Sonny Liston was due to fight Johnson in March 1956,Sonny was 13-1-0 Harold about 55-8-0.Johnson had to pull out with a shoulder injury and instead Liston went in with Marty Marshall for the third time .Looking at the prospective Johnson match,I'm wondering if Liston wasn't being pushed a little too early? Did Johnson pulling out mean that Sonny dodged a bullet? If Johnson had out-boxed Sonny for a decision, would the Big Bear's momentum have been permanently derailed? Would he have become just another big puncher who could be avoided without too much hoo hah as Cleveland Williams seems to have been? Or would the Mob simply have regrouped and manouvered him into the big money later anyway? Liston had to take the short end of the $$$ to get Williams,Harris & Folley into the ring,would a loss to Johnson have just been airbrushed away or do you think history might have been changed?
Johnson could certainly have being in with a chance of beating Sonny Imo .Very elegant fighter and very accurate at hitting .If he had pulled it off and got the win over Sonny then it may take a little of the shine off his rep,but I believe he'd have regrouped and got himself back in to contention .A knock back bu t not the end of the world for him .
Cus avoided Liston the best he could....plus the 3-fight Ingo v Floyd Series (plus Tom McNeely fight) tied the title up for almost 2-1/2 years. C. Clay was not ready for a title fight in mid-1962...but maybe Patterson takes on Eddie Machen or Doug Jones, instead of Liston.
Something just tells me that the 'semi-green' Sonny would have laid the wood to the ATG Johnson at some point.
I think Johnson would have beaten Liston at this stage taking into consideration the Marshall and Whitehurst fights. But, as we all know, Harold "din't catch so good," so if he gets nailed, he's probably gone. I just don't think Sonny knew his oats at this time, and therefore Harold would have outpointed him. I don't think a decision loss at this point would have affected Sonny, either mentally, physically, or management-wise. They would have kept on pushing him and eventually he would have done okay, IMO.
Bump. Liston was green and not long before, he lost to Marty Marshall, later or whom he’d become levels above. In 1956 Harold Johnson would’ve been in his prime at that point at around 29 or something, I think he takes a clear decision win against Liston at that point. In 1958-59 or maybe 1960 would’ve been really interesting, Johnson was still near his prime, hadn’t noticeably slowed and looked fine even a year later in 1961 when, for my money, outclassing prime Eddie Machen, who was class himself. In 1958-1959, Liston was in his prime and Johnson was also very close to his own, Harold Johnson would outbox him for a bit, but I think Liston may catch him at some point or maybe his size wears on him and he ends up stealing enough rounds to take a competitive decision.
Exactly how I see it. In 1956, I see Johnson winning a decision, but between 58-61, Liston stops him, even if it's a come from behind win.
1955-1957 Liston would lose against Harold Johnson who would outbox him and beat him badly, but prime Liston(1959-1962) would KO Johnson inside 4 rounds or even less. Harold would beat green Liston simply because experience difference but prime for prime Harold stands no chance.
For what it's worth Harold told me that he used to handle Liston in the gym when he was living in Philadelphia
I have great respect for Johnson but I am thinking Sonny has too much firepower for him at any stage.
