Fantasy Fight: Joe Louis vs Sonny Liston

I have Louis winning this but it is no sure thing.

By the way, this should have been posted in the Classic Forum.

 

Joe Louis!

 

Gotta go with Joe Louis.

 

Liston.

Too big, too strong.

 

Louis by stoppage after some rocky moments. He has to get off the deck to win

 

One of the more dangerous fights against a fellow great Louis could face. He’s never met someone who can match his jab (albeit in a different way), or fights fairly similar to his own style, until now. Liston hits at least as hard, probably moreso, & has the greater reach & chin.

The problems Liston faces are Louis’ handspeed, flawless combination punching, & crippling power - &, if it comes to it, endurance. But the most telling point IMO would be Louis’ ability to spot & pounce on openings. Liston was a skilled technical boxer but he was not above being found out of position or off-balance…I think it would tell but probably not before Liston had Louis down, or at least in trouble.

It’s a great fight for the crowd. I’ve got Louis in six, with both men touching the canvas. Liston would definitely be in with a good shot. Just with the styles being similar, I’m inclined to back the guy who does more things, better.

 

Louis’ handspeed makes the difference

 

Pretty much what @Ney said.
I will just add that Liston is more resistant in terms of getting knocked down but in overall durability Louis might actually be better.
He showed more ability to endure prolonged beatings and had to be thrashed for multiple rounds to be taken out by big punchers.
The Walcott fights are a great example here, Jersey Joe was landing some bombs in the late rounds but Louis was nevertheless unstaggered and kept pushing the fight.
Liston on the other hand could take his beating very well early on, but the longer the fight lasts, the more his durability decreases.

I think Louis wears him down for a knockout in the 9th round.

 

Too dangerous of a fight for me to choose a certain winner. I’ll say this much. I would WANT Joe Louis to win and believe that he COULD, but I wouldn’t bet money

 

I'd mildly favor Louis.

 

Floyd Patterson's didn't. Nor did Cleveland Williams'.

Jus' sayin'.

 

True but if you compare the attributes of Liston and Louis, I think Louis’ handspeed is the game changer here. Williams and Patterson didn’t have Louis’ arsenal, nor his intellect.