Sonny Liston of the First Ali Fight vs Peak Rocky Marciano

So much of boxing is a mental game and I think Rocky has the edge over most. Sonny has the skills and attributes to do the job, but I always find it hard to vote against Rocky.

 

Strangely, not a single report of the Liston-Sanders fight made any criticism of either the decision or of Liston's tactics.

https://ibb.co/NKbhYhS
https://ibb.co/tz24w9G

 

These days, a talent like Sanders would have had the top promoters angling to sign him up, confident of making millions in the pro ranks. Instead, Sanders stayed amateur, unable as he was as a Navy man to turn pro. During this time, in March of 1953, Sanders fought a (listed) 21 year old Sonny Liston. Sanders fought the menacing, soon to be universally feared future heavyweight king, and he did it with a busted thumb, yet Sanders fought incredibly well. There is no footage of the bout, yet reports say Liston was jeered some for “clutching” the bigger, stronger Sanders, the Chicago Golden Gloves contest being a close affair. Some felt Sanders had done enough to have gotten the win.

 

Both walcott and marCiano beat any version of list on in my book listons overrated here too slow and ponderous .both marciano and Walcott by ko.

 

Considering the only source is the same guy who swears up and down that Schmeling threw his 2nd fight against Louis, color me sceptical lol.

 

I’ll keep saying it. These gold nuggets of information are very much appreciated Solomon. Thanks.

 

Unless it’s already been cited or already understood, it looks like CSB pulled the quotes from this article by James Slater (see below) who refers to said “reports” re Liston vs Sanders so unlikely CSB has seen these reports himself.

https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/ed-sanders/157408

 

Good find! But seeing that Crouch's post has wikipedia links embedded in it, I'm assuming he just copy/pasted it from Sanders' wikipedia page.

 

During this time, in March of 1953, Sanders fought a (listed) 21 year old Sonny Liston. Sanders fought the menacing, soon to be universally feared future heavyweight king, and he did it with a busted thumb, yet Sanders fought incredibly well. There is no footage of the bout, yet reports say Liston was jeered some for “clutching” the bigger, stronger Sanders, the Chicago Golden Gloves contest being a close affair. Some felt Sanders had done enough to have gotten the win.

 

It was actually CSB’s post just prior to mine that I was referring to but yeah, the posts prior to that one def. pulled from Wikipedia. In fact, CSB has just reposted the quoted words from Slater’s article again. Lol.

 

Oh, yes - sorry.

It is interesting trying to trace the source of these claims. The accusation that Liston used illegal tactics is in the original version of Sanders' wikipedia entry from way back in 2005. It concludes that he "probably would have won the world heavyweight championship had he lived" and is written by one Justin H. Sanders Esq.

The claim that Sanders had an injured thumb and that there was controversy about the decision was added in 2018 by someone who identifies himself as Sanders' nephew.

So it's starting to look like this is all based on a story told by Sanders' own family. Totally unbiased, of course.

 

Liston is the one who cheats very often, and I can't believe that someone calling this nonsense when it's on wikipedia.
Same guys that think Liston and Mac Foster sparring never happened but it did.
I admire your tryings, but he is a cheater and knocked by Foster in sparring which is a fact.

 

oh well, if it's on wikipedia,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

How fast would Liston have to be to find Marciano? A lamp post could find Rocky and hit him with hooks. Marciano was an incredibly tough man who fought with grit, courage ,determination and was always in excellent condition. But there are some matches where he'd have no chance due to his style , Liston, Foreman and Tyson are 3 where he gets knocked out. A man with his style , his incredibly short reach , height disadvantages and giving up anywhere from 30 to 40 pounds , simply cannot stand in front of men like that and survive.

 

Liston would be hit more in this fight then he'd ever been hit before...NO quit in Marciano!!!