Prime Sonny Liston vs Prime Ezzard Charles

At their absolute primes, I’d favor Sonny Liston over Ezzard Charles, but Charles would give him a much more sophisticated fight than Liston’s reputation as merely a huge puncher suggests.

Assume 1950–51 Ezzard Charles at roughly 185–190 lb versus 1959–62 Sonny Liston around 210–215 lb.


How they match up
Charles has major advantages in mobility, combination punching, and tactical adaptability. Prime Charles was an exceptionally complete boxer. He could slip and counter, change angles, fight moving backward, attack the body, and adjust his tactics during a fight. He would be considerably quicker than Liston.


Charles also wouldn't simply stand in front of Liston like Floyd Patterson did. I’d expect him to circle, make Liston reset, counter Liston's jab, and occasionally step inside after Liston extended rather than trying to trade bombs from midrange.


But Liston presents some unusually bad physical problems for him.
Liston's jab is probably the decisive weapon. It wasn't merely a range-finding jab—it was extremely heavy.

Charles would be giving up roughly:
20–30 pounds
substantial reach
physical strength
one-punch power
probably durability as well


And Liston was technically good enough to exploit those advantages. He could establish the jab, force Charles toward the ropes, then throw the right hand and enormous left hook.
Charles had a very good chin at his peak, but he wasn't indestructible. Elmer Ray stopped him, and Lloyd Marshall stopped him earlier in his career. Later, Marciano eventually knocked him out after Charles had absorbed tremendous punishment.

Liston is one of the last heavyweights I'd want a 185-pound Charles repeatedly absorbing clean punches from.


Charles's path to winning
It isn't negligible. Charles could potentially produce something resembling the kind of intelligent boxing Eddie Machen used against Liston—except Charles was a greater overall fighter than Machen.


He'd need to:
Keep Liston turning instead of retreating straight backward.
Slip outside the jab and immediately counter.
Attack Liston's body.
Avoid extended exchanges.
Make Liston lead and miss rather than letting Liston methodically walk him down.
For several rounds, I think Charles might look brilliant. He could even have Liston frustrated and behind on points early.


The problem is sustaining that for 15 rounds against Liston's pressure and jab. Liston doesn't need Charles to make many mistakes. Charles needs to avoid serious mistakes almost continuously.


My prediction
15 rounds: Liston by TKO around rounds 9–12, roughly 65–35 Liston.


I can envision Charles winning a decision perhaps 3 or 4 times out of 10, particularly if he gets Liston into a tactical rather than physical contest. I don't see Charles stopping prime Liston very often.


What's interesting is that I would actually give prime Charles a better chance against Liston than Patterson had, despite Patterson being heavier and probably having greater raw hand speed. Charles was much better equipped tactically for this particular problem. Patterson's peek-a-boo entries brought him directly into Liston's artillery; Charles was far more capable of changing the geometry of the fight.


So:
Skill: Charles
Speed: Charles
Footwork: Charles
Combination punching: Charles
Adaptability: Charles
Jab: Liston
Power: Liston by a lot
Strength: Liston
Reach/range: Liston
Durability: Liston


Overall matchup: Liston TKO 10–11
This would be nothing like Liston–Patterson. Charles is good enough that Liston would have to genuinely solve him.