We know how the young Ali /clay whooped Liston in miami, speed, constant movement, circling, lighting fast punches. So what if we turn it around? The Ali from say 75 /76, the slowing down but still just able to keep winning. Verse a young Liston, lets say the 58 version.? Does a older, slower Ali defeat Sonny still? How does he fight him? Or is a young Liston Ali's worst nightmare?
Ali beat Shavers right at the end of his career. I recon the 1960 version of Liston was better than that Shavers. A 1958 Liston however was not as good as the 1960 Liston so we are talking about the Liston of the Whitehurst fight aren't we. That version is closer to the Shavers that Ali fought but since the OP says "Ali of 74 or 76" that can be the Ali of the Foreman fight who was still a great fighter, or The Ali who still good enough to beat Ken Norton. To be honest, I would not expect Whitehurst to last the distance with Foreman, Norton or Shavers. I could be wrong. Elither way 1958 Liston is not yet good enough to deal with a man as big or as good as Ali still was in 1974 or 1976. He was fresh out of prison and was still building up to a prime we remember him for. the guys that took Sonny the distance then were 190 pound guys. I don't think 1958 Liston can beat any version of a championship Ali.
Its the Ali of 75 /76, I put him roughly between manilla and Norton. So he's at that point where he's still good enough to beat top ranks but he's having to pull out everything to do it. I wanted it to be a fresh young Liston to get him as close to the young Ali but with out making him a complete novice. So he s coming up the ranks and in good shape. Yes he's still inexperienced but he's giving the older Ali a hell of a fight imo. Ali may even try the ropedope on Sonny as Liston goes for the head. How much this Muhammad can take a savage Liston onslaught is anyone s guess. He won't be stopped but I see it been more punishing than Norton or shavers.
It could be, or it couldn't be. It's true that after Manila Ali could not convincingly beat world level guys. He just hustled enough to get the nod. I still think that Ali of 75/76 will cope a lot better than Whitehurst did in 1958 against Sonny. I cannot see even that version of Ali relegated to Burt Whitehurst level. Ali has to be no better than Whitehurst to lose to the 1958 version. The 1960 version of Sonny is another matter. 1960 Liston really would be too much for Ali of 1976. That way we are talking about the Sonny who walked through Foley and was putting more heat on Eddie Machen than Shavers could muster against Ali. But back in 1958 Sonny has just relaunched his career after a long lay off. He's too many fights away from producing that sort of form.
