could any heavyweight today beat this verison of Sonny Liston

That’s not really saying much is it. I can name many past fighters that would ice Beyoncé. 2 devastating punchers but that Sonny was a bad mother****er. Style wise I think he would have taken Smoking Joe Frazier.

 

He did reach a lot with his jab, but he was also pretty good at keeping his chin tucked in, and often displayed better than credited head movement to get on the inside of taller opponents. I can see him causing Joshua quite a few problems, though Fury and Usyk both beat him quite handily.

 

His arms are way too long relative to his height

Cleveland was sitting there just out of range thinking oh my god this guys arms are way too long

But Fury will still out jab him and run circles around him. Liston was quite heavy footed which is what Ali exploited

Also if Liston really quit because his shoulder hurt not because he was bribed then Fury would batter him.

 

Very little lol
Liston never fought someone Fury's size and w/his movement/ boxing ability Ali is small compared to Fury and pretty much all top (and so so) HWs of today. Yes Ali moved very well, but as Ali admitted he wasn't a big puncher even in his era. Liston looked older than he was in their 1st fight. Lewis, K bros, Fury, AJ, others wipe the floor w/Sonny. Wouldn't surprise me if Wilder KTFO of the plodding Liston.

Most of these smaller HW legends that so many on here have a hard on for mostly beat CWs or clumsy 220# "giant" HWs. In the 2000s a 220# HW is small. Liston boringly decisioned CW Eddie Machen. You're criticism of some of Fury's KDs makes my case. Ali was dropped by beefed up 185# Lt HW Cooper. It happens. [/QUOTE]

It's not but Fury and most modern HWs have more than that over Liston.
Suppose I Should add lol

 

It's not but Fury and most modern HWs have more than that over Liston.
Suppose I Should add lol [/QUOTE]

Does ali a bit of a discredit saying he moved very well. Ali,s movement as a heavyweight was extraordinary. They talk about furys movement....which is a bit freakish for the size of him tbf. But in comparing his movement with ali,s....not that you have...but its like night and day. Ali,s movement pre lay off was something to behold. He could also punch on the move which seems to be a bit of a dying art nowadays.

Also still say ali was a good puncher much like mayweather was. For all the talk of them not being good punchers....opponents know better their body language and actions reveal it. They dont knock you out because there not trying to....they do hurt enough to control you tho...which is basically half the battle.

 

Is this the Vitali that went life and death with Corrie Sanders?

 

Vitali put a beating on Sanders. I think you could give Sanders the first round and the fight was a wipeout after that. Sanders showed a lot of heart and toughness in that fight.

 

Actually Williams was somewhat comparable to Wilder. This is to say, he was a puncher who fought lots of nobodies that happened to have a weak chin. 60 KO's for the big cat. The difference is Sonny Liston and Ali were miles better than anyone Wilder had beaten.

To add some color, Williams busted Sonny Liston up before getting caught and taken out early. He was shot literally by a gun never was the same prior to facing Ali. Williams was way past it when he fought Ali.

 

It's not but Fury and most modern HWs have more than that over Liston.
Suppose I Should add lol [/QUOTE]


Yeah Sonny be shaking in his shoes at the thought of fighting Joshua...…...

 

You fool, Ali and Cooper both competed in separate Olympics as Light Heavyweights, and Cooper was a heavyweight his entire pro career.