Extracts from a 1991 article on Sonny Liston

I wasn't being funny there mate, don't know if it came across that way. What do you reckon on Liston-Lewis? That's really intriguing for me.

 

Sonny was intimidating in the ring but outside might have been a nice guy at heart but far from an angel. Still a grown man having conversations on the phone to a kid he is not related to does seem a bit creepy.

 

Yeah it's just the jab that makes me think. Too much is put on phsical assets, when the real thing to consider is who is the better fighter. Here we've got two bona fide greats, so it would come to a styles match up imo. Lewis' jab is one of the best, but Liston's jab is tremendous, and i reckon he could jab with Lewis most definitely, if he can gain a leverage he can land bombs..........

I'm not conclusive with that though.

 

I really like reading about a guy like Liston, cause even if you didn't live to see his fights, there's a aura and a mythical status about some of theese earlier heavyweight champs, that I think the sport is missing a bit today. I can't find the article online, but the extract will suffice for now. Maybe I'll be lucky to find it, maybe not.
Regarding all this about Liston being a bad guy etc., I think that's it's hard to be the judge of, but I will say that I personally don't think he's soo much a bad guy as he's a troubled fellow. He's been through a rough childhood from what I understand, and I don't know how that can affect you, but it at least partially explains why he was so troubled.

 

sounds like a load of BS

 

I don't think it's creepy.

I have two younger (the younger one is 12 and I am 30) brothers and when their friends would come over, in some of them you can see a younger version of yourself and hanging out with them makes you remeber what it was like to be young, without the pussures of life and living in the moment without worrying about tomorrow etc...

Nice story on Sonny, I think I have to watch some of these older guys.

 

Interesting thread. And what a beauty that avatar you're currently sporting is McGrain :good

 

My favourite fighter. Up until that long ago (6 months ago?) I had never seen too much of him.

For me, the greatest puncher ever in terms of all round form and technique. Just beautiful to watch. I now revel in his fights, still haven't seen everything mind. Holding some treats back no doubt

Today at work I painfully toyed with the idea of having Louis above Ali in my no.1 spot. No one would/could argue. Well they would but absolutely a claim can be made for Louis.

But it's a big step to make

 

For me, it's when I'm stoned. Eerything he does becomes far more frightening.

I sometimes watch him and think 'this man actually existed'. That in itself is quite a scary thought.

However, and I'll probably get slaughtered for this; but I can't imagine Louis seeing out two rounds with Prime Tyson. A bad matchup for Louis IMO. He loved guys to come to him, but if Tyson did get too close he'd stunt his own workrate and possibly get caught by a composite combination not even his chin could brace.

However, I go for Tyson to prevail over a game Louis within 0-6 minutes. Now, McGrain, tell me how Louis would win :good