Joe Louis vs Sonny Liston primes

I never said he was way more skilled.
I said Louis only looks impressive cause he faced many stiffs. I never implied Charles was amongst them.

 

We’re gonna let that one slide.

 

Charles crossed over into Joe's era well and truly. As a matter of fact Joe defended his title about 16 times from the year Charles turned pro......before facing Charles.

Bivins and Charles started their career a couple of months apart. Surely Charles gets lumped in with this group.

Moore started boxing half a decade before Bivins. They literally fought 5 times. Bivins did manage to win one.

Charles fits.

Louis faced Charles.

Well the numerous quotes above make it awfully hard for you to omit Ezzard Charles in your blanket statements.

 

Liston fought men comparable to Louis but Louis never faced anyone like Liston. Louis has a chance but would have to follow a precise game plan and give his greatest performance ever.

 

3 bums. Amateur level skills. Only Max had some athletic ability and he was a chicken. Admitted he was scare stiff vs Louis so imagine vs the fearsome Liston.
Liston would KO those guys on same nite in under 6 rounds total. Have you looked at film of them recently? You might be surprised how bad these guys were compared to top fighters 60s on.

 

If Louis can outhustle the big bear,he could win,idk how he deals with those long,crushing combinations,but I'm sure Louis could always found a way to adapt,in at least 1 round, that's...if he survives.

 

Does anyone really think Liston was invulnerable to Louis's power? Does anyone believe Louis wouldn't land power shots on Liston? Which man would fear the other the most? Which fighter was the more honest and dependable and which was more likely to quit? The answers to all of these questions favor the great Joe Louis.

 

Liston fought no one who was like Louis, i don't know where you got that from. Only Zora Foley had some similarities to Louis but he was never that durable, hard hitting or as athletically gifted as Louis and couldn't retreat effectively.
Louis on average fought bigger and harder hitting men. If we also take all the fights these two were knocked out in, Louis lasted far longer while being hit.
Liston has a slim 7 lbs weight advantage, 4 inches in reach and a questionable power advantage.
Louis has basically everything else (stamina, speed, footwork, skillset).
Louis also showed better defense against jabs, using more precise head movement to slip and counter straight punches.
I think Liston's reliability on the jab is going to give Louis windows to counter, and with his superior hand speed and combinations he should wear Liston down for a knockout in rounds 7-10.

 

Well why don’t we go by Louis’ own words. At the time of the 1st Clay fight Louis was a colorman for the tv broadcast and was reporting that he thought Liston was on his way to solidifying his place as the greatest champion of all time. Don’t believe me watch the broadcast you can get it online.

 

What a fight this would be, people do tend to forget the sheer awe a prime Liston inspired in both writers and public alike before he fought the GOAT.

He was regarded as almost a genetic experiment created to destroy other fighters.

Joe of course was his mentor as Sonny was to George.

I will have to think very hard about this one.

 

Gun to the head I pick Louis.

It's more a decision by reason. Louis had the much longer reign, the more stable career and was overall more proven. He was already in his prime as a younger and fresher boxer. He had a great trainer and I assume he was less prone to injuries as well. I think there is a time slot when Louis could beat Liston... maybe the younger Louis who fought Max Baer... or the more matured one who poleaxed Max's brother Buddy before the WW2 hiatus... or the one in between who avenged his loss against Schmeling.

My gut feeling tells me that it's damn open though. Louis never fought anyone like Liston and Liston never fought anyone like Louis.

So I wouldn't bet on that fight.