Liston early or Louis late. But I think early is more likely than late as Louis was too easy to hit, and is giving up too much reach. Some movement / defense is needed to beat Liston.
As much as I'd rather pick Joe Louis I have to concur with you. Joe Louis was very hitable and rarely gave angles our fought on the outside. Of course his excellent inside and mid range fight game along with his fast combinations can pose problems for sonny as well, but something tells me Joe won't be able to take those bombs for long.
I think this one could go either way... I see Liston getting the better of it with his jab and power punches but I give Louis a fair shot of catching Sonny with beautiful right possibly countering one of Sonny's jabs which would get Sonny in enough trouble for Louis to finish him off.It wouldn't surprise me to see Liston eventually pound Louis to the canvas either or even win a route going decision with his jab and power punches. Great match up forsure one of the best mythical match ups that can be made in the heavyweight division. I'd probably slightly favor Liston but its always hard to go against Joe Louis in any match up..
Sonny has the jab and power to stop Joe before he could ever get his combinations off. Joe could be flat footed at times, if would be a very tough match-up for him.
I would pick Louis because he was way faster than Liston. Not a Primo Carnera massacre, but close to it.
If you are looking at the matchup just on paper I think Sonny wins... Joe was very hittable and not good at using angles either. That is a bad combo against Sonny. However, Joe had something Sonny didn't, that was heart and intangibles. In the end, that is the difference.
This is a stylistic nightmare for Louis. That said, Louis would find a way, a few smashing combinations will get Liston to respect him. After that, Joe will pick his shots and start to break Sonny down. But if Louis cant get past that big heavy jab of Liston until later, he has a chance of losing via points... I also see Liston putting Joe down at least once. Joe just has that quality that puts him over the top, Intangibles ..I just can t see Sonny winning despite his advantages
speed would make a big difference in this one and Liston would be easy to find and this is right in Joe Louis's wheelhouse. Joe would be cautious and Louis slips and counters the Jab. Joe would be the hardest puncher that Sonny shared a ring with by far and the most complete combination power puncher ever. Early discomfort continues until Louis KO's Sonny sometime between the 1st and the 6th
I don't buy that Louis would be at a huge stylistic disadvantage, sure you needed defense and movement to beat Liston, but the same goes for Louis. Is Liston just going to walk through his punches? He had a good chin but his duruability gets oversold, he could get hurt like any other fighter, and Louis could hurt anyone. Louis faced big punchers and he demolished them, a fighter that comes straight at you is not a stylistic problem for Louis. Its interesting that Louis is regarded as one of the two greatest fighter of all time, yet still rarely gets favoured in h2h matchups. Surely a fighter with his credentials should start as a favourite in any matchup?
He is a tad overrated????? What was his defining win? The fight with Baer were Max re broke his hand in round 2? He beat Schmeling and Walcott, but also lost to Walcott. ( in my opinion) He had tremendous wins and amazing longevity, he is in my top 5... but I do not think he is invincible.
My guess here is that Louis's speed would be the deciding factor, allowing him to spring the trap first in many of the exchanges. You never know though.