Sonny Liston vs Ridddick Bowe

Liston by stoppage.

 

Bowe has every single advantage here. Firstly and this is important, Bowe has much better technical form in terms of how straight and compact his punches were and his balance and footwork. He's also the much bigger man, he'd push Liston around, he's faster so he can land first

Bowe wins - mid rounds stoppage

 

Liston has the better jab.
The longer reach.
The harder punch.
The better defence.

 

Bowe was 17lbs heavier for the Golota fight than he was for his 1st win over Holyfield, he had lost his focus and dedication.Prime Bowe beats up the Pole.

 

Liston had 3 inches of reach on Bowe.

 

Uh,,no. ....and Bowe ain't going to push Sonny Liston around., and that's for sure.

 

I don't agree he had a better jab or bigger punch. He was knocking down small men, where as Bowe was taking out bigger men.

Bowe had a faster more fluid jab but Liston used his jab more. Either way this wouldn't be a jabbing contest, it would be a war.

Was Liston better defensive? He had more defensive sensibilities. Bowe had great head movement when he wanted to use it. But he knew he could win out exchanging with anyone, so he often dispensed with defensive sensibilities and looked to exchange

For me if you look at the Liston-Williams match, Williams beats Liston to the punch but folds in the exchanges. Bowe would also beat Liston to the punch but his iron chin and iron will would see him come out on top through the exchanges

 

Bowe is the bigger stronger man with 20-40lbs on his opponent. Liston never saw anything like Bowe

 

......and Bowe never looked across the ring at Charles Sonny Liston. My guess is Riddick would put his belt in the trash can before fighting Liston.

 

I agree Bowe ducked Lennox Lewis. Emmanuel Steward said Eddie Futch told him he thought Lennox would beat up his man so pushed Bowe to take other fights.

But Liston isn't Lennox Lewis. He's smaller than Bowe, slower than Bowe, is less fluid than Bowe and doesn't put his combinations together anywhere near as well.

 

Liston hit harder than Bowe ,and Sonny has one of the top5 heavyweight jabs of all time.Find me a list that says otherwise.

 

Prime Liston's speed was compatible with Bowe's.

 

Prime Bowe was 235lbs ,[for Holyfield,] Liston 212lbs.Liston fought big guys Valdes,DeJohn,Williams,Zech,Wepner.

 

Well... not really

 

Not really big men by 90s standards though are they, Wepner aside? Who in turn wasn't very good.

Liston would look the size of Holyfield against Bowe in there too and be much slower