Liston v Holyfield

Sonny Liston was definitely bigger and stronger than Holyfield. Didn't he have giant fists?

 

Holyfield is 2 inches taller and they weigh about the same. Holyfield was probably stronger as well, Liston probably never lifted weights and Holyfield was a known gym rat.

Holyfield was faster, better combinations, more technical, more heart, better cardio..he would beat Liston hands down.

 

If Cleveland Williams was nothing special, why is Ali beating a "shot" version of him regarded as Ali"s greatest performance?

 

I think Liston would stop Holyfield; Evander was always there to be hit and Liston would nail him early and often. So would a prime Foreman.

 

My gut says Liston would win. He had straight, hard punches and Holyfield was so damn easy to hit.

 

Holyfield was a known steroid user you mean? even after taking roids he was smaller than the naturally big Liston, find their tale of the tapes if you don't believe it.

 

Holyfield likely is a max 6' 2", 1" more than Liston

Liston's reach has been discussed at length. There is zero good reason to doubt it is 84". His arms appear very long despite being thick, & hands/fingers were extremely big/long.

Rahman also had an 84" reach, 2nd longest "ape factor" to Liston, wingspan vs. height.
Foreman was 42 not 45 vs. Holyfield. C'mon gentleman (just several of you) please be more careful about the facts Your reliability is eroded-even if your argument might be tenable-when you are careless about them, exaggerate, or lie.

Saying Liston might have a slight power advantage against Holyfield seems completely biased. You can credit Holyfield with many advantages, but this is absurd.

Rounding down Liston's opponents weights to 180 lbs. is also wrong. Just describe them as often being modern day CWs.

This statement is not rational:

"By that logic more proven punchers like Tyson, Lennox and Bowe should have KO'd Holyfield. If Bowe, Lewis and Tyson can't stop you, the older smaller weaker less athletic Liston won't."

Besides Tyson being past it, & Lewis being too cautious in his (should have been 2) victories, Liston is not smaller than Tyson. Also weaker than these guys? I do not know if he was weaker than any of them. Older? In his prime he was not old. Less athletic? Than Tyson yes, Lewis, likely, Bowe, no way.

Liston had plenty of heart in his prime, fighting most of a match with a broken jaw heart.

Holyfield juiced. This is SIGNIFICANT cheating, transforming your body from a Spinks-like size to his pumped upper body (& disproportionately small legs). This gave him the pwer to push Tyson around.

 

Holyfield is listed at 6'2 and a half and Liston was listed at 6'0 and a half, that's a 2 inch difference. Holyfield was 218 when he fought Tyson and Liston was 218 when he fought Cassius Clay. Liston is not the bigger or stronger man. He did have some reach on Holy but he was much slower. Holyfield stood up to the bigger and stronger Bowe so I don't see why he would be manhandled by Liston. If anybody is getting pushed back it is Liston. Holyfield had to much skill at his disposal for a 1 dimensional puncher like Liston.

 

So much hate for Liston.

Liston KO 4th.

 

Holyfield is LISTED at 6' 2" & 1/2", I said likely 1/2" less, but it is a tiny difference. Liston is listed overwhelmingly at 6' 1", have seen him 1/2" on either side. Yes 'roided Holyfield was about the same weight. Liston had the reach & much bigger legs even absent PEDs. WHo is stronger is not knowable exactly, with PEDS Holyfiled may have had a stronger upper body only, but it is not close in punching power.

Liston had more boxing skills than you give him credit for, & more than Foreman overall!
Liston was never pushed back, & he MIGHT be beaten by the faster Holyfield, though I do not think so.

Liston was NOT 1 dimensional. He had many excellent punches & amongst the best jabs ever & had some foot work. Bowe could NOT hit like Liston.

 

Liston, could/should/would win this, he has the skillset to. But if things start getting rough, what will happen?

I dont think a young, prime Liston would look for an excuse to quit.

The reason why the Bowe fights were so competitive was because of Bowe, not Holyfield. Had Bowe used his size and kept Holyfield at bay ala Lewis, it would have been an easier fight, but Bowe likes to mix it up which gave Holyfield a chance to get involved.

Liston wont afford Holyfield that chance, i see him keeping Evander on the end of his jab and right hands and getting a decision or late TKO.

I also feel (now this might not go down well with some people) but Holyfield was using PEDS and/or on steroids.

You must be blind if you cant see the difference between the Holyfield of '91 and the one from '96.

People always take about Roy Jones, James Toney, Shane Mosely on PEDS etc, but nobody ever talks about the whole Evan Fields situation

 

If it's a brawl, Holyfield. If it's a boxing match, Liston.

 

Listons too well schooled to get sucked into a brawl methinks

 

I'm wondering how many naive people are on forums who think that steroid cheaters are only those who were caught - Roy Jones, James Toney, Andre Berto etc. You guys realize that literally EVERY elite athlete (and every elite boxer) isn't clean. I know about this more than casual fans as I'm in strength sport for a long time and I know many athletes from different sports.

Even amateur athletes in high schools aren't clean, they use peds, HGH, everything. It's a fact which can't be dinied.

And yes, Holyfield was never caught before of after fight. Does this mean he never used Peds or HGH? Hell no! Does this mean he cheated? No, because in that case every elite athlete is a cheater. :huh