Sonny Liston vs Joe Louis

The Brown Bomber!! Joe Louis is the greatest heavyweight of all time in my eyes and he beats almost anyone in my eyes H2H, with the exception of maybe Ali. I think his speed, combination punching and just shear tenacity would carry him through here. Don't get me wrong Liston is a beast and would give Joe absolute hell in this fight but they don't make them like Louis anymore, a wonderful fighting machine!! I will take Louis to pummel liston into a bloody and beaten mess and stop him in the 10th round.

Louis ko10!

 

Liston KO5 Louis
I see this as a great 60-40 fight where either man could KO the other, regardless of the final outcome I see Louis hitting the canvas a few times, but to his credit he is one of the best at getting back up. I think it comes down to who badly hurts the other first, as both are devastating punchers and finishers. Louis is the better finisher, but Liston's iron chin makes it more challenging to drop him. I do think Liston's great piston jab will play it's part and I think he'll usually be ready to beat back the Louis bombardments when he gets past "The Cannon".

 

Louis by TKO somewhere in mid to later rounds ... Louis' speed makes the difference .. both guys could knock down buildings ...

 

I'd go with Louis, he'd beat Listion to the punch and eventually stop him in the 10th/11th.

 

Why is Liston getting credit for an "iron chin" here?

 

Footspeed is Listons kryptonite not handspeed. Joe doesnt have enough footspeed to beat Liston in my opinion. Listons long jab keeps Louis right where Sonny needs him to land his straight right all night long

 

I said earlier the jab would be a non-factor. One of the main functions of Louis' whole style - particularly his stance with the head off-centre and his right hand up - is designed to stop an opponent jabbing effectively. If you watch the Carnera fight you'll also see how quickly he can close the distance against a rangier opponent, totally neutralise the jab and counter quickly or let rip with his combinations. Liston's just too slow to the punch and too slow to follow up to deal with that kind of strategic intelligence and physical speed.

 

His head being off center is why he got hit with the right hand down the pipe his whole career. Listons jab is a factor because it is long hard and a rhythm breaker. Louis was a rhythm fighter and even jabbing into his right hand is not only breaking his rhythm but neutralising Joes right. Patterson had fast hands and was effective at closing distance too, he found Sonny a different proposition.
Am I comparing Joe to Floyd? No, just as i would hope you werent comparing Sonny and Primo

 

I've been through this debate many times over........

Liston early or Louis late....... No way in hell this fight goes 15 rds.....:deal

Liston's best chances are within 5 rds, while Louis has the edge from rds 6 thru 15.......

Basically, Liston either mugs Louis quick or gets dissected and stopped by Louis later on......

MR.BILL:bbb

 

This is a true statement. But how many lead right hands have you seen Liston throw in his whole career? Around none would be my guess.

See my previous post. Louis was a master at using an opponent's jab against him, and he wasn't a master defensive fighter.

Which is a "rhythm fighter" when it's at home?

Not really. You paw down the opponent's jab with your right, then you counter over the top with it.

Patterson is totally different to Louis. Patterson waded in with head movement mostly, making him wide open for a guy who could time him. Louis controls the distance, out-times his opponents, makes them miss and makes them pay. Louis has a proven track record at taking away opponent's jabs and coming over the top with a split-second counter, as he did vs. Carnera, literally sweeping a 270-pound man clean off his feet with the shot. That is clearly relevant to this match-up.

 

Off topic, but how would you see this tendency play out against Ali, who certainly liked to throw his lead rights?

 

Louis got hit with right hands period not just lead rights.
If you paw down with and counter with your right you expose your chin and also the punch becomes more of an arm punch. More often to counter the jab with an effective right you either slip the jab or paw with your left.

Louis was an effective combination puncher when he was setting the pace or his opponent allowed him to stalk. Joe struggled when he had to get by effective jabs (JJW) or he was pressured himself. Liston falls into both these catergories

 

Im flattered this coming from you