This was Liston at his best. An all time great punching peformamce here. Bethea wasn't that good, but he was still the 9th rated heavyweight in the world, and was known for havin an iron chin. Bethea had never been stopped before, and this would be the ONLY time in his career he wouldn't see the final bell. Liston showcases fast hands here, nice combinations, and a deadly long left hook. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mQZkFNdPkdI
An early stoppage for that day and age. I used to have this on 8mm film along with Frazier-Mathis etc. Good performance from Sonny here.
Liston is awesome in this fight. He simply crushed Bethea! It is interesting how he refuses to be clinched at 1:20.
I agree, McVey. He's very sound, technically as well as being a natural puncher. I remember Herbert G. Goldman saying that if it wasn't for the 2 highly suspicious losses to Ali, Liston would have to be regarded as the greatest heavyweight(or words to that effect). This might be overstating things a bit, but I think the Ali defeats mask the genuine talent that Liston had, and they came when he was past his best. Put Sonny in Marciano's era and who beats him? Or Dempsey's? Ability wise, I rate Liston with the best.
I'd have loved to see what would have happened in Liston - Ali 2 if that nonsense phantom punch of whatever you want to call it didn't happen. I have little doubt Liston would have bombed Marciano out early to mid rounds similar to the Patterson - Liston fights. Marciano had a good chin so would have survived longer but the results would have been the same IMO. I rate Marciano very high but against punchers I don't fancy Marciano's chances, his defense was definitely underrated but he was more than hittable, had good power and stamina, but I just think Liston would have kept him away with the jab and tore his face up .
The strange thing is ingemar johansson felt Rocky Marciano would knock Liston out. He felt much of Sonnys speed was dependent on him coming forward and that he looked easy to hit with right hands. Certainly Martin and Ali later proved to trouble Sonny with lesser right hands after Ingo said this about Sonny in S.I 1963. It's just an opinion however but certainly worth noting what another World Champion thought on the matter.
This was Liston's best filmed performance, not to be confused with his best win. Liston matured early as a man, and slowed down a bit more rapidly than his age would indicate. Some say he was ponderous. Not in this fight!
