Liston V Rocky's Title Challengers???

Liston picked up a loss on his way up to the title, in a slightly weaker era than Marciano was fighting in. This puts Marciano’s accomplishment in going undefeated, into proper perspective.

 

Liston at his prime was a great fighter. He twice blew away Patterson in emphatic style before he could put up any kind of resistance, had a sticky moment with Folley and WIlliams but blasted the pair of them out. Then there is the machen fight where Sonny showed versatility and pace beating a good fighter over 12 rounds. And that is all there is to go on Liston in his prime. The machen fight shows us the most of him when he is not blowing a guy away, and it is still a formidable heavyweight forcing machen into survival mode. A slightly earlier Liston against Whitehurst is simular.

I think Liston knocks out Layne about round 8.

I think Liston flattens Cokell in 3 rounds.

I think Walcott is a 50-50 fight I can see Liston catching Walcott early or I see Walcott counter him silly. Walcott has no problem with size at all. He beat Elmer Ray and Joe Baksi.

I think Ezzard could knock out Liston if he gets past 4 rounds. But I could also see Liston maul and batter Charles. It's 50-50. Although I think Charles can outpoint Sonny.

Moore could be a real nightmare for Sonny. It is another 50-50. Moore had trouble with speed, he did not have trouble with big heavyweights,,,,but Liston is a great heavyweight so you cant rule him out.

I would also give Moore, Charles and Walcott 50-50 chance against Marciano first time around. It is difficult to predict a great fighter losing with any certainty.

 

I sort of have. He should be favoured over each man individualy, but if we run the tape and match him against all of them, he may well loose at some point. It could happen early on, on the way up, or at the elite level. It is less a who question, than a how question.

 

My point is that one day it won’t be the best Liston, and that is where it becomes possible for somebody to close the gap on him.

We know for example that Liston's work ethic fell off very rapidly once he held the title.

That is why I am reluctant to hand him decisive wins over everybody on the list.

 

Given that significant assumption, he beats all of them, and most of them quickly.

 

Walcott KO 8
LaStarza KO 3
Charles KO 6
****ell KO 2
Moore KO 8

 

I like Charles chances in a rugged battle, Charles can fight in the pocket and although Sonny was ancient Charles was a better version of Leotis Martin but close in size and weight. Sonny dangerous but Charles could beat him like he did the old Joe Louis

Sonny stops Lastarza late, i don't think Roland can hurt him enough but his movement keeps him alive for a while

He gets to Kockel quick KO in 4-5 ish

Archie slick I favor Sonny but the mongoose was tricky and savvy could take a close decision

best shot is Charles then Walcott with Archie a chance

 

Assuming we're talking about when these men were at their pinnacle, which was exactly where Rocky was when he met them, and not in his 8th pro fight, then I think Liston does as well or likely even better against that list.