George Foreman Vs Sonny Liston

I went with Foreman but by no means is that a given

 

Foreman was a poor man's Liston imo. Their's nothing Foreman did that Liston didn't do better (besides cutting the ring). Liston knocks Foreman out mid rounds utilizing his superior boxing skills and thunderous power to frustrate and break Foreman down. Their are a bunch of expert opinions that I always love to post but unfortunately never have an excuse to. Will try to find it.

 

@Guru88 Here you go! Think you'll enjoy this!

By Jim Carney, Author and Boxing Expert:

An ironic matchup. These two were once stablemates and became friends of sorts. Foreman was one of the few people Liston trusted to read to him. Sonny was somewhat of a hero to the younger man, who would sometimes carry his gear for him. Foreman noted that although he was taller and, in his opinion, stronger, Sonny was the one man he could never back up. Liston was somewhat past his prime when they sparred but still was formidable. George was somewhat short of his prime but already formidable – so perhaps things were evened out.

If the two met in a real bout in their respective primes, it would be an awesome clash. In my opinion, George has a slight edge in overall punch and strength and maybe a small one in durability. There’s probably not much to choose from in hand or foot speed. George is slightly taller and heavier but Sonny has a longer reach. Basic skill is about even with Sonny perhaps being a better ring thinker. Both are killers and finishers. Neither cuts easily.

The two land bombs from the beginning. Liston is floored twice and George once. Going into the eighth, Liston is tired but Foreman is exhausted. George goes down for a second time in the eighth and is knocked out in the ninth. George’s lack of stamina ultimately cost him this fight – as it did in his battles with Ali and Jimmy Young.

By Moontan, Heavyweightaction.com Boxing Expert:

This would be a classic confrontation with two of the most awesome fighters to ever enter the ring in their prime. They both dominated the heavyweight division until Ali defeated both of them in great matchups. Once again I will repeat the fact the both of Foreman’s losses while in his prime were under very humid and hot conditions which led to two master boxers being able to avoid Foreman rushes to survive and win the fights. Liston’s losses to Ali were unusual as well as Liston sat on his stole in the first fight against Ali claiming an injury and taking a dive in the second fight. Neither fighter would be intimated by the other one in this fight and neither would back up a great deal. Liston however could change plans and box at a higher level than Foreman and because of this I would give him the edge in the fight. His ability to pace himself and box from a distance would be a big advantage as well as his fabulous left jab. Liston also had better head movement than Foreman moving back and forth. Big George’s favorite tactic of extending his arms to push an opponent off balance would not be affective against Liston because of Liston superior reach. The fighter’s size and build were very similar. I see the fight with a lot of fireworks and blows but both men took such a great wallop I can’t imagine the fight going the distance. I would give Liston a hard fought decision.



Bill Gallo- "These were two very strong and determined fighters. Liston really was a very good fighter. because of his negative personality, and the bizarre outcomes of the Ali fights, he isn't given as much credit as he deserves. He had a great jab, and knockout power in both hands. His mean persona made him appear bigger than he actually was.
The old Foreman was always going forward. I don't recall him ever taking backward steps. He thought he could knock everybody out. But he didn't have one-punch knockout power. His punches were usually heavy, thudding blows that wore guys down. It usually took Foreman several successive punches to knock a guy out. And when he wasn't successful, he was usually the one who would run down, as in his fights with Ali and Jimmy Young.
Foreman would come and go after Liston the way he did against Ali. But Liston was cagey. He would bide his time, slowing Foreman down with his jab. As the fight progressed, Liston would do more scoring. I see Liston coming on in the later rounds, taking control, and stopping Foreman sometime after the 10th round."

Bill Gallo is a veteran boxing writer and cartoonist from the New York Daily News.

Ernie Terrell- "Oh boy, it would have been something to watch! We're talking about two very tough men, not just tough fighters, Liston was a very good boxer in his prime, which was the late-50's and early-60's. I sparred with him, but since I was much taller, and was a boxer, his jab, which was one of his best weapons, didn't affect me the way it did most other fighters. Physically, he could do more in the ring than Foreman.
It's a shame Foreman couldn't combine the power and speed of his youth with the improved defense and maturity he shows today. Still, he was a very strong guy. Most of the men he knocked out he hurt first. Foreman had a great chin, but even greater determination. Getting up from those knockdowns and coming back to beat Ron Lyle proved what he was made of.
The fight would flow the same way Foreman-Lyle did. Both men would connect with big punches. But Liston was a better all-round boxer, and he was certainly a better puncher than Lyle. By no means would it be an easy fight for Liston. But I see him coming on as Foreman weakens, and scoring a knockout around the 11th round."

Chicago based promoter Ernie Terrell is a former WBA heavyweight champion.

Chuck Wepner- "I fought Liston in his last fight, and Foreman when he was on his way up, so I speak from experience when I say they were two of the hardest punchers ever. it would be hard to match two harder-hitting heavyweights. Even though I though Liston was at the end, I thought he was still a very good boxer. He took a good punch, and he had a lot of savvy. In his prime, he could do it all.
When he was younger, Foreman's most impressive quality was his awesome brute strength. He liked to push people around, but he could be wild with his punches, and that cost him against Muhammad Ali. He was alot like Liston then. Both liked to intimidate their opponents, but you couldn't intimidate either one of them. With George, though, it was an act; he's always been a good guy.
It would be an action packed fight. Both had good, hard jabs, and didn't hesitate to open up and throw bombs. But Liston was a much better boxer. I don't believe anyone could have beaten Liston in his prime, including Ali. I see Liston stopping Foreman in six or seven rounds."

A heavyweight contender in the 70's, Chuck Wepener was stopped by both Liston and Foreman.

http://boxingasylum.com/showthread.php?t=23199

Experts Predicted Outcome: Sonny Liston 5-0 over George Foreman

Moontan Liston 12-D

Gallo Liston 10-KO

Ernie Terrell Liston 11-KO

Chuck Wepner Liston 7-KO

Jim Carney Liston 8-KO

Sonny Liston moves into the FINALS

 

I like Ernie Terrell's take on it.

 

Liston perhaps by taking it in close ala williams bout....foreman needed room to telegraph his punchs back then, in prime

 

Foreman was already intimidated by Liston. Sonny was also a better boxer than George...as great as the Big guy's jab was, Sonny's was even better.

Though George is a top 5 ATG (imo), Liston beats him UD 12 (probably with a kd of George happening in the last three or four rounds).

 

Foreman was bigger, stronger, and tougher though. He had a warrior's heart and mind. I hope Liston didn't have his on display the two nights he met Cassius Clay.

 

Well...we're talking about the prime of the Greatest, Fastest, Best Boxer in Heavyweight History. The only people who could compare were prime Louis and Holmes (MAYBE Holyfield). So I can't judge Liston too harshly based upon that.

Liston was peaked during the Patterson fights. I don't see George beating that guy, though George is a significantly greater ATG. Liston got into his head BIG time in sparring, and stayed there. That and Liston's superior jab and boxing skills would have been his defeat.

 

Me to. Him and Wepner's were my favorite. Actually I liked all of them except Moontan's. His last statement made no sense. " I can’t imagine the fight going the distance. I would give Liston a hard fought decision." He "can't imagine the fight going the distance" yet that's exactly what he does the next sentence.

 

Foreman stops him, Liston based his style on being bigger, stronger punching harder and backing up and bullying his opponent, Foreman wouldn’t allow that to happen, Foreman would be the bigger, stronger and harder puncher, the bully never likes being bullied and Foreman would bully the bully, Foreman KO 6

 

I mean, Foreman can't be ruled out. But Liston's superior boxing skills give him the edge.

 

This seems to be relevant to this thread:

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