Sonny Liston vs Jersey Joe Walcott

Good match-up, been a long time since I've seen this one. Similar in height, Liston is a few Lbs. heavier, and has the longer reach. Both are solid. Both are strong men with good power but I'll give Liston the edge in strength and power. Both have good overall skill but were much different fighters. Walcott had quicker hands and better footwork. Walcott was more elusive and better overall IMO. Liston was more durable, stronger, and punched harder... but Walcott had these qualities as well. Liston also had the better (but slower) jab.

Tough call. I could see Liston stopping Waclott in the mid-late rounds but I could also see Walcott winning a decision.

I'm going with Walcott by decision on this day.

 

liston is about 20 pounds heavier and has an 11 inches reach advantage.that's significant.

 

A well prepaired Walcott has a good chance. 60/40 in favor of Liston.

 

Liston ko

 

Charles was not a big puncher? Hmmmm

I was never sold on listons power anyway, he beat up on small heavies and still didnt knock them out in a way that would suggest the incredible punching power attributed to him by many. His best knockout win is... Light heavy patterson? A prolonged beatdown over cleveland williams who even sonny himself said could not take a punch? Hes like the hagler of the heavyweight division to me, solid jab, deceptive speed and defense, versatile when needed and overrated punching power. Theyre even built the same, relatively short with weirdly long arms.

If were taking the liston of the williams fight and not the ali or the martin fights, then we cant take the walcott of the simon fight. Walcott took punches from louis and rocky and didnt blink until they admittedly knocked him out. Liston wont press like louis or rocky nor does he exactly have their workrate although close. If liston has a crucial weakness its his inability to cut off a ring against movers and walcott is just about one of the best movers there were.

I think the fight is decided on listons jab for at least the first 6 rounds. Listons reach is overrated in that i believe it was closer to 80 or 81 inches and that he had broad shoulders and very long, very big fists. I think walcott especially with his head movement can occasionally get close enough to land sharp counters that wake liston up. Weve seen what liston does when he gets frustrated, he opens up and starts swinging for the fences. And thats not a good sign when fighting walcott, louis had to tighten his combos and keep a monk-like state of mind to stop walcott, and still took two fights. Rocky had to abandon his wild swings and opt for a straight right that landed when walcott was tired. I feel walcott is just a bad matchup for liston. A close decision for walcott for me