Expert opinions on Marciano VS Liston

By those standards I think Marciano can be considered a hybrid of the two.

 

So it looks like the style advantage is cancelled out and we are left with reach advantage.

Is that enough to go on?

Rocky developed a style that concentrated on reach being less relevant than usual since he was outreached by every fighter he ever fought. Would you say Sonny having longest reach ever against a guy who concentrated on making reach largely irrelevant in the film we have of him seems less of an advantage here?

We have film of Louis using a defensive jab, stepping off. We have film of Sonny launching power shots at long range against stationary upright, squarer footed guys or inept 5’7” westpahall. But Rocky isn’t inept is he?

 

You give this guy an inch, he makes a mile.

 

Interesting that Leotis Martin was what we call today a "cruiserweight"...fought most of his fights in the 185- 190-200 lb range. At 199 lbs, Martin took down Liston (219 lbs).

 

Literally laughed out loud. Fine work, choklab.

 

Perfect.

 

It is an interesting fight that I go back and forth on. Though I think Liston's jab might not do as much damage as some are thinking. It was definitely long and powerful but I think it lacked speed. Marciano just might be able time it out and get inside. Of course Liston would still have plenty of other tools that still make this a tough pick. Just my two cents.

 

Iv heard of styles make fights of course but isn't this 'style advantage' merely a matter of opinion? A swarmer hasn't got to go looking for the slugger either so it could be argued thats what he prefers.

 

Exactly. “Styles make fights” is a phrase used when styles don’t necessarily mesh well enough for the one with the better record to win. It dosnt mean all types of one style always beats a guy of one style at all. Like mr dago says, one fighter can be a combination of two “styles” anyway. Or let’s say when two fancy boxers meet one will become the slugger. Like when Leonard met hearns. An advantage is an advantage. Style itself is too abstract of a factor.

 

Leonard - Hearns was considered a boxer vs a puncher match, not two fancy boxers meeting. Only when hurt did Hearns revert to his amateur glory days and box, something that surprised many. Ray then (somewhat) stalked. Hearns had been knocking people over like tenpins and was considered the most destructive 147 puncher ever.

 

Well yes, you are correct, the both of them reverted to different styles to suit the situation. The point I was making. For some fighters style is not exclusive to a career.

I remember the film now. It wasn’t “confessions of a window cleaner”.

 

Yes young prime Sonny.

 

If you asked Liston what sort of opponent he preferred, a short ,light, walk in swarmer ,who cut easily ,would fit the bill.