Sonny Liston vs. George Foreman

Sonny's jab would rarely miss the wide open youthful Foreman. Being a superior boxer with straighter punches, Liston could keep George at bay, preventing Foreman from making use of his physical strength. Jimmy Young went to town on George's body. Sonny would be underneath him doing the same.

Liston was retreating against Scrap Iron Johnson while simultaneously bombing away from long range. If Foreman could somehow induce Sonny to back up, George would pay for that.

Chuvalo and Peralta stood their ground very well against Foreman though, and Liston would have control of the center line.

There's a question as to who was stronger and a harder puncher. Chuck Wepner has always been adamant that it was Sonny. Chuck took Liston on ten months after Foreman. Wepner, at 228, was knocked on his backside by a single right hand to the midsection which just bowled him over with the sheer force behind it. The footage shows that Chuck wasn't off balance, nor that his foot was stepped on, or anything like that. Sonny just bulled the punch forward in mid ring, and powered though a clean knockdown. If prime Liston was indeed physically stronger and a harder puncher, then there's little left for George to bank on.

I wouldn't mind knowing Scrap Iron's take on this, because he went seven rounds with each a year apart.

Aside from Moorer, how often did Foreman come from way back to win? Because he'd likely have to with Sonny. Henry Clark was a good boxer with good height and reach. Liston shut him out through all completed rounds. If the strength and power of George and Sonny cancel each other out, then it's a chess match. Does Foreman win that contest?

 

Bump .… a tribute to my friend Boxeo .. A lot of posters here yet to comment

 

Good to see poster's give credit when credit is due

 

A very difficult call ,,,but, Sonny Liston by knockout in 8. Sonny doesn't tire like George and throws the straighter punches.

 

Foreman by ko and given that liston did not run and was aggressive and was only 6'1 and 212 pounds plus his chin was poor, foreman would destroy him badly and fast

 

Lol

 

Difficult fight to pick. I’d love to watch it.

I think Sonny is better than Ron Lyle, that he lands first but that George has the heart to keep coming and coming, at least until he gets too tired.

Sonny might have to turn boxer to win this. He can do it, but can Sonny really ward off Foreman? He will have to exchange with George and we never saw him get off the floor to win.

The later the fight goes the stamina issue Prime George has could potentially favour Liston but I am not entirely convinced he can hold off George early on in the way he has to. He is going to get hit a lot.

Cleveland Williams was categorically no world beater. Not one bit. But prime George, for all his rawness really was a much higher threat. George has more heart than anybody Liston beat, George hits harder than anybody Liston fought and if h hurts Sonny early he can do a number on Sonny..

If Sonny can’t nail George to the floor early he’s in real Serious trouble.

 

Liston was every bit as strong as Foreman. As already stated he was a better, more patient boxer than Foreman. I think Sonny would catch Big George coming in with something that would at least stop him in his tracks if not put him down.

After that Foreman would show a healthy respect for Sonny giving Liston the time and room to box Foreman before dropping the hammer on him.

Maybe Liston TKO 8

 

The sonny liston that fought wepner was bigger and stronger than prime liston and much heavier too with more experience and probably did hit harder than his young version. Wepner fought a very very green foreman( 3-0 )and still foreman raped him in 3 and got stopped in 9 against liston by a cut. So there is no ****ing doubt about foreman did hit harder ,wepner could say crap. And your post is a biased garbage

 

It is funny because several guys here built the argument of their posts with afirmations like " liston was as strong and did hit as hard " the problem is that it is simply a lie ..not truth at all . you got no proof about it, he stopped trash or pretty small guys ,foreman did hit harder on the film , his % ko was higher, he fought better opossition and he fought even in his 40s.
Plus... Jack dempsey and joe louis who were ringside in the foreman-norton fight said that foreman was the most powerful and hardest hitter that they ever saw,not liston

 

Errr didn't Foreman stop Wepner via a cut? Also didn't Liston drop Wepner where as George didn't?

 

Liston , better boxer, better defence.

 

Taking a beating in 3 rounds by a boy? Drop? With a body shot and lost the balance?

 

Norton was better boxer with better defence too. Added to this he was bigger than liston

 

His chin was poor.lol