Rocky Marciano vs Sonny Liston

He really is not. Liston is far too much for Rocky.

Patterson versus Rocky would be a much better fight.

 

In this case I think the line styles make fights is absolutely correct. If Liston could choose an opponent that stylistically suited him, he would choose a short slow footed man , a man he outweighed by30lbs, a man with a tiny reach , no jab, and a tendency to cut,a man who was not hard to hit. . A man who, because of his stature had to always trundle forward into the guns.

 

Liston probably did have the styles and athletic talent to beat Marciano, but they both took their respective choices at the end of the day.

Marciano chose to fight all the most qualified contenders, and devote himself religiously to his preparations.

Liston chose to pi55 his title up against a wall.

That is why Maciano won the ultimate fight, which is the battle for historical standing.

 

Your missing out two key elements of course, proven two handed power, and proven cast iron jaw. That's not an easy night for anyone even allowing for all obvious physical advantages.

Rocky was awkward too. Awkward to nail. Effectively awkward landing punches. Sure Rocky has weakness but far more experienced fighters than Liston could not crack his style and exploit them.

 

I don't see how you can say this, Liston cleaned out a division, took on the best challenger and many people's no1 of all time and got beat and quit but he wasn't going to win anyway because he was being dominated. Marciano may have been behind in fights but his strength was stamina, this wasn't Liston's strength. He also never encountered a prime Ali.

 

2 handed power doesn't count for much if you're being constantly beat to the punch by a bigger heavier stronger puncher who can knock you out.

 

Rockys chin certainly wasn't tested by a puncher of Listons caliber.

 

Liston did not clean out the division. Where was Ingo Johansson, Chuvalo, Terrell and Doug Jones on his resume?

Sure it's not Sonnys fault that these fights were not made but he fought Howard King twice and Albert quick fall westphal within his prime.

His best wins were Harris, Folley, Machen and Patterson. It's a short resume. Lesser champions have a deeper body of work.

That's not mentioning the quit jobs.

 

Liston came in a straight line, he was not a beat you to the punch kind of guy. He was a hunter. Yes that's a problem for Rocky but it's also a problem for Sonny that Marciano was both awkward to hit clean and dangerous. You can't afford to over reach or miss Rocky on the way in because he comes out of that crouch with power in both hands. He also took a punch better than the guys Sonny beat too. Yes, Problems for both fighters but remember,, of the two great fighters only one of them never quit.

 

His jab, compact punching and underrated speed beats a slower smaller man to the punch though.

Rocky was somewhat hard to hit clean yes, but not that hard, he's no Pernell Whitaker.

When Rocky comes forward he inevitably opens himself up to uppercuts, left hooks and overhand rights from a bigger technical puncher

I respect Marciano and what he achieved but this match up simply doesn't suit him.

Agreed that Marciano was tougher with more heart but with all the disadvantages he has I don't how it factors in.

 

Liston took the Ali fight with a shoulder injury, and stayed up late drinking the night before the fight.

That is why he was getting dominated.

If Ali hadn’t beaten him, then somebody else would before too long.

Not to say that he would have won if he had taken the fight seriously, but he couldn’t have done any worse for trying.

 

Liston only really lost to a man I consider in the top ten fighters of history.

No shame in that.

Had Liston been born when Louis was I think he replicates his career almost to the letter.

 

Unfortunately it has no relevance to who wins this matchup.

 

An ancient Joe Louis in his last fight ,boxing from memory ,had no trouble jabbing Marciano and marked him up. A prime Liston busts his tender skin wide open.

Marciano quit boxing in his prime , had he continued way past it as Liston did, we may have seen that 49-0 looking a bit different.

 

Liston really is an enigma. But undeniably an incredible talent.