Sonny Liston vs. Jack Johnson

I would pick Johnson by decision. I wouldn't pick Liston to KO Johnson as he's too difficult to hit flush, and I think he would show his terrific counter punching skils by countering Sonny's jab all night, which he was extremely affective at doing.

Liston would of course steal some rounds though but I would have Johnson by decision something like 9-6.

 

Me too!

 

Johnson by UD over 15 rounds. Liston may catch him and hurt him once or twice in the fight, but Johnson's defence and footwork would have Liston off balance all night.

 

Johnson will still pretty quick though. Liston would find it difficult to hit him clean and Johnson was a master at countering the jab.

 

Johnson was lightning fast. In addition, he may have been physically stronger than Liston, something Sonny was not used to ... Johnson chops him up ...

 

Liston cuts him up and stops him inside of ten.

 

Unless the fix is in, Sonny is going to win the largest purse for the prize money.

Johnson's defense on film vs out fighters is average. It’s true, look at the Moran or Willard fight, or read the news read of the O'Brien fight.

Jack was a better in-fighter then out fighter, but few could hope to clinch Liston, and hit him all day with uppercuts. Sonny was too big, too technical, and hit too hard, and he was 5X the out fighter in comparisons to Moran or Willard who outscored Johnson from the outside on film.

 

johnson was old washed up and obese when he fought moran and willard.

 

Ok, then judge him in fight vs O'Brien ( who out jabbed him ), or Jim Battling Johnson ( who was robbed into a draw ), or Marvin Hart ( even depending on the source ) if you prefer.

If you ask me, Liston whips Jack O'Brien, Jim Batting Johnson, and Marvin Hart in the same night. Those who think Johnson wins via decision need to quantify how. He did not throw enough punches, was not aggressive and relied heavily on clinching / wrestling, and in most cases vs smaller fighters.


There is no way for Johnson to out jab Liston on a consistent basis. Johnson had a low guard, and pulled back well enough vs smaller fighters less skilled fighters, but that game will evaporate into thin air vs a much longer, Ram rod jab that landed with 15" fists.

 

a slaughter. Liston KO's him within 3. another farcical matchup.