Liston or Foreman? Who was better? My breakdown on 11 categories

He may have meant a brute. No matter. A reporter at White Cliffs in Manomet, MA where Liston trained for the November '64 rematch with Ali commented on how nasty/bullyish Sonny was toward Reddish -his head trainer.

I believe it all. But "bully" is a loaded term. And it's definition has changed. There was a time that it meant an overbearing person, but now that the media has focussed on it -at least since the Columbine tragedy, it means something else. I always understood it to suggest a bigger or more powerful person picking on smaller or weaker person. The bully is "really" just a weakling exposed by someone larger than them. That's what Dundee meant and that is what the press has financed for years. And while Liston has proven that he could be a mean, callous, brute, no one was exempt... with a notable and ironic exception for children.

 

Incidentally, I remember Milt talking about a sparring match between Liston and Big Train Lincoln, where he said:

"...and Liston hit Amos with a right hand and Amos's heyeadgear flew off and we thought his heyead had flew off!"



I'm still laughing at the expression on his face when he told that story.

 

Understood and agreed.

 

Liston was in his prime against Ali?

I think Liston's best weight was 208, but no more than 212.

Foreman's was 216+

The truth is he cut to that weight. So 217-224 was fine for him.

 

I think young Liston was actually pretty quick for such a dense guy.

I think Liston is probably the better fighter overall. He's much more well-rounded, and able to do more to box a guy. Foreman only really has one gear - hit you with big shots and blow you away. Liston can do that almost as well, but can also deal with opponents with movement and slickness on account of his better techcnical tools. That said, Foreman's all-out aggression could be an advantage against some opponents and might even give him the edge in a H2H match-up.

 

that is an absolutely brilliant post, mcvey, all factual too.i particularly liked liked your bit about liston following his opponent round the ring.
he does, and i see what you mean about his jab being self defeating too.:good:goodbrilliant

 

Foreman. Prime vs. Prime? Foreman by mid-late round KO.

 

Close fight initially, but Liston would batter Foreman by the mid-rounds and stop him.

 

i'd take liston

 

What a clash of monsters this one would be. Probably the two most intimidating heavies of all time. Not sure who I'd pick to win.

 

fence sitter

 

My take on this is that it's not even close - Liston was definately a better fighter no question - Foreman was pretty awful really just massively strong and powerful which made up for a lot - I'd go as far as to say, that, to me Foreman was more of a Max Baer type where Liston was more in the Joe Louis mould and I see a fight between Sonny and George going pretty much how Louis-Maxie went, Liston would dominate mainly behind his amazing jab and would carry out a methodical execution in the end - sure Foreman would get his attention at times but Liston was to correct and to technical a fighter for George - and with far better stamina, defence and footwork - Liston in 9 max