Prime vs Prime. That's a Pre Clay Sonny and a Pre Foreman Frazier. Take your pic... who you got and why?
Frazier presses and gets to Liston around round 8. Joe had too much heart of Liston IMO. However, Liston might be able to keep Joe at bay with his great jab. I'd take Joe though.
I'm not too fond about Frazier's chances. Liston may not be as aggressive as Foreman, but when he smells blood, he goes for the kill. And every top opponent landed a lot on Frazier early; Liston will also. But then if Frazier survives early, he stands a good chance of winning by late stoppage. I go back on forth on this one.
I've changed my tune on this match. Even though I am a huge Frazier fan, I have to admit this is one fight he would not win. Liston would get to him early as Frazier starts too slow to survive. There is a chance that Frazier survives and KO's him late but that's not likely.
This is a good matchup. I think Liston is more likely to take this one. I don't think he'll blow him out like Foreman though.
Umm. Real tough one this. You would have to think Joe coming forward taking the fight to Sonny would be a hazardous move on his part, and he might pay for it. However my instinct tells me Frazier wins this after negotiating a few rocky opening rounds. At his peak he was something special. Frazier UD.
Liston was just as powerful as foreman except...Liston was also much more accurate and technically sound than foreman....When Liston has frazier in trouble he will finish him....Frazier was a slow starter I expect this to end early. Bottom line is frazier will come right into liston, and I dont see how he can survive coming into liston with just his left hook.
These are the kind of guys that can get Frazier out of there before he gets dangerous as the fight wears on. Id put money on Liston early-mid KO 8 times out of 10.
Wow great matchup. Tough pick too. I can see the problem Joe has with Sonny and that terrific jab but I think he would be able to negotiate past it and land some decent body shots and of course the left hook. Can Sonny fight backing up and can he withstand the relentless onslaught from Frazier? Could Liston put Frazier down six times? Could Liston do the same thing that George did? As good as he was I don't think so and though Frazier might have to get up off the deck he would be able to close the distance and make it a long night for Liston. I'll go Frazier here but I completely understand someone giving Liston the nod as well. Once again great matchup.
Frazier was the quicker and more skilled inside technician, and the quicker/better combination puncher. I don't see Liston having the heart or resilience to last under Frazier's pressure. He might hurt Frazier, perhaps even score a knockdown or two early, but I think by the 7th or 8th rounds he starts bitching about some sort of "injury" and folds.
LOL just to get on the inside frazier is going to have to take TREMENDOUS punishment....punishment he showed he could not take against a liston calibre puncher(foreman)....Liston is the bigger much stronger better two fisted puncher....when frazier comes into him he is going to be bulldozed backwards. Liston was actually quite skilled on the inside and certainly had the advantage in strength and power on the inside... In a battle like this...quickness is not going to matter as much as seen with foreman vs frazier.. Frazier only knew how to fight one way...Charging in. Unfortnley all he had was his left hook...and against a much strong two fisted wrecking machine like Liston he is going to be overmatched Liston had plenty of heart....I dont see frazier having the durability to survive listons early storm. not at all.. more like 4 or 5 knockdowns before the referee stops it Very unlikely..it took a speedish freak ATG boxer against a old rusted liston to beat him up to the point where he quit and make no mistake about it doctors reports show liston did indeed have a real shoulder injury.....besides frazier matches up HORRIBLY against liston and there frazier will not be able to frustrate liston like ali did .The more likely scenario is frazier gets bounced up and down the canvas 5 or 6 times in the first couple rounds and thats all she wrote. Even if fraziers still on his feet by the 7th, liston will continue to dominate him on the outside with his jab and manhandle him on the inside with his heavy uppercuts and brute strength. Frazier takes a beating either way
I dont believe this. Even a Old fat Liston of late 1960s backed up foreman in sparring. I see no reason to suggest on film or by contemporary accounts foreman was more powerful than liston....Certainly john garfield whos seen them both hit the heavy bags doesnt think so.
Not necessarily, Liston is no great mover, he's slower than Frazier, and he wasn't too difficult to hit. But not nearly as much than Frazier. Foreman wasn't slow. A fighter with "plenty of heart" doesn't flagrantly quit in back-to-back fights when one of the greatest honors in sports is on the line.