Sonny Liston vs Big Daddy Bowe

Liston on points

 

Tremendous brutal war. The problem for both guys is their styles matched up well for each other. Both guys did not like movers, and were at their best with guys who essentially stood in range. Both guys stood in range and threw with hellacious power. Both guys probably get hit and hit very hard. So then it comes down to things like defense, condition, chin, toughness. I give a slight edge to Bowe based on height, reach, proven condition in tough wars, fact that he set a very good pace, and fact that he showed toughness and heart when the going got rough against Holyfield and Golota. But it's one of those which you never know until they get in there and get hit with their brand of bombs. Likely a KO either way.

 

Watch the fight against Williams. The commentator is at pains to emphasise Williams' reach advantage and how it will benefit Williams to keep it on the outside. He repeats this a couple of times. In the fight, it is apparent that Williams does indeed seem to enjoy a modest reach advantage. Williams' reach is 78'.

 

Sonny would beat the crap out of Bowe, hits too hard and bowe’s too easy to hit. If a 205 pound Evander had him hurt in a lot of stages then sheeeeeeeesh he won’t like this one

 

His reach didn't look longer to me and Williams was not benefiting on the outside in the actual fight. Although Liston had big hands and shoulders so maybe that flattered his reach measurements

 

Sonny isn't more dynamic in a fight with the much bigger , heavier and faster Bowe.
Bowe had no problems leathering guys far more alethic and dynamic than Liston. Hide. Donald
Sonny is straight up and down. He's an easier target to hit than Holyfield who was springy , attacked from angles and had great defence.
The range and accuracy Bowe put on his shots against Gonzales was unlike anything ever thrown from Liston.
One of those right hand on Listons chin and he's going to sleep. He never beat anybody in Bowes zip code.
A good big man always beats a good little man. Sonny also had a weak chin and a quitters instinct. Bowe will never lay down. Its silly to think Sonny can beat this man in trench warfare.

 

I love Liston and I'm not sure Bowe can survive to be honest but my instinct says Bowe would get through a crisis or two and get Liston going.

 

I don't see Bowes porous defense playing well against Liston.

 

Liston hurting Bowe is easy to see. I would say it's likely he at least buzzes him at some point. I know how Bowe will react to that. I don't exactly know how Liston will react to Bowe buzzing him. Especially considering how Bowe is going to be trying to bully him.

Does Liston have to win this without getting hurt?

Bowe is not the kind of guy you want to fight if you have a questionable heart.

 

Foreman thought Cleveland Williams had comparable power to Cooney’s who was roughly the same size as Riddick and hit a decent bit harder. Sonny took some bombs from Cleve, I think he’d tough through Bowe’s shots.

 

They both have questionable hearts, so lets get down to brass tacks.

 

Bowe would never quit on a stool. He also wouldn't do whatever Liston did in the 2nd Ali fight.

Compared to Bowe, Liston is gutless. Bowe may have the biggest heart in heavyweight history.

 

Is that the same Riddick Bowe that threw his Pro championship away, rather than defend it against L.Lewis , the fighter that defeated him in the Olympics?
Most pro world class fighters would sell their soul to get a world championship, and would bargain with the devil to get a chance to beat the hell out of someone that beat them in the Olympics,
Regardless of the politics the WBC were playing.
Remember Bowe was the champion.
Regardless of his excuses he held most of the cards.
But he ( Bowe) choose to throw a championship belt in the garbage instead of defending it against his Olympic Conqueror?
So when you're questioning a man's heart ( Liston's) remember Bowe had some very "reluctant " behavior too.

 

Riddick Bowe was much better than Cleveland Williams.

 

Riddick Bowe and Lennox Lewis signed to fight nevertheless.