Larry Holmes vs Sonny Liston

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If you ask any boxing brain to rate the top 5 heavyweights from 1958-1962(not including liston) the list would be as follows

1. Floyd Patterson
2. Ingemar Johansson
3. Eddie Machen
4. Zora Folley
5. Cleveland Williams


Sonny Liston beat 4 of the top 5 best heavyweights of his era!!! He didn't fight Johansson, but Johansson was not to keen on fighting Liston..and turned down a liston offer to fight him in 1963.

How many heavyweight champions beat 4 of the 5 best heavyweights of their era? Not many. You can count them on one hand.


I didn't even include Nino Valdes, Mike DeJohn, Roy Harris, Wayne Bethea, Johnny Summerlin, Billy Hunter...All men who were either rated in the top 10/or were top 10 within 1 year of fighting Liston. Some of these men(Valdes, DeJohn) were dangerous punchers.

 

Their is NOBODY on that list that "The Homer" in his prime wouldn't BUTCHER to shreds........

Holmes comp was fine and dandy......

MR.BILL:bbb

 

His left arm was 100%, he did not have the torn bicep, although I do feel this had more of an impact on his jabbing power than speed. He also only weighed 3lbs more against Cooney than he did against Norton, and I think he performance against Cooney was one of his only fights where he was 100% mentally and physically, he put it all together that night. Against Norton he was 100% mentally, and about 70-80% physically.

 

Often got knocked down against an overhand right? He was only down in 4 fights in his 75 fight career. 1 being an early career knock down, 1 being against arguably the hardest puncher of all time, 1 being against Renaldo Snipes who got Larry when he was being careless (like Shavers), and we all know what happened against Tyson.

 

Off topic, but I thought Holmes looked a MASTER at 212 pounds against the green but dangerous 225 pound Cooney boy in 1982......... I love reviewing that fight......... A classic 80s heavyweight battle.......

MR.BILL

 

There already were lists that rated the top 5 heavyweights in that time frame, and Williams wasn't on them.

Yes he was, he offered him $125,000 to fight him, which has also been pointed out to you before.

Just as Liston had done 2 years earlier.

Using your logic, at least seven off the top of my head:

Ali
Louis
Johnson
Marciano
Frazier
Tyson
Lewis

If you consider Walcott as having beaten Louis in their first fight, then you can add him to the list as well.

You could probably argue for others as well, like maybe Charles, Holmes, Fitzsimmons, Sullivan, or even Wlad Klit if you wanted.

If your hand has at least twice the normal amount of fingers, then yes.

Nor should you. Except for Harris, most of them were considered fringe contenders at best at the times they fought Liston.

 

I would take Holmes in this fight. I rate Holmes #3 in my top 5 heavyweights of all time list. And I feel as though he would beat Liston on points or stop Liston late. I see both fighters having success with the jab and Liston will get the better of the action early and may even send Holmes to the canvas at some point in the fight but as the fight wears on I see Holmes busting Liston up and pounding him with the jab and the right hand. I feel as though larry had more then enough to handle Liston. So I say Holmes out fights and out guts Liston late and scores the tko..

 

Interesting point also is, Holmes was generally dropped by looping rights from right field (Shavers & Snipes)......... Liston was NOT a true looper....... Liston crossed over rather well........ Holmes was not accustomed to being tagged by clean crosses down the pike......... ODD! I doubt Liston would find Holmes with the right paw....... Liston's best success would indeed be the left-jab...... Not enough to topple Holmes........

MR.BILL

 

I also doubt that Liston could pop a jab any harder than the jab Raymond Mercer nailed Holmes with back in the first round of their 1992 classic encounter......... Holmes wobbled but survived to come back and win decisively....... I love that scrape......

MR.BILLhat

 

Liston would beat Holmes.

The combination of power and technique that Liston had, were just the tools necessary to defeat Holmes.

 

Jesus....atsch

MR.BILL

 

Liston was a lot better than george foreman. Sorry Mr. Bill.

 

O rite...because he certainly busted Tim Witherspoon, Mike Weaver, Ken Norton, Carl Williams to shreds right? Some of Liston's opponents including floyd patterson could have given holmes a whole world of trouble. Especially Zora Folley.

 

no explanation?

 

Just Imagine Shavers vs. Holmes.

Except this time Shavers is moving a lot faster

and His jab is one of the best in history

his power is a bit less

and his punches are landing about twice as much

and he could go 10 rounds easily

and his name is Liston

goodbye