Sonny Liston or Wladimir Klitschko who rates higher as a all time heavyweight?

Wlad for me. Reigned 11 years and made 18 title defenses. Liston lost on his second defense, yes against a great fighter, but he quit on stool, got a rematch and basically either got knocked out in the first round or took a dive.

 

It's pretty clear to me that it's Wlad.

23 title defences vs 1 defence of the title

18 years at the world level (2000-2017) vs 8 years at the world level (1958-1965)

9.5 year reign as the best Heavyweight in the world (2006-2015) vs 1.5 year reign as the best Heavyweight in the world (1962-1964)

21 wins over ranked opposition (22 if you count Mormeck) vs 11 wins over ranked opposition

The only thing Liston has going for him here are the 2 Patterson demolition jobs, since Floyd ranks higher at the ATG HW list than any of Wlad's opponents, but he literally has nothing else to provide here. Wlad's deeper resume, superior longevity, longer title reign and total amount of defences more than bridge that gap in quality.

 

In a legacy sense it would have to be Wlad - he had a great long and dominant reign.

In a head to head/prime for prime sense? I honestly think Liston would knock Wlad out.

 

Wlad easily not even a contest, Wlad is def top ten arguably top 5 Liston barely even top 20 and had a pretty weak reign besides his 2 wins over Patterson.

 

Wlad but not by that much. Liston only had one defense, but was the unofficial champ for some time. Wlad was champ a long time, arguably for two reigns, but what pitiful opposition.

Liston's consensus top ten, with vote tally:
1. Patterson 1 2
2. Patterson 2 2
3. Folley 2
4. Machen 2
5. Williams 1 2
6. Williams 2 2
7. Valdez 2
8. Clark 2
9. Harris 2
10. DeJohn 2

WladKlit's top ten consensus wins, with vote tally:
Byrd I 6
Haye 6
Chambers 6
McCline 5
Chagaev 5
Ibragimov 5
Thompson I 5
Peter I 5
Povetkin 5
Byrd II 4

 

In terms of resume, Wlad hands down. Even considering all the padded stats and cherrypicked fights his reign was ridiculously long.

But when it comes to who was the superior boxer, it is a different issue. IMO Liston demolishes Wlad H2H and I am dying on that hill.

 

Wlad in greatness, Liston in a H2H fight. If he got his title shot much earlier then reigned until Ali then Liston would most likely be placed higher on peoples’ lists.

 

I have Wlad #7 and Liston #9.

Wlad obviously has the longer reign and superior longevity.

Liston was as far ahead of the field, and came as close to clearing the division out prior to winning the title, as it gets, though, and doesn't have the 3 x losses to non-great fighters in and around his prime years.

There's not a huge amount in it, imo.

 

Wladimir is undoubtedly greater than liston was.

 

Wladimir Klitschko is greater and it's not even close. I also think he turns Liston inside out in a H2H sense. Wlad reigned supreme in an era of giants whereas Liston managed a couple of good wins and then fizzled out in an era of cruiser sized 'heavies'. Come on.

 

I have revisited my top ten recently as I feel Wlad has been unfairly treated by many, myself included. I've always had Liston top 5 in my list, and totally overlooked Wlad, not on achievement but more h2h...but, I now believe I am wrong. If we afford each fighter their mythical unicorn status for h2h, Wlad is a nightmare and I'm now seriously thinking he might be a top 5 atg himself. It's like suddenly listening to a band's greatest hits and remembering wow, they were really something, weren't they. I'm a lifelong Liston fan and have banged that drum for many, many years...but wouldn't Wlad have simply smashed him? Accurate, sledgehammer power, brilliant basics, could be aggressive seeking and destroy or defensively prudent if we are assuming an absolute best version. Always in shape, always prepared, huge...maybe the question isn't how does Wlad beat Liston, it's how does Charles beat Wlad?

 

Not going to argue with anyone going for Wlad but i voted for Liston.I much prefer him as a fighter

 

Ah yeah, that's a different argument. While I have Wlad as my #5 heavy, in terms of entertainment (barring a few great fights) he could stink the ring out.