Sonny Liston Circa 1964 V Rocky Marciano Circa 1955

This is 64 Liston, his only exposure in the ring that year being his one fight vs Clay (later Ali).

That version of Liston was somewhat complacent, apparently not trained to the minute with very few rounds under his belt in the last 2 years or so.

These specific features may or may not make much of a difference for some. I only mention same due to some people giving Rocky a better chance of victory IF he could manage to last into the middle rounds.

The exact 64 version of Liston we did see did not appear to be ideally equipped for a long and arduous fight.

Of course that won’t matter to those calculating for a 5-6 round win via KO/TKO for Liston.

There is also the consideration of what state of substantive disrepair Rocky might be in even if he hangs tough to see the middle rounds.

I’ll add that Liston could fire shorter, powerful shots in close as and when necessary, so he wouldn’t be totally negated even if Rocky could force a super up close and personal battle for every second of the fight - but I don’t believe Rocky could keep it as close as he’d like at any rate - Liston’s jab not being the least cause for Rocky not being able to get inside as much as he’d prefer.

Just imo, 64 Liston has got this, winning by KO/TKO, 5-6 rounds tops.

 

I agree. Since this is '64 Liston though, Rocky has a puncher's chance.

 

This is the year Sonny lost to Ali, I'd say even that Sonny beats Marciano. I don't think any prime or "slightly" post prime version of Sonny loses to Marciano. The Sonny on the way up would stop Marciano brutally IMO

 

There was no QUIT in Rocky Marciano....Liston takes more punches in this fight than ever before...if Sonny QUIT against the light hitting Cassius Clay in 1964 & 1965...then Rocky will give him a reason to QUIT...Marciano was not lacking in HEART!!!

 

I think this would be a great fight, but I ultimately favor Liston, mainly because he’s got a foot and a half of reach and lots of power behind it with a great jab.

However this is the Liston that fought Clay for the title in February with a shoulder injury, Marciano could conceivably weather the storm and win this in the late rounds. 1955 Marciano is easily the most technically sound Marciano (although not the most physically primed), and would do much better in the late rounds, if he makes it there.

64 Liston would still be the biggest, strongest guy Marciano ever faced, and could definitely cause Marciano serous trouble, even stop him, but he never had the stamina even the 55 version Rocky had, 64 Liston could get stopped late from exhaustion or may quit if the shoulder gets worse.

Still with all thag said this is asking a lot of Marciano, but given Liston’s health and age at the time of the bout, Rock’s got a much better chance than prime v prime.

 

Yes. My Grandfather always said he thought this was one of those match ups where something weird and totally unexpected would happen. In fact, he believed Rocky Marciano would have won this in some way that might have left some boxing fans scratching their heads or possibly even claiming it was fixed. As you said, we will never know.

 

Liston would punch right through Rudy. KO4.

 

Yes, Rocky had a big heart but he was capable of being hurt, cut and dazed. If Liston was doing the damage, this wouldn't last long.

 

I think Liston might have lifted Marciano off the ground like Foreman did to Frazier with that uppercut. Marciano would get up like Frazier though, over and over again. Their hearts can't be beat. At some point, the referee would stop it with Liston being victorious.

 

I'm going to play devil's advocate here. Liston was already past it in 1964. At the time he fought Ali, he'd only fought three rounds in the preceding three years. Unlike the previous posters, I think Marciano's weaving, crouching style was a good fit for Liston's. His smaller size might in fact be an advantage. Rocky could get underneath Sonny's long arms and dig to the body. Patterson tried to crouch against Liston, but his head was fixed behind his peekaboo gloves so he was an easy target for Sonny's uppercut. Marciano crouched very, very low and worked at an angle. His vision wasn't blocked by his gloves and he bobbed and weaved so Sonny might have had trouble hitting him solidly. Sonny wasn't especially agile. He wasn't a mover. His body would be an inviting target for Rocky. I believe Rocky had more heart than Liston. Sonny was more of a bully with a bully's mentality, at least by 1964 after two years of complacency as champion.

Also, it might make a difference if this was the Liston before or after February 25, 1964!

Maybe I'm a dreamer, but aren't we all?

 

In 1964, Liston was a tired old man, and if we know Rocky, he likes to beat up on tired old men, ask the likes of Joe Louis, Joe Walcott and Archie Moore. After Marciano knocks out Liston in the 8th round in the same manner he did tired old Louis, people would just say Rocky beat a other past prime champ.