Who takes this and how? Would have been great to see the jab war. Sonny has the physicality but Larry has the skill. Tough call, my instincts say Sonny.
Punching power aside I think Larry is miles better than sonny. Larry can outjab him and the times when sonny gets through I think Larry can hold his own with superior hand speed. Holmes wins by shutout or maybe liston quits because he's too far behind on points.
There most definitely was not anything overrated about either of these two guys jabs. Both were strong, precise and to the point of target on an opponents head. I would say that the only thing in the intangible category that wins this fight for Larry Holmes over Sonny Liston is his underrated lateral movement along with his solid piston like jab. Both guys are almost literally dead even in the jab department but Holmes' lateral movement is what most certainly puts him a few steps up from Liston. My prediction; Larry "The Easton Assasin" Holmes by a fairly close but convincing unanimous 15-round decision over Sonny Liston. Personal note: If professional boxing ever had a fantasy league as far as which fights between which fighters from any era you were able to stage against each other at any time, Muhammad Ali in his prime all aside, the only two heavyweight champions/icons that I would not put Larry Holmes in the ring against would be Jack Johnson and Jack Dempsey!
Although Sonny would be a tough nght for larry, I'll still pick Holmes to win. His lateral movement and edge in handspeed combined with his mental fortitude and wll to win would see him through. Sonny would be dangerous but Larry could deal with whatever Liston brings to the table. The only fighter that resembled Holmes stylewise that Sonny fought was Ali and we all know how he fared against him. I think Larry would be all wrong for Sonny. Big, mobile and fast. Larry fought all types of opponents and wasn't intimidated by any of them. Mentally he was stronger than Liston and that would be a factor here. Liston was a front runner. He was deadly when things were going his way or when he knew he had an opponent scared but when you stood up to him he seemed a bit uncertain. I say Holmes by decision. Might have a few scary moments but will find a way to win.
I think this is mostly a myth. The easy journalistic hook. Cleveland Williams didnt appear scared when he was peppering Sonny with powerpunches in the first 3 rounds of their fight. Liston was also a guy who fought on with a broken jaw early in his career and got off the canvas to knock a man out. With that said I would lean towards Larry Holmes in this matchup. The taller faster man and the better boxer. If Sonny does crack Holmes we know that Larry had the heart and the ability to recover and continue to fight his fight. Holmes by decision.
