Sonny Liston v Jim Jeffries Over 25 Rounds

I think Sonny just closes the show. I don't think the 25 rounds would factor in. Too strong.

 

While Jeffries is in my opinion the hardest heavyweight champion to take out Liston might just be the man to do it. Under the 1930s rule set he has an excelent chance of outscoring or stoping Jeffries over 15 rounds or 25 if he can last that distence. If he starts to tire down the stretch however Jeffries will have him.

If the fight is under the rule set of Jeffries era then Jeff will probably tie him up wear him down and stop him late.

 

Jeffries has neither the chin (while good, it isn't THAT good) nor the one punch power to stand up to Liston in a slugfest. His best chance would be under his own rules--where he could fight out of the clinches without fear of separation and the skill on the outside to fight with smaller gloves vis-a-vis Sonny.

So, under 30's rules, I'd pick Liston by KO.

 

Sonny was strong but Jeff is stronger.Sonny would cut Jeff up with his Jab as Fitzsimmons had cut him in there first bout,but this would not bother Jeff.Using more modern rules Sonny would definitly be out pointing Jeff but not much as Jeff was not the lumbering Ox people have made him out to be.Jeff could move side to side and in and out,not like Ali,but he could do it.Jeff was a decent Boxer. He was also hard to get at with effective punches as he fought out of a crough.Throughout the fight and at 15rds I would give sonny an edge based on there styles and based on the more modern rules.But at 25rds no.I see Jeff K.O.ing Sonny as 25rds was more advantages to Jeff.Jeffries K.O. 20th round

 

Its a moot point whether Sonny could go 25 rds ,he wasnt a dedicated trainer ,and liked his grog,but if he could I see him outpointing Jeffries behind his pole like jab.

 

I see a Liston KO after a brutal beating

 

Liston by KO early

 

Bingo!:good

 

Jeff wasn't really an infighter, but somebody who, like Foreman, would shove an opponent who moved in close back out into his comfortable punching range. Unfortunately for both Foreman and Jeffries, that would also be Sonny's comfortable range with his jab. Assuming that George and Jeff have a significant physical strength advantage on Sonny, it's still a punching sport, and Sonny possessed the long straight jab and extended hook necessary to outscore both from their mutually preferred distance. For me, it's a pick em situation over 25 rounds, but however long it lasts, and regardless of who wins, Sonny would be ahead on points at the match's conclusion. Jeff could only win by stopping Sonny.

 

Jeffries never even dreamed of anyone like Sonny ... Liston would have destroyed him inside of eight or ten rounds tops ....

 

As Joe Frazier said when asked what happens if he doesn't stop Ali by the round he predicted 'What the hell do you think Im just going to jump out of the ring or something'

It seems many people think 15 round fighters are going to jump out the ring at the end of 15rounds in a 25round contest

 

No but the Jeffries legend is that he was the toughest with the greatest stamina ... it's one thing to slug it out with smaller men but a whole other thing to take on an exceptional guy like Liston.

 

Over 25 rounds? Let's see:

Liston had power in both hands, excellent reach (maybe the longest in history, not sure) and great boxing skills, to go along with a granite chin.

Jeffries had a great left, was slow but powerful, and was durable in his prime.

But over 25 rounds, I'd say Liston by KO. Too many hard, accurate shots to handle, even for Jeff.

 

You guys are giving Jeffries the short end of the stick here!

The oft used bio/description of the "Boilermaker" sums him up pretty well:

"James Jackson Jeffries (Jim) was a great fighter at the turn of the century, when boxing styles and techniques were a bit cruder than today but fighters were more rugged and possessed greater spunk and stamina.

He was a big, strong heavyweight who struck sledge-hammer blows with each fist, similar to Rocky Marciano and George Foreman of more recent years. Jeffries often fought from a crouch and sprang forward with dangerous punches.

Fighting in a time when hard work and manual labor was at its peak, Jeffries was always in magnificent physical condition. He was rugged beyond belief, possessed a granite chin, and absorbed punishment without blinking. In addition, he was a patient fighter who seemed to possess unlimited endurance.
Jeffries won the Heavyweight Championship in only his thirteenth fight
He scored the quickest knockout in Heavyweight Championship history - 55 seconds
He was never defeated during his prime
He was never knocked down during his prime
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No question he could go deep into a fight as he did with Jim Corbett and maybe Liston before the KO.