Ingo on Liston against Machen

Sports Illustrated on August 13, 1962 ran an article by their boxing writer Martin Kane on Ingemar Johansson's reaction to seeing a film of the Sonny Liston-Eddie Machen bout. Johansson had never seen Liston live or on film. Kane went to Geneva to show Ingo the film (as well as a couple of others, including Liston-Besmanoff). These are excerpts from the article:

Part 1

Ingo is watching the films:

It dawned on Johansson that although Liston did have all the terrifying qualities ascribed to him, he needed an opponent on whom they could be worked.

"The film is running too slow," Ingo said.
"That is the normal speed," the man said.
Ingo shrugged and turned to watch Liston against Eddie Machen in a fight that went a full 12 rounds because Liston never could catch up. Liston, doggedly stomping after Machen, seldom could get within serious punching distance of him. And that explained why Ingo thought the movie projector was faulty. It wasn't the projector. It was Liston.
"My God, he is slow," Ingemar said, as Machen easily evaded Liston time and again.

Johansson studied in silence as Liston advanced and Machen backed, as Liston missed with hooks and fell short with straight rights, none of which looked more than ordinary. Then Liston landed one of his very impressive jabs, the kind that has been described as the best since Joe Louis.
"He has a very long left," Ingemar said appovingly. "It is long and strong."
"Machen is running all the time," he continued, as the second round progressed much like the first. "It would be better if Machen attacked, because he is the fastest one. To attack is the best guard. As soon as Machen does something, like when he starts a combination, it goes through. But he has no--how would you say it--desire."

That was the word. Machen's main desire seemed to be for survival.

to be continued below

 

Part 2

Ingemar studed Liston carefully for another round. "It looks like he did not have the right balance on his body. . . As soon as Machen does something against him, he is stopped."

All this was true, but Machen never pressed an advantage through the fight. As the 11th round dragged to a close, Ingemar sighed. "I'll tell you one thing I have learned," he said. "I thought Liston was much better."
And in the 12th he observed that the timing of a left-right was "not good." Nor did he think much of the right by itself, for it seemed much too predictable.

Ingo, who had been picking Liston, now hedged his bets. "I think better of Patterson's chances now," he said.
"Patterson cannot wait. He cannot let Liston come to him. I keep saying that because Liston is coming all the way and that gives him more speed than he has. He is always starting before the other fellow. Patterson must not let him start."

 

In fairness to Ingo, though, Patterson fought exactly as Ingo warned him he should not fight.

 

"He cannot wait. He cannot let Liston come to him."

I just watched the film and I think that is basically what Patterson did. Patterson was more often than not a passive fighter who did not let his hands go. He didn't move that much either. And when hurt against Liston, his survival technique is to reach out and grab the rope, thus leaving himself wide open and immobile.

Patterson did not have that much lateral movement.

 

A writer came to his home in Geneva with films and asked his opinion. Perhaps he should not have given an opinion under any circumstances. I think it interesting that Ingo had never even seen Liston on film, but there was very little satellite communication between Europe and the United States in those days.