Somewhere in southern England, former professional boxer choklab has just come in his pants - but he doesn't yet know why.
For whatever it is worth, Liston did not think much of Johansen either. I would go as far as to say that he underestimated him.
Keep in mind the article was before the first Patterson fight .. he originally loved Liston than started to feel Floyd had a much better shot .. we know how that played out ..
Great article. I think Ingo would have done better against Liston than Patterson owing to his much more cautious style - his consistent metronome quick jab, footwork, and powerful right would have provided greater stylistic problems. However, ultimately I think Ingo underestimated just how strong, powerful, and relentless Liston was, which probably would have overcome Ingo at some point. But Ingo did have some valid points.
Funny how the article says Liston's weakest punch was his left hook; Liston had a great left! I really don't see Marciano knocking Liston out and certainly not easily. Interesting read, though.
Here's another S.I. article on Liston @ 18 months later http://si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1075623/1/index.htm
interesting ARTICLES, Sonny was a powerful guy but slow & different fighters see different things, Whitehurst gave a good explanation of hoe Sonny jab was easy to slip and counter. Sonny had the bad guy image and the dead pan face, he was the original bad guy before Foreman,Tyson,Lyle. I always felt Marciano had a good chance of beating Sonny but I never said it would be easy and Marciano was already out of the business too long. Ingo may have been a better style then Floyd but unless he hurt Sonny early I dont see him winning over Sonny By the way Ingo vs Moore would have been an interesting go....not sure who take it
I had the plessure of meeting Ingemar for a talk on boxing in 1996. Ingemar was a boxing commentator for TV1000 and shared his views on Brian Nielsen after Nielsen had TKOéd Phil Jackson at Brondbyhallen, but we also came to discuss Floyd Patterson and the two Liston-fights. "It went wrong for Floyd when he tried to slug it out with Liston. Floyd was much faster and should have stayed out of Listons reach", he said. In 1964 - he told me - he went back to the gymn, going for a comeback and a challenge for Muhammed Ali´s title. But he soon realised he nothing left and stayed retired.
A lot of fighters from history would have done very well against Liston - providing they could fight their best fight and Sonny would let them. For whatever reason Patterson could never perform against Sonny, fighting his worst, most limp effort both times. But that is not to say many champions from history would have also been so psychologically frozen too. Liston was an extremely effective fighter who knew how to cash in on his assets. There was no stopping Liston if he smelt victory. As it says in the poem "If you think you'll lose, you've lost" and for Liston that is as good as guaranteed victory. I have no doubt what so ever that Liston would crush anyone lacking the full required focus to fight.