It was Sonny Liston's 7th pro fight against a Ring Magazine top 10 rated light-heavyweight contender. You think George Foreman, Rocky Marciano, Joe Frazier, Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey would have beaten Marty Marshall in only their 7th pro fight?
In his ninth recorded fight, Dempsey lost to 9-7 Jack Downey (Boxrec). He was also supposed to have been floored multiple times in one of his two 1915 draws with 5-7 Johnny Sudenburg. Whilst his real ninth fight may have been unrecoreded, we can safely say that he wasn't quite at the stage you're imagining by the time of his recorded ninth fight.
I meant Dempsey would likely lose to Marshall when he was green, I think you misunderstood me McGrain. :good
Sonny Liston looks pretty good on film as a golden gloves amateur, so I think he must have been quite formidable at 7-0 as a pro. Not sure how he lost to Marshall. I guess Marshall just outboxed him, befuddled him a bit. Liston was a bit cumbersone and predictable, even at his best.
Verry pertinent question. Of the people you listed, I think that Louis and Frazier might well have done. Your point is well taken though.
To answer the op s Question I would imagine Marshall won more rounds than Liston. If you put a guy up against excellent competition early he's going to lose. Had Marciano fought a faded Jimmy Bivins early would you have made him the favorite?
This is an interesting post on the matter Either way I don't hold against Liston, at his best he bossed Marshall and the rest of the HW division bar Ali
Do you go through all fighters resume and look through their wins and say 'yes but someone else also beat this fighter just as well or better so how good is the win'. You can do it to any resume and most names on the resume were beaten better by someone else Liston dominated everyone in his era bar Ali, dominated, not many fighters in history can dominate most the fighters in their top10, Liston did
Amateur Liston beat 1952 Olympic Champ Ed Sanders (Sanders beat Ingo): After the Olympics, Ed Sanders’ amateur status became a burden on his ability to provide for his wife and young son, Russell, who was born in 1953. As a Navy man, Sanders was prevented from boxing professionally, so he continued to box in the amateur ranks while lawyers and commissions analyzed his applications to turn pro. It was during this time period that Sanders fought future World Heavyweight Champion [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Liston"]Sonny Liston[/ame]. Liston emerged victorious, though witnesses at the fight accused Liston of clutching Sanders illegally. Sanders ended his amateur career with a record of 43 wins and only 4 losses. Unfortunately, Sanders died early in his pro career.