How would the Rope-a-dope have worked w/ Sonny Liston?

The Zaire version of Ali would have had a far ,far rougher time with Sonny Liston than he did with George Foreman. Ali's days of dancing around were gone and Sonny's jab would have been potent against a more stationary Ali.

 

The Sonny Liston of 1964 was past his peak, he still possessed the boxing ability, had better stamina than the 1974 George Foreman. Sonny had two fights prior to meeting Muhammad Ali in 1964, Sonny stopped Floyd Patterson in 1962 and 1963 in round 1. On Sept 7 1960, he outpointed Eddie Machen in 12 rounds. George rarely went the distance with anyone. But in 1974, contrary to what many believe relating to Ali, he was on his way down. Ali could no longer dance for 15 rounds non stop as he did in his peak years, 1964-1967. In those years he never laid on the ropes, he had unending stamina, speed, footwork, reflexes, and impeccable timing. In 1974, the speed and experience was all that Ali had, the year before he suffered a broken jaw at the hands of Ken Norton. Peak Ali was always unmarked after a bout and during his first title reign, 1964-1967, he was never decked or cut. He was cut by Bob Foster on Nov 21 1972 before putting Bob away in round 8. Ali was also out of shape in his post peak years, looked flabby. There are many that did not have the chance to see Ali fight in his peak years. I would have to say that the Rope A Dope would have not worked against a 1964 version of Sonny Liston, the same way it did not work against a peak Joe Frazier in 1971. Using the Rope A Dope in his second tile reign, 1974-1978 nearly cost him his title, against Joe Frazier in Manila, against Ron Lyle, Ken Norton, and against Earnie Shavers in 1977 Imagine 1964 Muhammad Ali fighting 1974 George Foreman, no matter how much George cuts off the ring, he would have had his face peppered with that quick left jab, and Foreman would have fallen flat on his face from exhaustion from trying to catch that butterfly that was stinging his face like a bee. Also to mention, The Rope A Dope was a strategy that contributed to his later neurological issues, sad to see.

 

The crowd did not dream

When they laid down their money

That they would be seeing

A total eclipse of the Sonny

 

It's an hard question to answer in some ways. How would liston actually react if Ali was laid back on the ropes, talking to him as he did Foreman?
He could be absolutely throwing the kitchen sink at him and apparently getting no where, so perhaps a little of liston starts to feel fatigued and demoralized?
He'd have to be patient and prepared to hang back a bit, other wise he ends up the same as George in Zaire.

 

Don’t think it would have worked. Liston had a much better motor then George.

 

I love that quote from the record album, I am The Greatest by Cassius Clay from 1963.

 

It wouldn't. But he'd have found a way to beat him.