Probably Liston on points, he was quicker, had a great jab and could be able to simply sit back and beat him to the punch at range.
90's Foreman got beat by Tommy Morrison, went life and death with Alex Stewart, was outboxed by Axel Schulz and barely scrapped by Lou Savarese. He ain't beating prime Liston.
Sonny is too much. I don't think he'd stop the more conservative version of Foreman tho. I could be wrong.
Yeah I agree with what most have said -- I'm taking Liston by decision. Liston's jab is so underrated, and against a flat-footed, ambling fighter like 90s Foreman, it would blind him, push him, prevent him angles, control the center line, and keep Big George from setting his feet to throw those clubbing shots. Foreman was stationary by design, and Liston had six inches of reach on him, so I'd think he'd keep George at the end of that and pop him when his guard opened. I think Foreman would land some heavy counters, but Liston would be durable enough to take them. Honestly I think the most comparable fight would be Foreman-Holyfield. Liston had decent head movement and good glove discipline, and he was patient enough to nag Foreman for most of the fight and just mix in short body shots and hooks upstairs when he's got Foreman off-balance and off-rhythm. He'd also work off the jab for the whole thing. Liston by UD.
Foreman literally sparred the guy and noted his physical strength and jab lol. Just strange all around
Prime Liston’s jab is what wins the day here. I’ll give old George a chance at surviving the distance as he had a very effective defense, solid chin and wisely conserved his energy. Liston might get tagged with some big punches that rock him momentarily. In the end I can see Foreman being bloody and swollen at the final bell but still standing.
There's no way Foreman survives this, as others have accurately pointed out prime Sonny ain't Axel Schultz.
2nd career George was the better version imo. Cast iron chin and smart fighter in his own way. I think he weathers an early storm and tags Liston mid to late rounds for a Moorer like KO. The primed and ready old George that is! The one who came in like against Double M, Morrison and Holyfield.
I literally addressed that in my post. Foreman said a lot of things. Meanwhile Liston got murked by Ali, a noted featherfist.
George would learn Sonny wouldn't be moved early, and the two would trade shattering shots in the first couple of rounds. George walks into the jab one too many times in the 4th and starts trying to trade lefts, which leads to some memorable exchanges and extends the fight. George is misjudging distances because of Liston's reach, getting hit with the right too much in the 7th and nearly floored toward the end, a straight right he didn't see lands almost square on the button. Liston is landing more with George holding (!) in the 9th, the latter staggering around the ring on one occasion in the last couple of rounds. At the end of 12 it's quite unanimously, decisively Liston's show.
Foreman between 87 - 91 knocks Sonnys head clean off his shoulders. There's a very specific strategy to beat Foreman and coming forward face first isn't it. If the jab doesn't take him out first the sidewinder uppercut leaves him in a crumpled heap