Send in your 175-199 pound fighter to outbox/stop 1958 Sonny Liston

Marshall ran away and didn't win a round. its hard to stop someone who is just there to survive.Whitehurst was trying to get back in the ring after Sonny had belted him out of it,the final bell saved him from a ko.

 

I doubt Tunney had any real intentions of fighting Wills.

 

The way a fighter can control an opponent with excellent
movement is with the "stick" or jab.
Prime Liston had a great jab , one of the best in the
history of the sport at heavyweight.
Outside of prime Ali, I don't believe many heavyweights
had the type of speed to keep prime Liston in check.
Especially when considering Liston in his prime which
was between 1958 to about 1962 -63.
I don't believe any fighter with a weight lower than 190
would have much of a chance against prime Liston.
Yes I know Marshall was reported around 180
lbs, but 1st he didn't fight prime Liston, 2nd
it seemed more of a stylistic issue with Marshall.
Doesn't mean anyone else would have the same success.
Fighters like Tunney, Conn , Walcott, probably even
Charles would slowly but surely get ground down by him.

 

Bivol. He's gonna be as frustrating AF for Sonny to hunt down.

In that vein, pretty sure Usyk could have made 199lb

 

All four of these guys --Tunney, Conn, Walcott and Charles -- were tough, great fighters who moved well. I give each of them a chance against Liston.

 

I don't see anyone mentioned who I think could beat Sonny Liston, extreme long shot.

 

The thing is, if those guys could survive double efforts against Liston, it means that all the fighters I mentioned above have very good chances of repeating it as well.

Sonny's record is lacking against fast, defensively proficient boxers. There is the ko over Folley and the UD over Machen and not much else. Patterson was a mid-close range counter puncher so I wouldn't count him either.

There is absolutely nothing to show that Conn, Walcott, Tunney or Charles couldn't make it against Sonny, by Liston's record alone.

 

I’m going to start a thread called “ send in your best strawweight to beat 1989 Bobby Crabtree with Bob Hope as referee, an extra small ring and Rosie O’Donell as the round card girl “

 

Dempsey, Langford, Tunney, Schmeling, Jeanette, Sharkey, Walcott, Conn, Marciano, Charles all capable of beating Liston in my opinion.

 

Dempsey,Conn and Tunnney could.
Walccot and Young would beat him and I would pick Holyfield over Liston.
Holyfield went toe to toe with Bowe,Lewis,Foreman,Botha,Mercer,Tyson...and won most of the fights.
I would also pick Marciano and Spinks over him but only if Spinks isn't scared.
Marshall made Liston akward, Leotis LHW outboxed him and both of these are journeymans.

 

I’d consider Dempsey-Liston a 50-50 proposition.

 

Can I just shred Ali down to 199? He was only 206 for their first fight.

If I can't do that, maybe Gene Tunney? Jack Dempsey? Walcott? Cruiser weight Holyfield?

 

I’d be fascinated to see Dempsey-Liston. I’m not too confident whether Liston’s disruptive & punishing jab, fairly sharp technical skills, & greater range would win the day, or if Dempsey’s faster early-rounds assault & higher octane offense would prove fatal.

There’s so much punching power in that ring we’re sure to get at least one all-time classic round, IMO.

 

Fitzsimmons!

....I'll see myself out.