Roles reversed, Muhammad Ali (Lyle fight) vs Prime Sonny Liston

I think the Liston of the late 1950’s busts him up pretty bad, honestly.

 

I think after 1972 right up to probably the Lyle fight, as Ali has some of his fluidity of movement back, he has the speed, confidence and nous to handle Liston.

Liston was a wrecking machine but he simply didn't beat anyone comparable to Ali of speed and size combination and Ali's handspeed swelled him up in the first fight - a motivated Ali isn't going to watch Sonny taking the division apart and then take him lightly in a fight.

If Liston was quick on his feet and cut off the ring, I would temper my opinion. I just don't think he had the right skillset to handle an Ali that could move and box.

 

I see those two as tops as well but some would argue Lewis, Holmes, Holyfield...

 

Fair enough honestly. I’m looking at it from an exact mirror, where Ali is a massive favourite & undersells Liston as happened in reverse. Norton got that Ali, I think Liston could, too.

 

Ah - I'm with you here on this one, but I suppose I caveat that due to Liston's demeanour and the way that he tore through the division, I struggle to see Ali not get up for the fight in fight camp, during the press conferences and especially, in the ring.

Yes, if he doesn't give Sonny his due respect, he could very well be down on the cards, lacking the KO/room spinning punch to change the fight like he did with Lyle. Unfortunately, I think Sonny is too good for Ali to not bring his A game and at that point of his career, I think his A game was still too good/quick and slippery for Sonny.

 

It’s an interesting battle if Ali takes him as seriously as he did Foreman.

 

Patterson-ending Liston would be too on for this fight to end in anything but a clear decision for Liston.

Had Liston been prime in 1975, the heavyweight title would have been very interesting. He'd fight and probably beat post-traumatic-Zaire Foreman, Frazier, and certainly Norton. I think at this point only the young upcomer Holmes would be a problem after Sonny held the title a few years.

You know what would be an interesting fight? Foreman-defeating Jimmy Young against prime Sonny.

 

This, plus its a stupid comparison to begin with since Ali got into boxing later (more wear and tear and damage and associated with an earlier peak), and Ali had a style that aged worse

 

To make it a true role reversal, Ali would have to be at the same degraded skill level as Sonny was respectively when he fought Ali. Liston had more of his skills left than Ali did comparatively in the Lyle fight.

 

How far are we gonna take this for authenticity LOL. Does Ali come in with a bad shoulder & Willie Reddish as his cornerman?

 

Cant forget the melanin reversal, Sonny was slightly darker so he would intake more of the light and get hotter easier.

 

Any Iteration from 64 Ali to Yankee Stadium Ali wins.

 

Yes & I’d like to see Ali as the aggressor & Liston dancing out of range.

 

LOLOL

 

Somebody make a deepfake of Liston screaming hysterically that he shook up the world with Joe Louis next to him.