Larry Holmes vs Sonny Liston

Really prime Holmes decisions him but he feels it afterward and might have to get off the deck.

 

Have to fancy Holmes in this one. He's very proven against what I think is a better calibre of fighter than the folks Sonny beat. I also think he's technically better than Liston, even if not as good in the trenches. But I think Holmes could keep it at range.

 

As with a fight against prime Foreman, Holmes would be in coin toss territory vs Liston. He never beat anyone within a 100kms of Liston’s ability. Liston beat no one as good as Holmes either, mind.

I can very readily see either man winning. It might need a trilogy. I will abstain from voting.

 

I like Holmes to win on points or perhaps late round stoppage.

 

Just like he did against Snipes, Weaver, Shavers, etc?

 

Liston got smashed by feather fisted Ali and little Marty. The difference being that Holmes won those three.

 

But he beat them...Liston never got up from the floor and beat someone like Holmes did.

 

If the fight is 12 rounds then Holmes UD Liston, but if it goes full 15 rounds you can expect Holmes to TKO Liston in 14th round.

 

He would've never had to get off the floor against the likes of Renaldo Snipes and Mike Weaver.

 

Holmes edges a decision or stops Sonny late

 

This is a stupid logic you realize Ali was way past his best and Holmes was not a knock out artist either. Liston has a good chance in this fight given his reach and the way he jabs and box but than again Holmes has the jab as well and distant control.

 

Larry by close but unanimous decision over 12, wins via late stoppage if 15.

This is one of the WORSE match up for Larry because the Patterson Liston (unlike Tyson and Foreman) is an adaptable puncher, more than capable of changing his strategy when called upon. Larry didn't like being on the other end of good jabs, and more than a few think Sonny had the best ever. Really.

I think it's up to the most ring intelligent of the two. Holmes would learn early on that fighting Liston is a step in another dimension compared to even Ken Norton. I imagine the early rounds would see Sonny getting beat to the punch and held. It's the middle rounds, when Holmes would most of the time take a little break, that Liston does the damage. I see that Liston jab becoming a big factor, and probably a knockdown from the right. Larry would be hurt worse than ever, and Liston was quite the finisher. But I see Holmes weathering it, and I see Sonny ultimately not being able to keep up with the punches. By the 11th he'd be getting hit way too much, and that Holmes jab was a truly hideous, ravingly nasty instrument.

 

Yeah like he never had to get off the floor against LHW contender Leotis Martin who was nothing like:

Michael Dwayne Weaver is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1972 to 2000, and held the WBA heavyweight title from 1980 to 1982. He is widely regarded as one of the Best Heavyweight Boxers of the 1980s beating Heavyweight Champions such as Gerrie Coetzee and John Tate

Or Snipes who beat Berbick and gave many huge HWs a lot of problems.

 

I'd favor Liston by a bees proverbial. He's a superb technician and had excellent stamina at his best. I think he'd basically match Holmes in the jabbing and be industrious attacking behind it to both head and body. His superior two fisted power edges it for him.