree that I see AJ trembling in fear and looking for an early bath.

I can admit to being dismissive of Patterson but I only referenced Floyd because history portrays him as a petrified Liston victim (whether that was the case or not) and I just don't see Joshua in the same boat. But fair enough, I shouldn't disparage another champion based on sensationalist media narratives from a century ago.

I didn't say Wlad was at his best. I do realise Klitschko was past peak, I just take issue with those who paint him as shot to bits. Any doubts about Wlad's condition physically or mentally were put to rest with the performance he put in. Even dinovelvet was praising him after the fight!
I do see it is a better win and I don't think Liston could survive Wlad from the AJ fight either.

Referring to Sonny Liston as "dinky" is so obviously a joke. I shouldn't feel the need to apologise just because your either overly defensive about your sporting idols or you have no sense of humour. Bears are never dinky.*


*apart from koalas

 

Debatable.

I just watched the long Liston video you did 6 years ago on youtube. The one you posted earlier was great but I had to swot up further since its Liston week in classic it seems.

 

Fair enough man .. I do have a sense of humor and didn't know this was it .. Over my head I guess.. Look I mean, I think other posters here are painting a pretty fair picture that AJ might just not be ready for prime Sonny, he's got a long road ahead of him still ... AJ is a beast and I can see why there is an argument for him because he has the clear size and weight advantage but not the reach and no where near the experience yet .. but I respect your opinion mate.. good luck in your sports idol as well as he moves forward !!!

 

When you say angles, your not talking about cutting off the ring, which is something Liston wasn't great at.

Size - Big edge AJ
Power - small edge Liston
Skills - small edge Liston
Defense - small edge Liston
Speed - edge AJ
Chin - small edge Liston
Stamina to go rounds - Big edge Liston
Heart - Edge AJ
Ring IQ - About even

 

I don't rate Lennox Lewis as high as many do here (on the all-time scale) but he definitely developed into a skillful heavyweight. I guess he was always more of a natural "boxer" than Joshua is now, but Joshua's only had 20 fights, and about 16 of those weren't proper fighs, just easy blow outs. Lewis was an amateur for about 10 years before he turned pro and it still took him about 6 years in the pros - plus a setback and finding a good trainer - to develop his skills to where they were.


There's no reason to expect a puncher like Joshua to have developed great boxing skills with his style and lesser experience.