Sonny Liston 1970s

I do think those would be bad fights. Chuvalo and Quarry would be good options for Liston though.

 

I think he would have had a punchers chance against Ellis for the title between 1968-1970.

 

A prime Williams would've killed a 1970 Sonny.

 

Yeah but Obviously Williams wasn't prime in 1970. I think Dubble meant that any Liston is better than the corresponding Williams.

 

Gotcha. I would probably agree in that case.

 

Quarry and bonavena would have ****ed 1970s Liston. Lyle would have knocked him out

 

Jerry Quarry would've needed a blood transfusion after a fight with Liston. Quarry never saw a punch he didn't eat.

Bonavena and Lyle probably beat him in the early 70s. But, who knows. Lyle was still a novice. And they didn't exactly knock out a bunch of names themselves in the early 70s.

Toss-up. Liston against any of the contenders of the early 70s would've been a toss-up. He wins some, he loses some. Because most of them weren't all that great, themselves. Just the select few at the top.

 

quarry would have beaten 1970s liston like a mangy rat to a merciful stoppage by the referee, mismatch.
And even prime vs prime lyle would be a hell for liston.. so your " toss-up" is very funny

 

Agreed, he blasted Martin to the canvas but he ran outta gas way early. Even an old Sonny matched up very well with some of the 70's guys who weren't movers, Chuvalo ,Bonavena if he was in condition, but as you pointed out his partying lifestyle was his greatest enemy . Style wise I'd pick a younger Liston to destroy Joe Frazier in about 5 though , he's tailor made for Sonny

 

Liston was nearly 50 when he died. So he was way past his prime. But a prime Liston beats all those you mentioned.And he beats Frazier with ease. His toughest fight would be Foreman, but Liston is still the better boxer.

 

The 90's was HW's greatest era !!!

 

Liston would have been in his 50's in the 70's.

 

Even as old as he was, Liston was still a better boxer than Quarry.
And prime vs prime, Liston beats Lyle.

 

I’d give the edge to Quarry in 70 (prime for prime it’s no contest). Lyle shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath. I’d give him zero chance of scoring a win

 

This is an interesting topic!

It is a little odd to me that Joe didn't fight Liston when the latter was still active (especially when SL was actually doing pretty damn well). I think a lot of people might have just had enough of Liston after the second fight, and mistrusted him.

That said, I just can't see the 35+ Liston beating prime Joe Frazier (though I'm going to take the time to rewatch many SL videos due to the insight of a member I respect here).

Liston DID have a terrific jab, which would have given Joe fits. But Joe didn't give up, and that hook was both fast and relentless, too.