Sonny Liston vs Jack Dempsey

Liston, Liston.

Liston's biggest weakness was his lack of fast feet to cut off the ring, a fighter like Dempsey would be walking right towards Liston, removing said weakness.
You can say Liston was slow but he was quick enough to catch Patterson, who is similar stylistically to Dempsey.
His jab hook combo would be able to catch Dempsey whilst Jack would be attacking.
I can see Dempsey slipping Liston's jab and landing huge hooks on Sonny and taking him to the canvas, but despite what people will say about Liston's heart, he would get up. He proved he'll do what it takes to win against Williams and Marshall. I like Liston to wear Dempsey down in a short thrilling fight, that sees both men down.

Liston KO4

For résumé, it's quite simply really

Patterson 2*, Williams 2*, Folley, Machen and Valdes >>>> Willard, Fulton, Firpo and Gibbons.

 

Liston was just farrrrr too slow for dempsey

 

Wasn't too slow for Patterson

 

Good training tactic, either you drown or you swim, made many a great fighter. Fight or Flight.

 

What a great match up, Prime Sonny Liston, and Prime Jack Dempsey, it is the Bear vs the Manassa Mauler. Jack Dempsey had speed and tremendous power in both hands. Sonny Liston had size in this one, 6"1, 218 lbs,and Sonny had 14 inch fists. Jack issued a horrifying beating to Jess Willard,on July 4 1919, in Toledo, Ohio,by TKO 3 to win the title. Sonny completely destroyed defending champion, Floyd Patterson, in round 1, on Sept 26 1962, in Chicago, to win the title.This 15 rounder is expected to be a good encounter. Sonny comes out, establishing the hard left jab, early on, as Dempsey bobs and weaves. Jack is concentrating on Liston's body, as he did against tall Willard.The pace is furious, in many rounds as the two trade shots. Sonny emerges round ten, with rather gory red welts around his rib cage, Jack, with a profound swollen shut right eye. The pace becomes reduced at this point, as the championship rounds are approaching. Dempsey staggers the Bear, during a fusillade of bomb like punches, to his already damaged ribs, Sonny covers up, spinning the smaller Dempsey around into a corner. Urged by trainer Willie Reddish, Liston comes out as like a wild man, and lands punch after punch on Jack's already damaged eye, Jack is defenseless, forcing a stoppage late in round 11. Both fighters acknowledge the other, in a sign of respect. Both are then transferred to local medical facilities, for their injuries. Jack's eye will be fine, as well as Liston's severely bruised ribs.

 

Think Dempsey does better then people are giving him credit for. Definitely don’t see many if any top 15 HWs ever only lasting a round over any top guys. Dempsey loses in a very entertaining fight.

 

Ouch.

 

Dempsey the far greater fighter. Much quicker, higher skill level by far, far greater inside, tougher...no quit in Dempsey as there is in Liston.

Dempsey has no issue getting inside as Liston plods straight ahead with his jab which is deftly slipped. Once inside Dempsey completely owns Liston pounding away to the body with both fists. Then brings power shots up to the head. Liston is just too slow to respond effectively as Dempsey stays close not giving punching room. Fight ends in round five with Liston refusing to continue.

 

A+ for Fan Fiction.
D for Analysis.

Dempsey was mortally afraid of facing a brother in the ring after JL Johnson. He drew the color line as soon as he got the worthless belt from Willard. He had a complex about it. Then he beat a bunch of set-ups and no hopers that wouldn't qualify as Liston sparring partners.

How exactly is he going to cope with a super human like Charles S Liston? A thunderous puncher the likes he had never met but coupled with top notch skills and fighting spirit. A real finisher, too, not a sloppy swing for the fences with eyes closed type.

Forced to enter the ring, I'm sure Dempsey would resign himself to being game. But with his defensive lapses and aggressive style he would play directly into Sonny's prodigious mitts.

KO3.

 

I agree with Seamus, except I want to add that it is crazy to say Dempsey had a far greater skill level.
Liston was very skilled. And he never was one shotted in the first round like Jack.
Or suffered multile knock downs let alone out of the ring for recklessly rushing a crude, limited but powerful fighter like Firpo.

If Dempsey had a style advantage, maybe picking him could be justified.
But a swarmer against Liston who was largely a slugger-possibly you could favor prime Tyson. Because of his combination of speed, skill, power & muscle. Possibly.

But no other swarmer is a credible favorite.
And Liston had zero quit in him until near the end of the road.

 

Um... Ali-Liston 2

 

He ain't gonna be looking for Jack is he? I love Dempsey but he's gonna be coming at the most devastating jab in history. I think Sonny can take one of Jack's bombs, I don't believe Dempsey will react as well when Sonny unloads. Just a bad style matchup for the mauler

 

Agreed, I think it's impossible for these two to occupy the same ring for 10 minutes of fight time, no way it sees round four, I think 2 is max

 

Dempsey has far greater skill than Liston HAHAHAHAH

 

Did u think that was real?