Sonny Liston v Lennox Lewis in a street fight?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Scott Cork, Apr 26, 2022.



  1. Guru88

    Guru88 Active Member Full Member

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    There are some absolutely mental takes on this app, they’re acting like Lennox Lewis would be scared to have a street fight hahaha
     
  2. KernowWarrior

    KernowWarrior Bob Fitzsimmons much bigger brother. Full Member

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    Yes street fighting was something Liston had experience in, whereas Lewis could be described as a little more cerebral, however Lewis at 6'5 weighing 240+ pounds and with a punch like a mule kick would not be the average opponent on the pavement arena, facing Liston would no doubt trigger a fight for his life reaction by Lewis.

    Bottom line like most street fights, the one who gets the first hard punches in would likely be the victor, neither were light punches and both knew how to put a hurt opponent in a whole lot more hurt.

    I would not be volunteering to try and stop them fighting that is for sure.
     
  3. lone star

    lone star Active Member Full Member

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    Imagine Liston picking on Lewis. Then Lewis loses his temper. Lewis picks 210 Liston and throws him all over the place. Liston is smart and backs off. Street smarts takes over.
     
  4. Cobra33

    Cobra33 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Lewis doesn't have the chin to withstand Liston in a street fight.
     
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  5. Moggy94

    Moggy94 Active Member Full Member

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    I think journeymen like Tex Cobb and Dominic Negus could have taken a lot of elite boxers in the street, Danny Hodge too. I would say Vitali Klitschko is slept on in this talk too.

    Did Ali have any street fights? I know Fury stated he has never been in one and Wladimir Klitschko said he had one when he was a little kid and that's it.
     
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  6. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Just like he did to Rahman right?
    This content is protected
     
  7. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Dempsey and Tyson as well would be beasts in a street fight, I imagine.
     
  8. Devon

    Devon Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Everyone, you do know how ‘hard’ or ‘screw lose’ someone is doesn’t make them better in a street fight, I don’t know where this notion comes from
     
  9. Moggy94

    Moggy94 Active Member Full Member

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    To be fair Rahman was physically very strong, he's likely doing that to Liston too
     
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  10. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    On one hand we have someone experienced in street fights, brawls in prison, and flat out fighting cops with nightsticks, shoving them in bins, and oh yeah, he also hospitalized an armed cop for disrespecting him and broke his legs with his bare hands. On the other hand we have Lewis, a class act who's likely never been in a street fight in his life..... getting bodied and manhandled by Hashim Rahman on national television.

    Hmmm this is a tough one.
     
    Last edited: Apr 27, 2022
  11. DJN16

    DJN16 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Knowledgeable and sensible as always John.
     
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  12. Moggy94

    Moggy94 Active Member Full Member

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    Angelo Dundee even said Ali wouldn't have beaten Sonny Liston in a street fight. Some guys are more suited for something less restricted than boxing and some are trained in more than just boxing which gives them more tools.

    In the boxing ring a guy like Wladimir Klitschko beats guys like Tex Cobb and Danny Hodge 10/10 but in a street fight? Wladimir is getting wrecked.
     
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  13. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Liston would win.

    Liston was a great boxer, and also a great street fighter.

    Lewis was a great boxer, and only a great street fighter by default.
     
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  14. swagdelfadeel

    swagdelfadeel Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    No basis for that. We've never seen Liston in a situation like that, nor do we know what he'd do in a situation like that. I can guarantee though, he would've thrown punches or something, and shoved Rahman off of him. Rahman's strength was impressive in terms of lifting, but his functional strength was nothing exceptional to say the least.
     
  15. Moggy94

    Moggy94 Active Member Full Member

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