Sonny. 8 out of 10 times. Sonny was the better tactician, more power and also good defense. Sonny is a top 5 all time heavyweight and evander not even top 10 the difference in class is to big here
I'm going with Evander. He would not be intimidated and has great boxing skills. Plus, he wouldn't be looking at the usual size disadvantage he had in the 90's.
Sonny. I think Sonny would take over as the fight went on and hurt Holyfield several times, maybe dropping him. I don't think Holy had the power to bother Sonny, though he'd give him problems with his combination punching and boxing ability.
Prime for prime, I'd take Liston over Holyfield, perhaps by KO before round 10. Evander has the skills and ability to outbox and outwork Liston towards a decision victory but I think Liston would be too much for him in terms of overall power. Liston's jab was one of the hardest in heavyweight history, and unless Evander evades this punch and works Liston's body slowing him down, he'll eventually get caught and hurt.
I am going with Sonny by decision. Evander has to move in and out as he won't be able to outjab Liston like he did to Bowe, and will be out of range on the end of Liston's long jab. He also can't stay on the inside for too long taking Liston's power shots. Evander is going to have to work the angles and try to outwork Sonny by moving in and out using his great combination punching. I think Sonny would be able to outpoint Evander or possibly stop him late.
Look Liston would be extremeky dangerous because of his huge jab, tremendous power and overall skills ... that being said Evander has a bigger heart, an exceptional chin and would beat him with speed, movement, boxing skill and heart ... it would be as tough a fight for Evander as there could be but he would win it ...
Finally some love for Holy in this thread Sure, Liston would give him hell, but I think that Holyfield would pull a victory anyway, as far as he doesn't get into a slugfest with Liston :roll:
I cannot see how Evander could possibly win this matchup. People keep mentioning "Heart". Well Evander's Heart is going to be his undoing. Evander's heart will cause him to get in a brawl with Sonny during the fight(evander loved to brawl, didnt matter who)....and sonny is just going to pummel him into submission. Even before that, Sonny is going to jab his head off and outfight him on the outside and mandhandle him on the inside. Liston TKO 5 Evander
Liston would get to him eventually...that is within the first 4 or 5 rounds, and that's all she wrote for Evander...I don't see him as being fleet of foot like Ali, and being basically evasive enough or defensive enough to withstand that 2x4 of a jab of Liston's...and of course we're talking a PRIME Liston, not the one that fought Ali. That monster would have ko'ed Holy, or Tyson, for that matter inside of 4 or 5 rounds, IMO.
Prime against prime, I would bet on Evander, and I wouldn't be afraid to bet heavily! I believe Evander would beat Sonny by late round TKO. I wish we could make this fight. I think I would make a lot of money on this one!
Now...if it was Mike Tyson fighting Sonny Liston, instead of Evander Holyfield, then that might be a different story...in my opinion.
Liston was at his best with fighters coming at him ... Holyfield could jab and move and he would make it very difficult for Sonny ...