Ray Mercer vs Sonny Liston

JohnThomas1 · Jun 27, 2023

Pugguy said: ↑

Totally.

IMO, Liston was a boxer/puncher, at the high end of the spectrum for that category type with terrific boxing IQ to go.

As to Ray, does the description - a slugger with good skills suffice or is that a disservice?

Anyway, compared to Ray, Sonny has many more strategic options at his disposal, based on his style, power, jab (an entity in its own right) and very well rounded skill set.

Liston can punch it out if necessary or pull it back to methodical boxing with still formidable power behind each and every punch. Either way, all available roads lead to a Liston victory.

Sonny would intelligently read the situation if Mercer exhibited a chin that wasn’t going to cave too soon or too easily.

Rather than letting it all hang out in the early rounds, punching in futility and unnecessarily burning his tank, Sonny would lean more into boxer mode, whilst still punching very hard and incrementally breaking Mercer down over a number of rounds.

One of my favourite fights of Liston’s is vs Besmanoff.

Imo, had Liston chosen to really put the pedal to the metal, he could’ve gotten Besmanoff out of there sooner - and perhaps by clean KO.

Instead, Liston took it as easy as you please, boxing beautifully, picking his shot, taking his opponent apart, piece by piece with controlled power punches.
Click to expand...

A fine summation.

Pugguy · Jun 27, 2023

JohnThomas1 said: ↑

A fine summation.
Click to expand...

Cheers.

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Ray Mercer vs Sonny Liston

Who wins and how

Liston KO/TKO

Mercer KO/TKO

Liston UD

Mercer UD

Liston SD

Mercer SD

Draw

JohnThomas1 VIP Member

Pugguy Ingo, The Thinking Man’s GOAT Full Member

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Ray Mercer vs Sonny Liston

Who wins and how

Liston KO/TKO

Mercer KO/TKO

Liston UD

Mercer UD

Liston SD

Mercer SD

Draw

JohnThomas1 VIP Member

Pugguy Ingo, The Thinking Man’s GOAT Full Member