Let's put Liston in with some top 175lb fighters

I really Dont like to Think of What Sonny might of done to Bob Foster....

 

Yes,Machen fought the fight of his life against Liston,it was probably thie high water mark of his career,we both know if Machen went in so over confident against him as he did against Ingo,he woulda got knocked out.I do not see any way Conn or Charles survive him if they try to win.I admit,I am a Liston fan,I try to be objective,but I really didn't see the Machen fight that close.The closest fighter to a Charles or Conn,that Sonny fought was Floyd Patterson,and we seen that one twice.

 

Out of the list Charles, Tunney and Langford (perhaps Moore) would stand the best chance, athough I still wouldn't make 'em favourites.

Most of the others are gonna be facing a very tough uphill struggle.

 

One paper scored the fight for Machen perhaps inapropriately.

 

Spinks would lose by tko in 1st!
Tunney would outbox him!

I'm sure only about these two!

 

however Liston might catch Tunney!

 

Listons worst performances (not including when he was too new or too old) were against Machen and Ali. That is to say, two allusive heavyweights that Liston would pursue and not stand within range. Machen had half the equasion, and Ali had all of it. If I had to make a fighter to beat Liston, I would make Muhammad Ali. I would want the fighter to be faster than Sonny, not afraid, a tough target to find, and one with enough power to command some respect.

Right off the bat I would say that Charles could do it. He stands a fair chance.
Not afraid. Tough to find, and power that would come at Liston quick and be hard enough to make Sonny think twice.

I have a huge respect for Sam (obviously) and I think that he proved himself agianst big guys too and some very good ones (Harry Wills) now I know that Sam lost the Series vs Wills, but he held his own and was more than a little older. Sam's technique of fighting would see him on the inside more, taking away the long pole like Liston Jab. Sam could probably do more damage on the inside that Liston could (short, more compacted punches, strong enough to not be pushed around). He would be afraid and might trouble Liston on the inside, I think he would get through.

Tunney is kind of a mystery when it comes to fighting bigger guys. I have a lot of respect for Tunney's overall intelligence and ring generalship. Tunney would probably be coming in bigger than 175 if he didn't have to train down. (the prime Tunney who fought Dempsey). Tunney was the kind of smart, mentally sound fighter that could perhaps frustrate Liston some. And like Ali, Tunney could spend a lot of time on the bicycle. Though Tunney lacks in Ali freak speed, he makes up for in ring smarts. He could survive like Machen and then some. Tunney might do the trick as well.

not conn though. If Liston was slower of foot, maybe, but Liston was very agile and fast for a big guy. Liston is one of the few destroyer types that could take out these smaller type of guys. I think Liston would catch him.

Brings a big punch and is another guy that I wouldn't think would be fighting at 175. Moore will give Liston angles that he has never seen before. He will be tricky. I give Moore a chance but not nearly as big of one as Sam, Gene or Ezzard. Because I think he will spend more time in Listons line of fire, Liston would not have to hunt him as much.

Nope. I do not like Spinks chances. I think bigger, destoryer type guys break him mentally. Hate to judge him on the Tyson fight, but there you go.

I think that Liston finds his jaw somewhere along the line. Gonna say no to Roy.

Nope.

Bivins was good at fighting heavyweights. He knew how to do it, but I do not think he is quite up to a Sonny Liston. Less of a chance than Moore.

Not enough power, though he would be game. Perhaps as smart as Gene, but a little too small, with not enough smack back. Close to Gene in terms of fighting as a light heavy, but not as good when it comes to moving up.

I give the first three the most chance and I wouldn't be surprised if either one of them beat Liston. They would be the underdogs, but they have the ability to do it. Moore less of a chance, but he'd be my number four. Bivens less chance and nubmer five. The others, I give no real chance.

They are my top three lightheavys too.

 

How about Harold Johnson?

 

Great post.Tunney,Conn,Loughran,Charles and Maxie Rosenbloom could make things interesting.It would depend on wether or not Liston could land clean on them.If he does it could be lights out.If not,like I said it could be a long night for Liston.

 

So he's gonna find Jones' jaw, but not gonna find Charles', Tunney's or Langford's? Pathetic argument.

 

The point is his defense in his best years was more effective than these three ever showed. Much faster and more clever fighters than Liston couldn't land flush on him. Charles and Langford were dropped multiple times even before they aged. And Tunney was hurt basically the only time Dempsey was able to catch him with a clean punch, which ended in the long count. Yet his jaw is never mentioned either to be a factor here.

 

completely false. For starters, Dempsey caught Tunney with Multiple punches, mulitple shots. How many punches landed on Tunney in round seven? Including the hook? And you are telling me that Jones would have been able to get up after that? Long count or not?
Langford took shots from Sam McVea, Jack Johnson, Harry Wills etc. etc. big 200lb solid heavyweights, three of the best whom ever lived his record his proven amongst heavyweights who hit him flush. Big punchers like Smith and Fulton. Come on. You can't argue that Jones is more proven against big men when tested. More importantly, Langford knew how to get inside on bigger men because he had a habit of fighting and flooring them. Sorry, you can not compare Langford and Jones for experience fighting big men.
Does Jones get in on Sonny Liston?????

Charles, Okay Charles was floored. But Charles also took shots from many big heavyweights and was hit flush by by Rocky Marciano. Can you honestly say that Jones' jaw holds up to a punch from Marciano? I mean, really? If Jones fought, under the conditions that Charles and Langford (who was never knocked down that much anyway, I don't think you know much about Langford) fought, he would have been knocked down more. Jones widly was criticised for fighting chumps. Charles fought the best several times.

But of course, if anyone is hit by Sonny Liston it is probably lights out. Of course this is true. What seperates Jones from Langford (who has experience with big punchers so you must acknowledge that he has the best resume) is his mindset. Both Charles and especially Tunney are going to be too smart to let an early lead go to their head, who will stay the course and not let their ego get in the way of doing something stupid like mixing it up.

Nope, Jones, in my opinion, does a far worse job of it than Charles, Tunney or Langford.