Liston vs. Charles. 15rds.

Liston by late TKO/KO

 

Charles by late round stoppage. Liston's chin was horrible.

 

Both were great fighters. Charles abilities at HW are underrated IMO. He was often outweighed but it didn't matter.

Charles had better footwork, much faster hands, better defense, and he was more accurate.

Liston was heavier by about 20-25Lbs and the harder puncher. Liston had a much longer reach. They were both almost 6'1".

Liston had a good jab but Charles was quick and elusive and would be able to slip many of them and fire back counter punches. Liston would land some hard shots and he would rock Charles, maybe even drop him once or twice. He'd have trouble landing 2 or 3 hard shots in a row though.

Charles had decent power at HW, enough to keep Liston off of him when he had to... for the most part. Charles also had a good chin. Charles was down a few times but he recovered from punishment very well. He was a well conditioned fighter with great stamina.

Charles beat a past prime Louis but it was still a good Louis. Louis was the harder puncher, he outweighed Charles by over 30Lbs, had a longer reach, and was an inch taller.

Jersey Joe Walcott was similar in size to Louis (just a tiny bit smaller). Charles fought Walcott 4 times. Charles won the first two fights and many felt the 4th fight as well. Walcott stopped Charles in 7 rounds in their 3rd fight (Charles had won his last 24 fights including 2 over Walcott prior to this fight). Charles was able to drop Walcott once in 4 fights.

Charles beat the hard punching Archie Moore 3 times at LHW, once by KO (KO8).

In Charles' 98th and 99th pro fights he fought Marciano and gave him hell. He took Marciano's shots well in both fights despite being past prime (L15 and LKOby8).

Don't look at how Liston did vs. Patterson when thinking about how this fight would go. Patterson and Charles may have had a few similarities but they were completely different fighters. Patterson liked to brawl. Charles was more technically sound.

Liston was troubled by a few smaller HWs in his career-

Johnny Summerlin (aprox. 195Lbs.) lost two 8 round decisions to Liston but had his moments in both fights.

He lost to Marty Marshall who was about 180Lbs. Marshall dropped Liston twice and broke his jaw in their 3 fights.

Eddie Machen (aprox. 195Lbs) had his moments vs. Liston but clealry lost by decision.

Liston couldn't put the 195Lb Bert Whitehurst away on 2 occasions even though Archie Moore had already done it twice.

 

Charles by close decision

 

i think that is not true. i am not saying he has one of the best chin's but it was decent enough

 

thank you sir

 

Superb post. I'll also add that Leotis Martin was under 200 pounds when he knocked Liston out.

When Walcott did knock Ezz out, he did it to an uninspired champion who complained before that match that he couldn't get himself worked up properly to face Jersey Joe a third time. Still, it took a punch with impeccable timing and delivery to get the job done. Charles would certainly be fully worked up to take on Sonny.

Liston's relative lack of speed could cost him dearly here. Ezz arguably had more skills and smarts than Machen, Whitehurst, Martin, Summerlin and Marshall put together. Watch Satterfield try to tear Ezzard's head off in the opening round. Charles is not Patterson as a deer in the headlights with Liston. If Sonny did manage to drop him or otherwise get Ezz in trouble, he was hardly an infallible finisher, as Whitehurst and Martin demonstrated. He wasn't the master of cutting off the ring that Foreman was.

I do think Charles would neutralize Sonny's jab with his speed, mobility and defensive skills.

 

Ali wasn't a heavy puncher. Nevertheless a phantom punch got the job done. Liston's decent chin was a myth.

 

Machen was probably the closest to Charles that Liston met, but Charles was better. Liston close UD or perhaps even SD.

 

stay off the pills if u don't think liston would win big. i've seen charles slugging it out with light heavies (actually that was the actual heavyweight division in his era believe it or not - only small guys back then were any good) and i would love to see him do that against liston

 

Interesting...

Shame so many are overlooking Charles when he has the composure, tools, and proven ability to pull off the upset. In terms of size and intimidating power, the much avoided Elmer Ray was very comparable to Liston when Charles stopped him in their rematch.

Charles slipping and bombing on the bigger Wallace in route to a vicious knockout.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjFq5aOYYJM[/ame]


Liston frustrated but in control against the smaller slicker Machen.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5YbsN73eOk[/ame]

 

there weren't too many heavies with a better chin than liston

 

Liston was knocked down and beaten by a lightheavy, so you might want to be careful in your choice of words.