Could Sonny Liston have made it undefeated vs Louis title defenses?

Yes. And he wouldn't have to get off the canvas against the likes of Buddy Baer, and Tony Galento.

 

It takes a lot of toll to defend your title 26 times in a row.

 

This is the obvious and boring answer. Basically any all time heavyweight great could go through Joe Louis' title run without losing if you magically freeze them in their prime but that's not impressive because that's not how reality works. Louis' run is so great because of the longevity and consistency needed to pull it off. It doesn't become less great just because a version of Sonny Liston that never existed would also achieve it.

 

If he keeps in shape, and focused, then he's an absolute beast to beat.
Depending on how he ages, some get there faster than others, then by the time he gets to Jersey Joe, he may find him one of the toughest fights.
I still expect him to win and then the rematch.
Good thread.

 

Your example of Ali at his best if against a one legged fighter who he clowned on? Amazing example. Please give me a technical breakdown of Ali and how he would beat any of the guys I listed who would exploit the technical flaws he has. If you cop out by saying he would magically beat them because of his speed we're done here.

 

The way he's commonly perceived on this forum as losing focus after getting the title also doesn't speak well of his chances at double digit title defenses.

 

Any one would look like an all-time great if they were fighting a cripple with a bullet in his gut (Ali was an all-time great), but to me this was pretty much a run of the mill title defense of Ali taking out a way lesser foe in the ring. I don't think Ali would of ko Louis or even Lewis in 3 rounds like he did poor Williams.

 

The short answer is no.

Liston was not a disciplined champion, and he did not have along prime.

The only think needed to beat him is the timeline.

 

Bit more complicated then ring rankings, compared to a lot of other fighters like Conn and Walcott for example he absolutely is a second rater. Watch the fight,I know that’s general but it’s really the easiest way.

 

How about 2nd rate for a world class contender H2H? Just watch the fight, watch what he does with his right hand as the bout progresses. If you think Conn wasn’t a better pure boxer then Ali you’re being a fool, your most difficult to beat HW of all time lost to an undersized attrition fighter and literally Ken Norton lol… does Henry Cooper not count either? He almost KO’d Ali right there in his prime, borderline couldn’t box Oscar Bonavena made a very hard fight of it… when did he ever look as good as we say he is? Jimmy Young outboxed him (yes he was fat and old) but regardless he fought in an era where he was usually physically overmatching a lot of his opponents and the ones equal to him like George Foreman, Ken Norton, Jimmy Young and Ron Lyle some made a fight of it but all were not overly very good. Lennox, Tyson, Holmes, Louis, Wlad etc would all beat him some easily just as a styles thing.

 

For goodness sake learn to read lad.I said that Muhammad Ali wasn't by any means the greatest ' pure boxer ', but the hardest heavyweight in history to defeat.This is fact,not theory nor fiction.
So the 21 year-old Ali was knocked down by Henry Cooper.Dearie me, you really have got it in for the GOAT haven't you.
So the very young Ali was knocked down by a renowned puncher and you condemn him for it ? I can't believe I'm reading this nonsense.Ali got up and won the fight for crying out loud.
So your expert eye has detected Machen's faltering arm movement as evidence of his carrying an injury into the Liston fight.
What utter rubbish ! I have watched this fight,and along with practically every other observer of this bout have detected no such thing.
Oh so according to you George Foreman,Ken Norton,Jimmy Young and Ron Lyle were mediocre.Wow,you have disagreed with just about every acclaimed boxing historian and expert who have made observations about that wonderful generation of heavyweights.
Hey,what do they know ? ( Please be aware that I am being sarcastic,in case you're not
keeping up ) .
I am a huge fan of both Lennox Lewis and Joe Louis.However your scathing condemnation of Ali for merely being knocked down by Henry Cooper but still getting up and winning is is inconsistent with your opinion this is one of the reasons why they would have beaten Ali.Let me remind you Lewis lost to Oliver McCall and Joe Louis actually lost to MaxSchmeling.
You also condemn Ali for struggling to beat Oscar Bonavena in history.( Big sigh of weariness from me ).It was only Ali's second fight after being banned from boxing for over three years,
so he was hardly in peak form.He was the only man to stop Bonavena.You do know this don't you ?
Bonavena may not have been a great technician but he was was incredibly durable.Ali actually stopping him is noteworthy to say the least.
For goodness sake take your time and think before you post your rubbish.

 

This post is gross, you'd need Ring Mag to reprint your opinion before you’d change your mind.

 

No lad,just years and years of watching heavyweight boxing,reading and studying what the great men of boxing have said,analysed and observed about heavyweight boxing and heavyweight boxers has formed my opinions..By the way,I haven't always agreed with the Ring.
Why ? Because the old stuffed shirts who wrote for it during the 70's were so reluctant to acknowledge the greatness of warriors like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
However, like you, those ancient old relics have long since been discredited.