Poll - Who would win? Sonny Liston 1959 or Oleksandr Usyk 2022?

Usyk seems like he has all the tools to beat Liston, but he also doesn’t seem durable enough to handle Liston’s power for an extended period of time either. Almost every time I’ve seen Usyk hurt it’s been due to body punches, also not a good sign against Sonny.

 

Liston late KO after wisely investing in the body, which will pay off dividends in the long run. Liston's ring IQ is second to none, and Usyk is no Ali.

 

Liston gets him, I'd say we see a ko by the tenth.

 

I am going with Liston KO.

 

How about Champion Liston from Feb.1964 vs Usyk in 2022?

 

Liston

 

Liston.

As highly skilled as Usyk is, moving him back through history vs the relatively smaller ATGs, he would be more often encountering far better and more problematic skills sets than those demonstrated by today’s behemoths who provide as the perfect foil to the smaller, highly skilled giant killers such as Usyk.

Atop his skills, Liston would carry the reach and power of a SHW. The best of both worlds.

Also, Sonny won’t flag over the course of 12 rounds, - a vulnerability of the SHWs which Usyk has been able to take full advantage of.

No, no stamina issues for Sonny. Liston would be boxing viably for each and every round if necessary.

Feints would be very much the order of the day in the face of a mobile, reactive fighter such as Usyk - and Liston knew very well how to employ the seemingly now lost art of feinting to great advantage.

Funny, per the versions prescribed, Liston would weigh about 212 lbs vs Usyk’s 22o lbs but he would still present as the much stronger and more powerful fighter with competitive boxing skills to go.

 

Sonny Liston 1959 version wins by TKO 10, the Big Ugly Bear has the right tools to wear down Usyk, the long pole like left jab, the paralyzing left hook, and the hard shots to the body. Liston would not Usyk off of the hook, that size and immense pressure would be too much. After biding his time Liston lowers the boom in round 10, ending the night for Usyk.

 

I don't know. Liston has never encountered a skilled, 220 pound southpaw. Otherwise, I'd pick Liston. But this is a wild card. I'm going to say Usyk via decision. But wouldn't bet a lot of money on it. Well, I would bet all of @McGrain money on it, but if I win, I get to keep all the winnings.

 

" If he fights I'll kill him, if he runs, I'll catch him and kill him".
A quote from Charles "Sonny " Liston.
Usyk is NOT a prime Ali. And prime Ali didn't face the 1959 version of Sonny Liston.
Usyk does well against the lumbering heavyweights of today simply because they can't fight. At least not on the level of the heavyweights from the early 60's through the 90's.
Liston in my opinion would ruin Usyk.
Usyk never has fought a heavyweights that actually knows how to use a jab. He hasnt fought anyone that could time and counter him. Never had to deal with feints from hands and feet.
Liston did all those things.
The only saving grace Usyk would have is he's a southpaw.
That easily is taken away by a great jab. Liston is in the top five in heavyweight history with the jab. Some would argue number one.
I see no way Usyk would survive a young, hungry, highly motivated version of Liston.
I doubt he'd fight to be honest.
If he did, 8-10 rds at the most for Liston to track him down and ko him.
Usyk would have a much better chance of beating Liston after 1965.

 

Usyk easily. Liston was a bit of a weight bully. With the 200 limit and rehydration, most of Usky's cruiserweight opponents would dwarf most of Liston's best.

Patterson-194
Patterson-189
Foley-198
Williams-215
Willlams-210
Machon- 196
Valdez-211

Usyk's best:
Dubois 233
Joshua 244
Joshua-240
Breidis-199
Hunter-198
Gassiev-198
Glowacki-199
Bellew-199
Huck-198

Marty Marshal was 180 when he broke Liston's jaw.

 

I say Usyk by decision, but I'm not certain. 55/45 I think in Usyk's favor. Bigger, quicker, smarter. I think he could avoid Liston's
right hand, and he certainly would not be intimidated by him.

 

The Big Cat and Nino are the only 2 fighters you mentioned that Liston fought in 1959 and there was 4 good wins.

Not to Mention Liston was on a 8 fight winning streak in 1958 and 5 fight winning streak in the following year 1960 with another win over Williams.

Usyk had 1 fight in 2022 against AJ and that's it. Usyk had 1 fight in 2021 against a weak minded AJ again. In 2023 Usyk was gifted after he failed to rise to a legal body blow that was within the scoring area against Dubois.

1959 Liston absolutely destroys 2022 Usyk! No judges or cards needed!

 

They are still the same fighters, regardless. I mention the others just to show the talent levels.