Quote from a young Mike Tyson on Sonny Liston

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by ChrisPontius, Dec 8, 2007.


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  1. ChrisPontius

    ChrisPontius March 8th, 1971 Full Member

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    Tyson: "Liston, basically, depended on intimidation, when he fought, he basically intimidated his opponents, they were intimidated even before he got in the ring, he was a massive guy and on all the circuits he was just awesome, plus he punched. And basically, when he fought someone like Muhammad Ali who wasn't intimidated, he became intimidated."


    Here is the link, it's at about 6 and a half minutes into the video:

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    By the way, his trainer says: "He [Liston] hit his best sparring partner, and his headgear flew off, but we thought his head blew off". :lol:
    Doesn't sound like they were telling the sparring partners to slow down because they thought Liston had lost a step, at all.
     
    ChrisPontius, Dec 8, 2007
    ChrisPontius, Dec 8, 2007
    #1
  2. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    So your disagreeing with Larry Merchant, a man who was their live at the time? are you more of an expert than larry merchant?


    merchant said back in 1982 that listons trainer told him that he had to tell the sparring partners before the ali fight to slow it down to make sonny appear faster, for a confidence boost.....because sonny had slowed down so much in his punches.
     
    SuzieQ49, Dec 8, 2007
    SuzieQ49, Dec 8, 2007
    #2
  3. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    watch 1958 sonny liston vs a 1964-65 sonny liston. amazing different in speed and sharpness.

    watch liston vs whitehurst
     
    SuzieQ49, Dec 8, 2007
    SuzieQ49, Dec 8, 2007
    #3
  4. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Kevin McBride would look fast and sharp in contrast to Whitehurst, another of the "giants" Liston demolished.
     
    Seamus, Dec 8, 2007
    Seamus, Dec 8, 2007
    #4
  5. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    Kevin Mcbride boxes at the same gym as me(petronell's). Great dude. he is funny as hell.


    Listons handspeed/sharpness as nothing to do with Whitehursts skill level, so I dont know what your implying
     
    SuzieQ49, Dec 8, 2007
    SuzieQ49, Dec 8, 2007
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  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Young Tyson on Jack Johnson: "You wouldn't have to take a laxative to fall asleep watching Jack Johnson fight."

    But Tyson had a lot to say about fighters that was smart; I don't want to denigrate him...I just think that as far as Liston and here, Johnson went, he knew nothing worth repeating.
     
    McGrain, Dec 8, 2007
    McGrain, Dec 8, 2007
    #6
  7. ChrisPontius

    ChrisPontius March 8th, 1971 Full Member

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    Yes, i do.

    Want to know what else Merchant said? That Liston was genuinely KO'd by Ali's phantom punch. Do you believe that too?


    Every piece of documentation that i have found, BEFORE the Clay fight report that Liston looks awesome, etc. It is only after the fight when the excuses came.
     
    ChrisPontius, Dec 8, 2007
    ChrisPontius, Dec 8, 2007
    #7
  8. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I take Chris P over Larry M every day of the week.
     
    McGrain, Dec 8, 2007
    McGrain, Dec 8, 2007
    #8
  9. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    over a 1980s larry merchant who wasnt old and drunk?
     
    SuzieQ49, Dec 8, 2007
    SuzieQ49, Dec 8, 2007
    #9
  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    ...yeah. Basically Chris has shown me a lot of interesting and illuminating stuff, he's right 95% of the time. Merchant hasn't shown me anything.
     
    McGrain, Dec 8, 2007
    McGrain, Dec 8, 2007
    #10
  11. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Does Merchant drink?
     
    McGrain, Dec 8, 2007
    McGrain, Dec 8, 2007
    #11
  12. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Most of Joe Louis's opponents were beaten mentaly before they got into the ring but if they wernt the outcome was the same.

    Motivation in a fighter can decline as quickly as handspeed. A guy who is a hero in his prime can turn coward when he is slipping.

    The pertinent question is "wat if Liston had to fight young Casius Clay for the title and not Flloyd Patterson?

    It might be more up in the air than some people think.
     
    janitor, Dec 8, 2007
    janitor, Dec 8, 2007
    #12
  13. baguettesurgeon

    baguettesurgeon Member Full Member

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    Does Hopkins like money?
     
    baguettesurgeon, Dec 8, 2007
    baguettesurgeon, Dec 8, 2007
    #13
  14. red cobra

    red cobra Loyal Member Full Member

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    Amen.
     
    red cobra, Dec 9, 2007
    red cobra, Dec 9, 2007
    #14
  15. sonnylistonmich

    sonnylistonmich New Member Full Member

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    The fight that never took place because of the hernia Ali already had for months. Liston was in such shape, he was the Liston of the fifties again. Jerry Isenberg, Jack McKinney knew that he would have killed Clay . Remember this is only after a few months after Malcolm X was killed. People lose perspective. The nation of Islam guys were all hardened criminals murderers and ****** and violent. They threatened Liston his wife and family. Common, who was Liston going to go to for help? the Mob ? The police? Think out side the box and in the context of the times
     
    sonnylistonmich, Jul 15, 2011
    sonnylistonmich, Jul 15, 2011
    #15
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