Liston’s jab looked great against whom? Did he ever beat a great heavyweight?

Floyd was in his prime and a 2x champion. The fact Liston was a stylistic nightmare or that he intimidated Floyd should not be held against him.

Zora Folley and eddie machen were great fighters as well.

And yes Liston had an atg jab, easily top 5 some even have hin #1.

 

Patterson? Williams? Folley? Valdes?

Liston had good competition and his jab was described to be like getting hit with a brick. The sheer power he could put into it, and even make it into a knockout punch, made it an ATG jab.

I'm sure he's commonly placed in the top 5 jabbers, possibly behind Holmes, Gans and the like. Maybe Ali. Personally I think he has the best heavyweight jab ever due to the power, though it's hard to compare Liston's sledgehammer to Holmes' yardstick

 

If I told you Tommy Morrison had a great left hook ...would you ask me who did he knock out with it?

 

You could make a strong case that Floyd Patterson was a great heavyweight.

He was perhaps unlucky to come along during a window where he didn't really suit any weight class.

 

Listo n beat good fighters....listo n had a high workrate....always jabbing throwing combos forcing the fight...he could out point you as well as hurt you...not easy to beat at all...consistent monzon like workrate found after round

 

What do ring magazines from 1996 say about his jab?

 

He had a great jab but I would argue Holmes jab was better.
He beat Machen,Foley,Patterson. Todays boxing Machen and Foley would be champions easily.
He also beat Williams.
I think Liston didnt beat alot of great fighters but also remember that ALOT of boxers wanted nothing to do with him .
Patterson was a great fighter and the WAY Liston dispatched him twice speaks volumes about Listons greatness

 

Guys he told you he is just 14. So of course his questions are juvenile.

 

Floyd is a minor great.

Williams, Machon, Foley, Valdez were all good to very good.

Liston is definitely a guy whose reputation has been blown all out of proportion. Patterson, Machon and Foley would be light for cruiser these days. Williams and Valdez were big boys, but neither of them that talented. Some of the same people who relentlessly cry that we don't know how Marciano would fare against a big, talented guy, don't seem to realize that the exact same could be said for Liston, who failed badly against the only big, talented guy he ever fought, and we all know who that is...

Liston was great for his day, but not a top ten heavy in terms of accomplishment, and even top 15 would be pushing it. I have him at 18.

As for head-to-head, we just don't know.

 

Sonny Liston may have had the hardest jab in heavyweight history, only Foreman could be considered in the discussion of powerful jabs. I consider best jabs:
Holmes
Liston
Ali
Foreman
Louis
Lewis