Joe Frazier vs Sonny Liston

Ok here is how I take the difference between Foreman and Liston.

Foreman had a bit more raw power, but they're in very close ball parks.

Foreman has better foot speed and bounce in his step. His upper body movement was always a bit faster and more fluid. HOWEVER, Liston was much more technically sound a boxer and had better footwork (Not faster footwork. Foreman's got underrated foot step very light on his feet for big guy). Liston has a reach advantage over Foreman and I believe Liston's jab to be equally as quick if not more quick than Foreman's. In terms of power and pop I think they are on similiar playing fields although I think Foreman's jab in regard to Liston's is slightly underrated. HOWEVER, I do feel that Foreman is faster hand speed wise than Liston. Even though George throws more wild and looping shots, he still barrages punches together more quickly. Liston can get loopy and a little wild himself when fighters got hurt and his combinations weren't as fast. Liston is just more bulky in this doesn't allow him the fluidity and speed that Foreman had which was a very slight advantage.

In terms of boxing skills, and styles Liston was better. Liston was a better boxer and he can fight off the back fought much better. Liston was also a tad bit more accurate of a puncher than Foreman. Liston also has much better defense than Foreman. This is largely due to Foreman's incredibly raw clubbing power and "punching out of windows." Foreman could barrage punches a little quicker and he gets off better than Liston in my opinion. I also feel that Liston is superior in stamina and chin to Foreman (Scrap the Ali fights. Something is up). In terms of heart I'll give Foreman an edge for clearer reasons. Liston was "rock-like" and built for punishment - he was very very durable and took Williams shots and just brushed them off.

Now, in a stylistic advantage between Liston v Frazier and Foreman v Frazier I favor Foreman. Not only because of what I've seen but because of what we know. Foreman came forward and set the jab up while (As Liston did) but started bombing Frazier and out throwing from all angles. He sets up his offense insanely well and had real raw power. He's not as technically sound but his more fluid and has much more of a bounce in his step. Liston only trudged quickly forward when he had a guy heart but Foreman can bounce around better and get his motor better. This is important against Frazier (As Frazier likes to do the same and work the angles). Now in a matchup vs Frazier the real main reason why I favor Foreman is because he had an incredibly devastating uppercut. We realized Frazier's bob & weave made him great at evading jabs but vulnerable to the uppercut. Even a glancing shot or not completely clean shot can get Frazier in a daze and in trouble for more bombs.

Liston wouldn't be as aggressive as Foreman and never was and never could afford to be, not against a Frazier. Liston wouldn't push like Foreman did which although a bit excessive and cheap helped Foreman. Liston was a better boxer and would be willing to box and "give the ball up on offense" per se which can be dangerous. I also think the 84 inch reach helps Liston early but hurts him in later rounds. It's hard to brawl and have an inside battle with Frazier. He can't do it and Foreman's pushing was something that helped keep him off with his jabs. Sonny's jab won't just be enough. Frazier has a great duck/slip ratio.

In my opinion I favor Liston about 60/40 in this matchup. Maybe more. He had good enough stamina and in a 12 round would probably be up. A 15 rounder is more dangerous for Liston. Close matchup. No Foreman blow it, but don't underestimate Liston or Frazier. Stylistically it presents more equal opportunity. One big reason I favor Liston is because I'm a tad skeptic on Frazier's chin. Foreman bombed him out which is part of it. The Bonevena 2 knockouts in 1 round is sketchy. A big right hand catches him but a second one has Bonevena just pushing him basically after a nothing shot. Frazier didn't have that recuperative power and didn't prove as well to me that he could recover while taking a shot and being as durable as saying his counter swarmer-like fighter in Marciano.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Thanks.

While that's true, Liston didn't throw it quite as often as Foreman and wouldn't as much as Foreman as Foreman is the much taller fighter going against a shorter pressuring Frazier. Liston might be more equiped to throwing that uppercut but that's not his bread and butter the way it was for Foreman. And, I do feel that Liston's best punch (Next to his left jab) was his overhand right (So damn deadly). This could be dangerous launching forward to throw that big right which Frazier could more easily duck and counter.

The uppercut situation stylistically also favors the taller man in my opinion. No doubt Liston has an edge over Frazier, though, I do feel Frazier wasn't in his prime around 73 and I do feel he has an advantage over Liston than Foreman. But we do agree that Liston has the edge.