Sonny Liston v Evander Holyfield

I agree. But, and this is just my opinion, I feel that a guy who is naturally strong has an advantage over a similar sized guy who bulked up with weights. I'm not a scientist, so this is just my personal belief. But I think the guys who are "country strong" or simply "stout" have more effective strength than guys who get strong from lifting weights. And weight lifting in and of itself does not automatically turn a boxer into a puncher. Sure, Holyfield had bulging muscles and a ripped physique, but was he really stronger than Liston? I think weight training and bulging muscles get too much credit, at least in the world of combat sports. And if a guy has to bulk up with weights to reach a certain weight, he's at that weight artificially. I"m sure Holyfield could bench press and squat a heck of a lot more weight than Liston or even Foreman or Frazier, but I doubt he had their real strength!

 

Holy can box but don't move good enough to keep Liston away & willingly gets into a toe to toe battle and is steadily worn down, counted out about the 11th.

 

No. Liston was a genuine 6'1''. evander never ever was 6'3''. evander was listed as 6'1'' all the way through his crusier weight career then "became" 6'2 and a half for his HW debut. later (after shaving his hair off) he "grew" yet another half inch on the "tale of the tape" stats. evander is most likley 6 foot.

http://youtu.be/WKbdw6PL-yU

 

LOL @ the Classic forum.......Liston had trouble with beansticks straight off the soup kitchen, had his jaw broken by a ****in' middleweight , quit not only once but twice against the green first modern super heavy he faced but now he is laying out Holyfield.......that mentally weak superbully Liston is about the most overrated Hwy of all times.

 

Matters when this fight was made. Liston is not a good fight for anyone moving up in weight, but if Evander fought him around 1995 or 6, he could beat Liston. I am not sure the Evander who fought Dokes can beat Liston.

 

Lower body fat doesn't mean that somebody is stronger.That is bodybuilding scrap.Liston is stronger than Holyfield.His bone structure is much more stronger and that is more importannt than lower body fat.Liston had biggest fist and wrist in history of heavyweight champions.Holyfield never was in brawl with old George Foreman and he was hurt.Sonny Liston in his prime was much dangerous than old and fat George Foreman.Bert Cooper gave Holyfield hell,Liston would knocked him out.

 

It's not too late to jump off the naivety train, Suzie.

 

Holyfield has the tools to beat Sonny. However,having them and using them efectively and consistently,are two different matters.

After picking up his share of the spoils,Holyfield would get sucked into a brawl at some point. Liston would capitalise on this with his jab,setting Evander up for his big right hands.

Liston - by tko.

 

:huh Don't see this at all.

 

Holyfield would be too quick for Liston, Holyfield UD

 

No doubt it would be a KO from Liston, he would use his jab to keep holy off balance then mow him down with hooks to body and head.
If he it goes to the later rounds it could be a stoppage to Holy

 

It would be a very interesting fight because Evander might be able to outbox him but if he looses it and trades he will get hurt .. a terrific match up ...

 

Yep......
He was quicker than Bowe, but I think Bowe was faster than Liston....faster hands.....

 

I'd say they are physically about evenly matched.

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6'1, 210+ lbs, 80+ inch reach

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6'2, 210+ lbs, 78" reach

As for the PED use accusations, we have to face it, Holyfield was on them as were many of the opponents he faced in the 1990s.

Without much in the way of physical advantages either way, we have to look at their relative skills and abilities. Liston had the more damaging jab which might lead to Holyfield taking some damage around the eyes in the form of swelling, but Holyfield was quicker and a better counter-puncher which indicates that he wouldn't be completely outmatched at distance.

I believe the difference would be made at close range, where the fight will eventually take place due to both fighters' habits of forcing a fight if unable to have a distinct advantage in the scoring. You would have to kid yourself to think that Holyfield wouldn't eventually trade punches with Liston because he did so with the bigger Riddick Bowe willingly, even in their second fight where he stuck to a gameplan most of the way.

Defensively and offensively I actually like Liston a little better than Holyfield, due to the fact that he could use effective defense while also effectively forcing a fight. A lot of the time Holyfield would either focus on defense or offense but not both. Holyfield does have a speed advantage which might negate much of this.

Don't count out Liston's ability only because he wasn't as fast as a peak Muhammad Ali. For example Emmanuel Steward (who trained Holyfield) thought that the Liston who fought Williams was one of the best heavyweights he ever saw.

Some of Liston's best work:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWbpM99wD2M[/ame]

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