Sonny Liston 1959 vs Gentleman Gerry Cooney 1982,

Cooney has a puncher's chance, but I see this as an early night for Sonny. Liston took some bombs from Cleveland Williams before finishing him early twice. I envision a Liston-Cooney fight looking like the 1990 Foreman-Cooney fight. Gerry lands a few good blows in the opening round, but the rest of the fight is Liston's. Liston KO in 2.

 

Cooney by time he fought Foreman, was coming off a loss to a light heavy and had one fight in 4 years. Foreman was on his 19th comeback fight, no way is someone going to take the power of Foreman not having faced or trained seriously in 4 years. Cooney is live in this, having said that his chin wasn't great and when hurt he was abysmal. Sonny would probably Ko him, but Cooney's big Hook and size superiority gives him a punchers chance. Liston looked small vs Ali, he would be look even smaller against 6'6 Cooney.

 

Are you sure you mean 1959 or 1969?

The 1959 Liston was at/near peak and he would maul Cooney. Come on, Liston is twice the puncher Holmes was, has an equally potent jab, and while Liston was slowish compared to Holmes, speed won't matter vs a relatively slow fighter like Cooney.

I can see peak Cooney beating the Liston that Leotis Martin beat in 1969.

But 1959? Even Ali would have a tougher time vs 1959 Liston, who was just about at his peak. There are maybe 10 heavyweights in history who could have beaten 1959 Liston.

 

Even 10's a stretch imo. Ali is the only one I'd confidently favor

 

I honestly can’t see Gerry Cooney doing very much against Liston. As one person already mentioned he might have a puncher’s chance. But Cooney simply couldn’t take a meaningful punch from a guy like Sonny. And while he had a lot of height over Liston, it was Sonny who actually had the longer arms and a much better jab.

 

Gerry could fight. But he couldn’t fight back.

By which I mean, was he ever involved in an exchange in his entire career? If you took the play away from him, he did not engage — he avoided or evaded or waited it out ... and then he threw back.

Sonny would take the play away, much like Holmes but with less finesse and more brute strength. That jab would be a big factor.

I think Cooney is a live underdog with anyone because I believe his power (in his left hook) was legit, especially to the body. But I like Sonny by late-round TKO here.

 

I gotta ask. Rich are you Gerrys brother or daughter or something?

 

Sonny by KO in 1. The first knockdown is caused by a jab.

 

I agree 10 is a stretch. I think 10 guys theoretically have a chance to beat him becuase any great heavyweight can beat another on their day.

I would favour Ali, Louis and Foreman over Liston (although Liston has a very good chance vs Louis and Foreman, less so vs Ali)

I would favour Liston to stop any of the swarmers (Frazier, Marciano, Tyson, although they all have a punchers chance, can't discount them)

Liston-Holmes is close and could go either way. Liston probably starches Lewis but Lewis is a big powerful heavy with a big punch, so he has a punchers chance.

Liston has too many weapons vs Holyfield and would most likely win.

Liston would maul Wlad but his brother Vitali would have a chance due to his durability. Still, i favour Liston over Vitali.

So yes, overall, i would only slightly favour 3 guys over Liston while the other 7 or so are underdogs with a chance.

 

Liston via brutal destruction.

 

Cooney is a pretty good fighter, but he has a better shot vs the likes of Briggs, Morrison, Coetzee, Bruno etc, i.e. hard other hard hitters with limitations to their game. I have a hard time seeing Cooney beating any ATG unless they walk into a left hook (highly unlikely)

Liston is not just a hard hitter but extremely well rounded despite not being quick.

 

Brutal destructions aren't that nice.

 

Liston and it ain't even close. Liston destroys him.