Mismatch: Prime Liston vs Prime Tyson

I have always picked Liston here, but it has always been a pick that carried significant reservations.

It is the kind of stylistic pick where you would only need to get one variable wrong, in order for your whole prediction to unravel.

 

Liston would be too slow. Tyson counters him to a KO relatively easy. What it comes down to is Liston missing a lot of punches and Tyson not missing a lot of punches.

 

One who IMO would have given Liston a handful if he boxed smartly. Plus, Liston's signature win was smaller than the aforementioned bloated LHW

 

I'd bet on Liston, but I wouldn't exactly be at ease. To say Liston does it easily (or rather, safely and reliably) I think you have to be prepared to assert that an early knockout by Tyson is highly unlikely, and I don't think it's that unlikely.

 

Try this thought experiment (It's not perfect but should be somewhat illuminating): Imagine Patterson hit as hard as Tyson; would he have fared that much better?
I don't see Tyson outscoring Liston easily. It could happen, but I'd be surprised.

 

I think Sonny would prevail in a brutal fight.

 

I too would pick Liston in a brutal war. l wouldn't bet money on it, but l would pay to see it on PPV.

 

Clay beat the older Liston version with head movement, handspeed, and FOOT SPEED. Tyson has 2 of the three assets. Liston hits as hard as Tyson. If Tyson stands in front of Liston, somebody is going down. (no mis-match).

 

Liston proved that he was a tenacious, strong, and tough fighter as any in his prime. His assets would also include good boxing ability, arguably the best jab in Heavyweight history, and KO power in both fists. Tyson also had these attributes, sans the jab, when he was at his best. His greatest drawback was becoming frustrated when his opponent didn't fall. Stylistically both were stalkers. To defeat either one had to offer movement, speed of hand and feet, switching up angles of attack and possessing a good quick jab helped immensely. The opening rounds would be the most dangerous for both with Tyson having the edge due to his speed of hand, head, and upper body movement. By the 3rd Liston finds the distance with his jab and is in his rhythm. By the 6th Tyson is showing signs of frustration. I would predict a KO for Liston anytime after that in either a 12 or 15 round bout.

 

Both of their minds need to be right....they both have a bit of the "dog" in them...

 

Tyson

 

Liston by destruction would be my pick. But would fancy prime Tyson to have a decent chance of beating anyone on any given day. Anyone save prime Ali.

 

If Patterson hit as hard as Tyson and had Tyson's chin, then I'd pick Patterson to win. Actually, skill wise, Patterson was arguably better than Liston. He lost the fight because all that skill went out of the window once Liston hit him.

And I was referring to Michael Spinks in reply to Tyson's signature win being a bloated LHW. I think if Spinks used lots of movement and countering, he'd at least last to the last bell and could cause a UD upset. Spinks wouldn't just stand in front of Liston and Liston didn't have prime Tyson's speed.

 

Spinks would never last the distance with Tyson.

 

Liston's 87 inch jab and towering height of 6'1 which got him the name BIG BEAR coupled with Tyson's lack of jab or ring IQ gets him knocked out. Tyson relied on number structure to throw certain punches. Liston would simply whisper numbers in Tyson's ear while his corner shouted random numbers out loud and have Tyson bewildered and frightened.

Liston knocks out the short midget who never fought any ATG just bums team Tyson set up for him.