Sonny Liston vs George Chuvalo Prime for prime and in 1971

Prime Liston would butcher Chuvalo.

 

Liston's great jab spearheads a onesided decision victory...a very onesided victory on points....but no knockdowns would occur.

 

Chuvalo's great chin and endurance, ruggedness, etc., would be taxed to the limit vs Liston..Liston would really bludgeon him with that jab....and I'll even amend my call by saying that a tko on cuts would be a possibility but I'm sticking to the win for Liston on points.

 

When exactly did Chuvalo knock out Williams? Funny comment considering Chuvalo fought a Williams in 1971 that was much more shot than Liston and Williams still went the distance and even made it a competetive fight. If that shotty shot version of Williams can poke more holes in the Chuvalo than a salt shaker then I have to believe the Liston who sliced and diced Chuck Wepner would have made Chuvalo's face hamburger.

 

Important to keep in mind that in 71 Chuvalo was very long in the tooth himself ..

 

I agree with most (outside of the Chuvalo nuthuggers) that Sonny would have had George for lunch (and desert). Outside of the Quarry anamoly, give me ONE quality Chuvalo win?...ONE! Spare me the Doug Jones BS, and some early career wins against guys who couldn't have 'hacked' it if they'de been given a big time shot, along with the late career wins against has-beens. Hell, Rademacher beat him!
But, lastly, my main point here heavy is that Leotis Martin was NO BUM!!
The Philly boy was a slick boxer-puncher who simply got stuck in the wrong era with few opportunities. Look at his record! IMO I see the Ellis initial elimination scrap in 67 as an anamoly. The nose/mouth cuts did him in and why he went to the body so much against Jimmy is beyond me and Leotis appeared to be coming on at the time of the stoppage.
A loss to Bonevena in Argentina? That one still smells a little fishy to me.
Waxed Thad Spencer's overrated ass in London in 68. Thad? Top flight contender? 0-7-1 after Quarry beat him. There's your 'bum'!!

 

Actually yes, Williams was a lot more shot in 1971 in every sense of the word than Liston was or would have been.

 

Liston by decision. No knockdowns in this one... but they both get rocked a few times. Entertaining scrap with Liston as the clear winner. Chuvalo might win 3 or 4 rounds.

 

Liston never made it to 1971...based on Liston's performance vs Wepner in nis final fight,...had it been Chuvalo he was fighting instead, I think the Canadian could have possibly turned the trick vs Sonny....as Chuvalo was much better than Wepner.