Sonny Liston vs. Riddick Bowe

I think Holyfield at heavyweight was more formidable than Patterson and thus harder to beat. Although I say Patterson is more skilled (though one can make an argument for Holyfield), you can't deny Holyfield would be a more difficult opponent to beat. I say this while watching Liston/Patterson 2 at this moment. I in no way can imagine Liston getting Holyfield out of there in 1 round. I can't imagine anyone up to and including the K2 brothers, Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, AJ or Dubois getting a 1992 or 1995 Holyfield out of there in a round. The fighter who could be reasonably believed to stop Holyfield circa 1990-1998 in 1 round doesn’t exist yet and may never exist.

If measured by "difficulty to beat at heavyweight" Holyfield is the better win. However, you can argue that Liston beat Patterson in a much more impressive fashion than Bowe beat Holyfield.

 

Really good one Jake. I d hate to bet this one very hard to call. I hate to bet against Liston but thinking if we compare this to the Cleveland Williams fight that gave Liston trouble early before he turned the tables brilliantly. But Bowe has size and skill over Williams so don’t think Liston can blow him out and he might just outlast Sonny who tended to tire out in late rounds and stop him.

 

You actually hit the nail on the head with your last sentence, which makes it all the more confusing that you missed the gist of my post. Crushing the heavyweight champion in the first round—and then doing it again in the rematch—is a significantly greater achievement than winning a decision and then immediately handing the belt back in the sequel.

 

Really good fight

I switch my pick to Liston late stoppage

Better chin, defense and stamina and more power

Obviously Bowe had a BIG hand speed advantage