If you criticize Tunney for not facing any BIG heavyweights

That is the only logical conclusion.

I don't really understand it, though. For instance, compared to Clay, his shoulders are a bit wider, but certainly not by a significant margin. In this picture their individual photos have been scaled to be equally large so it is a bit deceptive; in reality, Ali is quite a bit taller than Liston.

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Clay easily had as much reach if not more, despite it being 79" vs 84".



I don't really read much into the reach figures. I go by what film shows, and by that, Liston is not that reachy, partially because he's not tall for a heavyweight.

 

It means that he has a bigger wingspan, yes. But their weight is still the same and Byrd isn't fat.

And yes, he's taller by at least half an inch. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

I can help you with that because I have the same condition.

I am 5' 6'' and have a 32'' waist and 42'' chest. From the front my rib cage dose not look exceptionally wide but from the side it is huge.

If I was ever in the Indiana Jones situation of having to crawl under a descending door I would be screwed.

 

You cant bulk a light heavyweight up into a 210 lb fighter.

All you end up with is a pumped up light heavyweight and it shows.

 

Dont know what film your watching. Listons arms look soo long on film, against whitehurst in 58(a film which you have not seen) his arms look like they reach halfway across the ring. Listons arms hang down all the way down to his knees when he just stands there. he was a freak of nature.



Sonny Liston had a 84" reach, deal with it

 

Sorry to break your future career as wrestling future teller, but i have seen that fight.

Here is Liston vs Williams (79" reach). Liston is in the white trunks:

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I have no idea what you're saying (i have no idea whether a 32" waiste and 42" chest is big or not) but i'm glad you understand.

Here is where you make the misunderstanding.

You seem to think ANY lightheavyweight can bulk up to 210lbs and compete there just fine.

Let me ask you, how many lightheavyweights have bulked up to 210lbs and competed there without trouble, the last 30 years?
Moorer did it but had shaky performances against average opponents and then became involved in one of the most embarrassing KO losses of all time. Foreman didn't KO anyone of note in the entire 90's except for Moorer.

And then there's Spinks, who beat an old and unprepared Holmes, but clearly lost the rematch, then beat two duds and got cleaned in 91 seconds by a natural heavyweight puncher.

Then there's Jones, who needless to say, is not exactly your average LHW, but may well be the most talented LHW in the history of the sport. Still, he only had one fight at heavyweight and is very unproven.
The last one is Toney, whose record against rated heavyweight is 1-1-1-1, the only win coming against a shot Holyfield. Hardly anything impressive.

Byrd and Holyfield were naturally cruiserweights both with rock hard chins that made them capable of lasting. Still, when Holyfield lost to Bowe and Lewis, and Byrd to Klitschko/Ibeabuchi, it was seen as a skilled huge man beating a skilled big man.

 

once again this doesnt show anything. Listons looks like hes throwing a hook and his arm isnt fully extended and hes still making contact with williams. fact remains listons reach is 84", same as lennox lewis's.

 

new york times terell vs williams reports williams reach as 80"

 

I make no such asumption.

I do think that many ATG light heavyweights would have made serious waves at 185 lbs. Tommy Loughran at 185 could have a rampage in the heavyweight division today.

Neither had a punch.

That is the crucial equalizer.

 

Liston's shoulders are very square in that pic. I do get what you try to convey.