Sonny wins by KO. His punches were shorter and more accurate than the wild haymakers George threw from the outfield.
Foreman uppercuts him to death. Liston doesnt have the backbone/sheer determination you need to defeat Foreman.
My number one dream match up. Precisely because I just can't pick (and obviously a very entertaining bout). It's been done to death a bit on forums, but I for one always enjoy reading people's opinions. A true 50:50. Ummm... Today I'll say Liston. Possibly...
I've been saying for years Listons straighter more compact punches and better fundamentals would get him home in this one by stoppage. His strength and power is extremely close to George's as well. Great fight.
Liston, George didn't move his head he relied on picking off shots with his gloves.Liston threw straighter punches and his jab would find a home in George's face.Sonny is just a better boxer.
Always thought Liston is overrated tbh but here I'd pick Sonny for the reasons others pointed already out, straighter punches, bit better defence and those two being relatively close in physical attributes.
I just thought of this today. My knee jerk guess was Foreman, but then I thought again. Liston fought a little like Frazier (vice versa of course), a little like Tyson....but he wasn't a swarming fighter like those two, at least not to that degree. Swarming fighters were George's bon mot, easy knockouts. Then there's the Liston jab; Foreman definitely did NOT like any fighter with a fast, oh-so-accurate jab. I mean, both Mike and Joe had really good jabs but some people think Sonny had the best ever in the division. This just became a very interesting for me this morning lol!
My brain tells me Liston is built to take down George with his skill set. But I’m not sure if he has the heart to take Foreman’s punches. Both in my top five think it goes down like Lyle Foreman with Liston coming out on top...if Liston has the heart to get up that is.
He took Williams bombs and Foreman who sparred with an old Williams said that he was one of the hardest punchers that he remembers. And the close fight he had with Ron Lyle makes me favor Liston slightly here.
I also have Liston based on many of the above reasons. Number 1 for me is the better left hand. Fundamentals Stamina Strength is not far off. Sonny is the more complete package in my book.
Young Foreman sparred with Liston some, and said Liston was the only fighter to ever back him up. At the time Liston died in late Dec. 1970, George had only been fighting pro for 18 months, but was at the level of beating Peralta, Scrap Iron Johnson, and an older Chuvalo.