Put a prime Sonny Liston in the 70s...

1)Remember that I'm not saying that Tommy Morrison was even close to being better than Liston but he did, in fact, punch harder than Liston. I was simply saying that if Morrison could hit Foreman in the head again and again and again with his signature punch and not KO him than what chance would anyone else have?

2) Remember that we are talking about Foreman and Liston IN THEIR PRIMES...Post-Ali Foreman was shot psychologically, making this kind of performance against Lyle and others possible.

 

Nortons particular skillset made him a nightmare for "boxers". This was proven vs both Ali and Holmes, the latter even when Norton was on the slide. Liston by contrast IMO was going to have more trouble vs boxers than other styles.

I'm not sure there's much difference between intimidating and psyching out. Many people have been intimidated in the ring and not ran.

Regardless it's a better fight than the actual schooling by Clay. I still don't see Sonny winning, tho i can see how some might.

 

No no man, I actually hear Liston's prime was when he was in prison. Sadly, we never got to see that fighter grace because the man was trying to put him down.

 

Funny you say that, because I seem to remember Liston going "out" from a punch that no one believes could've knocked him out. To make things worse, he afterward said "I ain't getting up against that man, he is crazy".

If that doesn't define "he would run", then I don't know what does.

Look at this picture and tell me with a straight face that Liston wasn't intimidated:

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Ali in the 70's had slowed a bit, but the Ali of the rematches against Norton and Frazier would still have Liston hitting mostly air in the early rounds. As I see it that Ali still had the movement to confound Liston more times the not, had quick hands and reflexes as well as sharp punches, and could ride out just about any rough spot. He was also a lot more wily and experienced than the young Clay.

I can't see how this wouldn't be enough against even a prime Liston.

 

Sonny loses by a decision to Jimmy Young IMO.

 

:bart

 

He would clean out the top 10, briefly win the title when he finally gets his shot, and lose it to an upstart Holmes. He'd probably fight and beat lots of tough high risk fighters like Quarry, Young, Lyle, and Shavers..but doubtful he'd be matched up against rebuilding Foreman, battle weary Frazier, and possibly even Ali who was winding down and finally out by 78 after some WBC weirdness. Liston would probably beat Young or Norton for the vacant WBC belt, maybe Tate for the WBA, but drop the belts in his first or second defense. I always found this decade transplat stuff to be rubbish, fighters will only go as far as they are willing and capable of going. Winners will always be winners, and losers will always be losers.