Just read on boxrec about the second Marshall fight: "Marshall substituted on four days notice for Harold Johnson who injured his shoulder in training" If Liston had Johnson on his record, would that be big boost in his HW ranking?
I wouldn't be surprised if Johnson was able to outbox Liston at around that time in their respective careers. The fight almost happened in the early 60's as well but it would have been a mismatch by then.
I think that Johnson would be a tough asignment for Liston at this stage of his career. Assuming Liston won then yes it would be a verry good scalp. Johnson is the counter argument for those who say that the heavyweights of the early 50s would have been overmatched against those of the 60s. He was a heavyweight contende who didn't quite make it to a title shot in the 50s and at the twilight of his career he beat Eddie Machen more convincingly than Sonny Liston did and beat Doug Jones more convincingly than Muhamad Ali did. Perhaps ultimatley he merely demonstrates the futility of trying to compare two eras based on matches between a few contenders whose careers overlaped.
I think your'e probably right here ,into the 60's Liston would have too much for Johnson ,but the guy that Marshall outfoxed ,would probably be out skilled by Harold.
Johnson, at that time, would have outboxed and outfoxed Liston, too much experience, and he wouldn't be intimidated by Sonny, either.
I'd give it to Johnson, frankly. Just a really skilled, seasoned fighter, too smart and too slick. But I'm a huge Harold Johnson fan, and I grew up as a boxer to a lot of footage of this guy.
I'd pick Johnson but he could be hurt and stopped. The Liston of that time, still raw, might still manage it.
