Id take Holmes by decision, but Liston is a dangerous slight underdog who if he could hurt Holmes (a definite possibility) could probably stop him. Larry would need to be on top of his game for this one.
To me Holmes was both the greater and better fighter. I would envision Larry stopping Sonny late while up on the cards.
I'd narrowly favor The Big Bear. Holmes would glide around in the early going and likely lead the cards. He'd settle down at some point and the battle would begin. Liston would start finding the mark and at some point drop the bomb. He'd pressure a hurt Holmes and after two knockdowns the ref would save a game Holmes lets say around the 8th or 9th.
Excellent post. I Agree. I'd just like to add, that most men, when they have their opponents hurt, swing and swing with everything they have. Holmes could easily survive that. Unfortunately Liston is not most men, he took his time, looked for openings, remained calm, and didn't waste a punch when finishing a hurt opponent.
I also selected the option Larry on points, because it is a quite likely scenario. First of all; You guys have really made some very good points here. I really see a slight...a minimal advantage by Holmes. Throughout his long career Holmes used his style very well to keep punchers at a distance for most of the time. Despite he was vulnerable to an overhand right, he often came back very well when he got hurt. In addition, it was a strength of Larry to win fights and rounds relatively close, but still safe. I have to say i'm a little bit torn with my imagination. I definatelly see more than 1 likely scenario. It all depends on if Larry can stay away from Liston. 1. Larry manages to keep the distance and outboxes Liston for most of the time. Liston will have good moments in and outside, but Larry absorbes it very well. Larry's sharp jab is having a significant effect in the middle rounds. Liston gets exhausted, he could not manage to catch Larry anymore and running into more and more punches. Larry will stay focused and wins almost all later rounds. -> Holmes on points 25% -> TKO Holmes / Ref stops the fight because of Listons swollen eyes / cuts 15% ~Round 10-14 -> KO Holmes 5% -> The punchers chance / lucky punch: KO Liston 5% 2. Sonny is able to clsose the distance. Larry gets occasionally overwhelmed by Sonny's power from early on. He is not able to back him off neither to avoid many of the close combat situations. Liston is able to connect some solid punches from early on... 2.1 ...Liston will be the effective aggressor for most of the fight and lands good shots periodicly. Holmes is focused on not getting knocked out for most of the time and tries to steal some rounds with some late combinations. -> UD Liston 20%, SD Holmes 10% 2.2...Liston is able to land some clean shots frequently. He will wear him down and finishes off a hurt Larry cold at ~round 6-10. -> Liston KO 20%
As composed a finisher as Liston could be i do not think that is how you stop Holmes, the only account of him being stopped happening was when he was ring rusty and even then it required an almighty blitz from Tyson to put him down for i think a 3KD TKO? so even then he was not completely finished. (Though i doubt he would survive to anywhere near the final bell with anything short of a brain injury.) Hurting Larry was one thing putting down a man with one foot in poverty for the count is another. At his best Larry fought to dominate, Every time he was rocked and dropped in his youth it was astonishing no one before or since have ever had such conviction in there pair eyes admits the jaws of defeat. From dirt poor to filthy rich as he says that is his story. filthy, grim hardship on the path to gold. No doubt Larry will labor against Sonny I think the early goings will belong to Holmes. he will scrape by in the battle of the jabs with his fleet footwork and a combination of timing, speed and accuracy to Listons cold powerful approach to the jab off. Sensing a loss of momentum by the fifth Charles stops sleep walking and batters Larry head, body, head, body backing Holmes up whenever he lands with his herculean gifts but to no vale by the ninth it has become a stalemate only for as long as Larry uses his adaptability to take a breather. Sonny fades into round twelve as a side effect of trying to close the curtain however and It becomes all Holmes from there on out. An honest earned 9-6 W for Holmes. IMO Sonny would beat Holmes about 40% of the time.
I meant to put Holmes by decision. Anyway i just dont see how Sonny Liston beats him. Styles make fights.
You can't see Liston, finishing what Shavers, Snipes, and Weaver started, despite him being a much better fighter, and better finisher than all of the above men?
It has to do with Styles. Holmes vs Liston would be a replica of Ali vs Liston. Holmes isn't as mobile but he's good enough. He also overextended with his jabs and Holmes could capitalize, but you do bring up good points
When i watch fights like Holmes - Berbick i think to myself: If Sonny Liston or some other fairly skilled puncher / boxer puncher would be in his place...Larry would be in big trouble. Berbick occasionally found some good ways to close the distance and created some decent openings, but he didn't manage to land some bombs.