Sonny Liston v Lennox Lewis in a street fight?

Fair points. Ken's still unhappy to this day i think.

 

Great story and I did read it when you posted it previously. I enjoyed it just as much second time around. I believe it 100%. Not that it was necessary to believe it, but I’ve seen some similar stuff myself. Literal, one man wrecking machines.

 

Oh ok, cool. Some people just aren't normal. Of course it can be detrimental too, in and out of jail and often having to fight. I know he run his area's in jail too as I've met 4 or 5 screws and they all sang from the same songbook. Not much of a life tho, especially as you age.

 

Hell yeah, I don’t want to falsely advertise, sh*t just happened sometimes. As a fan and keen observer of boxing I’d practice and knew the basics, jabs, combo punching etc., of course I was a real goodun’…..when shadowing boxing, hitting the bag etc.

Actual fights, live antagonists? Too angry, lose my head - keeping cool is sooo important and puts you well ahead of the pack if you can manage it, but it’s much easier said than done.

I once had to get in and stand.between two women arguing and getting physical on a Xmas shopping queue. Imagine how ugly that looked. Anyway, I copped a misguided punch on the jaw for my troubles. Big Pacific Islander “Lady”. Had some grunt, nice form and leverage. Maybe related to David Tua in some way, shape up form…thank god it wasn’t David himself. She didn’t even say sorry……”now she must fall!”, LOL.

 

The adrenaline makes it so hard to maintain form, and booze doesn't help either

 

Oh and don't mess with pacific islander gals!!!! Or guys for that matter lol

 

Excellent points, totally agree. The Liston-Williams fights are among my most favourite and convenient “go to” fights, particularly the first which I had not actually seen for many years until the advent of You Tube. Sonny’s weathering the storm and cooly/intelligently boxing and punching his way back in as he did is truly something to behold, again and again.

 

Wise advice. If she was built like Moana that’d be one thing, but we’re talking more in the size realm of Maui. Big hands too - like Liston. Hehe.

 

I've watched them multiple times myself. I am saddened when i read, from quite a few, that Liston wasn't skilled much at all. Technically he's actually one of the better champs in history and is actually multi dimensional and able to fight in various ways, and to add to that he can fight at various distances. I'm not knocking a guy like Tyson, but he is far less adaptable and faceted than a guy like Liston. Tyson's great, and overwhelming but if you are great enough to get past his A game that's it. Obviously it's entirely debatable who gets past his A game but Liston really impresses me on this front. His defense is also multi faceted. He slips, blocks, parries, he does it all really. He's no Willie Pep but he's damn good for a heavyweight.

 

Some of my favorite fights to watch to minus the endings for obvious reasons.

I think it was George who said both Liston and Williams had an underrated defense in this fight, and Philly once made an excellent analysis regarding the bout.

 

Yeah, makes no sense to say Liston wasn’t so technically skilled when he was.

Now I might’ve made that same incorrect call when only availed of snippets from the Williams 2, Patterson and Ali fights.

But I’ve seen so much more over the years - even the Besmanoff fight, in which I think Liston puts an absolute clinic. And Bethea, destruction personified but tightly harnessed in boxing skills and delivered via educated executions. The actual FULL 12 rounds vs Machen - a far better triumph than is often described in print. There’s the post title fights too, where an older Liston’s skills are peeled back to perhaps even better advantage - still powerful but the defining edge to his punch somewhat reduced - so the skills coming more to the fore or, at least more noticeable.

In glorious colour, LOL, and with good audio, Liston’s dismantling of a young and very good sized, durable HW in Henry Clark informs greatly on Sonny’s skills and still formidable power as well. Barring of course the final rounds and KO, there is much it be learned (positive) about Liston in the Martin fight also.

What appears to be “home movie” footage of the Liston- Wepner fight is woeful but not woeful enough to prevent appreciation of Liston’s utter domination via skill and power. Crazy, but the Louis vs Canera filmed some 30 + years prior is actually clearer and that film in itself isn’t that great.

 

Footage means so much doesn't it, and if it's clear..........

I need to re-run through some of Sonny's fights soon. It's about that time. Totally agree some of the skills showed clearly as he got older. He was a beautifully schooled heavyweight, truth be told. Skill is perhaps what separated him most in some ways.

 

I better stop, I’m really getting my Liston on here. You guys have prob seen this You Tube package highlighting Liston’s jab feints. IMO, this is great stuff, some extremely keen eyed and talented uploaders out there:-

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Alrighty, one more and that’s it! Poor old Scrap Iron but gee, is Liston thumping him or what, in very crisp colour? Apparently, despite all the punishment over a career, including against renowned punchers like Liston, good ol’ Scrap lived to his late 70s with all his marbles apparently still intact.

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For some reason Liston looked a lot better against Scrap Iron than he did against Martin despite it only being a few months later, and showed the ability to bomb away at a distance.

Incidentally Scrap Iron said Liston hit harder than Foreman or Frazier.

Foreman also said Scrap Iron had the best chin out of anyone he faced.

 

Liston is great to watch. Old school skills.......at heavyweight.

Scrap Iron did well considering. Quarry x 3, Frazier, Liston, Lyle, Foreman and other lesser punching top 10 contenders as well. Look at that lineup and take into account his abilities and obvious toughness and it's a heart warming story that he lived a good sound life.