prime sonny liston v prime evander holyfield ?

Liston KO or one sided UD

 

Tough fight to call.

I don't think Liston can knock out the iron chin bed Holyfield so then the question becomes can he win by decision? And l think the answer to that question is no. So then it forces me to pick Holyfield by decision.

 

I think Liston can take Holy's best and stop or outpont him.

 

This one is a classic. If evander gets too much brave he could get stopped,if he fights smart he should win a confortable decision

 

Big bear Sonny Liston.

 

Very tough to call this.

Holy has the edge in hand speed, Liston has the edge in power.

Holy quite often mixed it up inside and whilst that worked with a declined Tyson I can't see it working with a prime Tyson nor a prime Liston.

I could imagine the first fight going like Holy v Bowe 1 did. Holy forcing exchanges inside but coming off second best nearly every time.

If Holy fought as he did in the Bowe rematch, with footwork and very quick combinations before leaving range, if he can fight like that he can beat Bowe. Big if though.

Since this is a prime for prime matchup I have to say Holyfield has the tools to defeat Liston and he has shown he can use these tools to defeat great opposition so if he fought to this game plan he would win imo.

 

Off the top of my head, I would say Liston, but remembering Holy beat Tyson twice, I would say too close to call. I could envision Holy outworking Liston and winning a UD.

 

Athletes did not use steroids in the 1950's ( except some bodybuilders and weight lifters) plus no GH back then. Holy would be 190lbs at most.

Liston wins by KO easily.

 

Well the op clearly meant the matchup up to be with a roided Holy vs a roided Liston.

 

I've always felt that, out of heavyweight history, if you were looking for a perfect opponent to stop Evander Holyfield, Sonny Liston would have been it. Sonny was exactly the kind of opponent, Holyfield struggled so much against and, if I could draw a parallel between this fight and any other from his career, it would most likely have been the first Lewis fight. However the difference I expect is that it would have been significantly more intense and it wouldn't go the distance. Evander Holyfield was a great champion and a man of exceptional boxing skill. But considering his mentality, he was a fighter first and foremost, and this is what would cause his demise in this match.

The Match:

Round 1: they both start at slower pace, Liston taking the center of the ring, jabbing and looking for his opening and Holyfield relaxed, staying out, moving well and trying jab with him early. Both are cautious in the beginning not wanting to make any mistakes. Near the end of the round Liston goes for a right hand lead, but Holyfield times him, weaves and gets through with a solid left hook counter, which gets his attention. 10-9 Holyfield

Round 2: starts in similar fashion with Evander staying on the outside, moving laterally and trying to box and Liston intense, just looking for his opportunity. He notices that Holyfield may be getting a little to comfortable early and at one moment suddenly he steps in, cracks him with a 1-2, right hand gets through the guard and there's the knock down. It's flash and Holyfield isn't hurt, but he now realizes in no uncertain terms who he's up against here. Liston dominates the rest of the round and looks to get him with a couple of more big shots, but Holyfield is ready for them. 10-8 Liston

Round 3: Liston takes the initiative now and opens up with a jab and two crushing body hooks which definitely hurt Evander. He goes quickly for another assault but gets tied up in the clinch. Holyfield takes advantage here and gets him with a solid uppercut just as they break up but Liston takes it well. Moments after they both come in with a 1-2, but Liston follows up with a killer left hook which only just misses. He pushes forward again and gets Holyfield on the ropes where he lands few more solid body shots as the round ends. 10-9 Liston

Round 4: Liston taking the center again, looking to unleash his attack and turn this into a brawl. But at one moment he over commits as he lunges with a left hand, misses, goes of balance and Holyfield catches him with a short right hand on the temple which hurts him. Liston covers up as Holyfield now comes after him. He fires in a 1-2 then a left hook to the body and another to the head and another right hook after it, but Liston manages to weather the storm, he blocks most of that well and ties him up after the last shot. After the break Holyfield tries to unleash again but is met by a stiff jab which stops him in his tracks for the moment. He finishes strong non the less and gets through with another combo right on the bell. 10-9 Holyfield.

Round 5: Liston is now recovered and he starts powering forward again, but more cautiously this time around. He comes through with a double jab - right hand which sends Holyfield backwards. Liston follows him on the ropes looking to open up, but Holyfield moves out well. Evander now with a left hand of his own, but Liston walks right through it and cracks him with a solid left hook counter and now an exchange breaks out and he gets the better of it. Another exchange as the round ends and again it goes to Liston. 10-9 Liston

Round 6: starts very aggressively. Holyfield wastes no time and nails Liston with a solid left hook lead, but Sonny takes it and fires right back. Now a fight is breaking out and this is exactly what Holyfield doesn't need. They get into another trade where Liston gets through with a huge right hook which rocks Holyfield as they clinch up. The referee breaks them up, but Evander now is seriously shaken. Sonny picks up on that immediately and takes full advantage. Quickly he steps in, fakes a jab and crushes him with a crippling right hand lead and Holyfield goes down hard. He manages to beat the count, but only just and now Liston is all over him. He bulls him on the ropes and unleashes. A short right to the temple sends Holyfield stumbling to the side as Liston jumps right after him and fires in another wide left hook which drops Evander again. Miraculously he picks him self up again, but he is out on his feet now and this match is all but over. Another quick barrage by Liston finished by a big left uppercut after which the ref jumps in to stop it as Holyfield sinks down again.

Liston by TKO in 6.

 

That's the thing with cross era fights, you aren't giving fighters a level playing field. Liston is a natural heavyweight who trained in the traditional way; no weights, no supplements etc. He was still strong and broad shouldered, a bigger puncher by far than Holyfield.

Now give him the same "help" Holyfield got and he is a stone heavier, even bigger in the upper body and neck. He's a totally different Sonny Liston! There's a poster on here called Jowcol who brings this point up constantly, and he's right; there are too many imponderables and variables and the modern fighter gets all the advantages, if they are that.

If you are making a match up I think it should be on the basis of ability alone. An imaginary fight should factor in all things being equal in terms of preparation, training, diet etc.

And on that basis I would pick Liston, but in a hard fight.

 

We are debating just like they were in the real world. Not in your fantasy land

 

Dude, calm down. Just because, someone picks a fighter, you dislike, it doesn't mean you have to verbally attack them.