Sonny Liston vs Moore, Pastrano, Torres ,Foster, tiger, Johnson

Think he pretty much annihilates all of them.

 

Yes I think Sonny at his best (circa 1960) has far too much for all of them. He was the heavyweight champion after all. He would thrash them.

However, every single one of them were better than lightheavyweight Marty Marshall. Bert Whitehurst proved that a tough skinny guy was still more problematic for a near prime Liston than bigger lumbering guys so perhaps a pre prime or post prime Sonny could drop a decision against one or some of that list.

When clay took 1964 version of Liston beyond 4 rounds he found Sonny about as easy to cope with as some of these light heavyweights might. Remember Ali used small man speed and power. For all he had height and reach Ali was swift presenting simular potency. But it is still a long shot.

Johnson and Moore have the best pedigree against heavyweights and probably stand most of that very slim chance.

 

Ali was a true heavyweight and arguably the best of all time. So drawing comparisons between what he did against Liston and what you think those other guys MIGHT do is a pretty far stretch. Marty Marshall fought Liston when he was a 7 fight professional and got thrashed both times in their next two fights. But I agree with the rest of what you said. These guys would all be pretty much screwed against Liston.

 

Regardless he'd get destroyed against Liston even if he were prime. And Pastrami would too.

 

Whitehurst was 6' tall and 190lbs and 192lbs for his Liston fights, hardly skinny.

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I agree with your picks, I would give Johnson the best shot at surviving against Liston but none of them beat a prime Sonny.

 

I can't imagine anyone under 200 having a serious chance against a fully primed Liston. Now there are some who "started" their careers under 200 and filled out later like Evander Holyfield who I might have picked to beat him, but that's an entirely different argument... Pastrami would have no chance.

 

A fully primed Liston was quite something. Rather special ATG.but a pretty small window. What was it 1960-63? In 1963 Liston replicates his best ever win then one fight later he's old.

I still tip Liston to beat those guys but he's a different animal either side of his 1960 prime.

 

Liston wins them all in the 1960's.

He was an extraordinary big man.

Only Johnson might make a good fight of it.

Pastrano's foot speed might keep him away from Liston for a while, but he hasn't got the offensive weapons to score points.

 

Liston would utterly destroy Torres, Pastrano, Tiger and Foster. Moore and Johnson could be interesting.

 

I think Pastrano is getting sold way short here. The guy had a good beard and his footwork was the closest thing to Ali's of anyone on this list. He would be very fast. Faster than anyone Liston fought including possibly Ali. If he came into the ring in shape (which is not something you want to count on with Pastrano) he might very well render Liston totally ineffective. My only reservation would be that Pastrano had no zip on his punches to keep Liston at bay. Otherwise this might not be the mismatch it appears.