Prime Holyfield vs Prime Liston

I've seen both guys fights live. I am fairly familiar with their career's. You?

The fact is the Liston management took a fight against an opponent that you do not see other corners take. What you see instead is a lot of cherry picking and an opponent list that milks the title. Liston did not do that. And just what other old heavyweight is going to look good against a 22 year old guy with those reflexes anyway?

 

Holmes was coming off a big win over unbeaten contender Ray Mercer, and was as deserving of a title shot as any contender. Foreman was still considered a dangerous contender, and reinforced that by going on to win the world title after that. Regardless of their ages, they were certainly every bit as good as guys like Marshall and Whitehurst.

 

Off topic....... But my 1960 tape of Liston and Edward Machen is a boring-ass fight / event to the max....... YAWN! I hate that bout......... Pass the No-Doz tabs. please........ Liston won, but did little to impress anyone at ringside..... Cheers,,,,,

MR.BILL

 

My point is when Holyfield fought Holmes and Foreman they were both past their prime,whereas Liston was short of his when he fought Whitehurst and Marshall.
I was not comparing either pair ,you mnetioned Marshall and Whitehurst as giving Liston trouble ,and I explained the circumstances of those fights,both Larry and George went the route against a peak Evander .

 

I wouldn't say that Liston struggled with Whitehurst. He seemed content on picking Whitehurst off with the jab. Despite his fearsome reputation Liston didn't always go all out for the KO in the ring. He was a big fan of Joe Louis and patterned his boxing style after him.

 

not sure who would win this, it's too close. although I'm leaning towards Liston.
Liston is bigger then Holyfield, he's a natural heavyweight. meanwhile Holyfield had to beef up in weight and go up from cruiserweight. if Liston had the advantages that Holyfield had in the 90s, then he wouldve had weight training and he would be closer to 235 LB.
another factor is Holyfield's willingness to fight/brawl. this is listons game. he would jab Holyfield from the outside, and then come in with a big right hand and follow up with hooks. Holyfield was easy to hit.
Liston stops holyfield in the 12th round. evander would keep fighting until the ref stops it. there's no doubt that evander would have handspeed and heart advantages, but I just can't see him winning. he's been bullied around by big guys in the past.

 

Agreed, great match up. Liston's attack is more measured and harder to put off and frustrate than the Tyson Holyfield fought imo. Tyson ended up very one dimensional in his attack in their fight and Holyfield was fending him effectively with very simple means. Liston with that heavy consistent jab would be much different.

 

Liston's got the jab, but he needs to beware of that excellent counter right hand from Holyfield, and some of the most fluid and precise combinations in boxing coming at him.

Liston has a heavy left hook and underrated handspeed, but Holyfield had a left hook that demands repect too, and a better short uppercut and the quicker hands. Liston has the heavier hands.

Holyfield will land plenty in this fight. Liston would land some heavy shots too. This could be a war. It might come down to who takes it better.

Holyfield would have to use his lateral movement, dance a bit. Liston cannot afford to try to cruise behind the jab, he needs to go at a pace and wing in body shots to break Holyfield up.

This one's 50-50.

 

Bu-hump.

 

Not really because we are talking about a PRIME Liston! When facing Holyfield in 1996, Tyson was hardly at his peak!

 

Comparisons are not implications that two things are identical.

 

Liston's reach is not going to be the deciding factor here. Holyfield is used to fighting guys with longer reaches. The guys he fought with long reaches were also very tall... Liston was shorter than Holyfield... that takes away from the reach a little, also takes a little something off the punches when you have to punch up.

Holyfield is faster, has better footwork, has a higher workrate, has one of the best chins ever, and is probably stronger than Liston. If Liston does land jab he will get hit in return... if he misses Holyfield will counter.

Sure, Liston used the jab more and his jab was harder. What else does he bring? He hit a little harder, so what?

I'm not saying it will be a walk in the park but I do think Holyfield would break him down and stop him late.