Sonny Liston vs these 80's contenders

Good point, Gordon. You see statements along the lines of "Tyson wasn't all that. His opponents fell to the floor terrified." It's like the only reason they have such impressive records is down to their opponents' fear but this is no chicken/egg scenario. It's evident what came first.

Fighters don't just fall over scared. They get intimidated by seeing fights of the likes of Liston, Foreman and Tyson knocking their opponents bandy.

I would imagine it takes a serious body of devastating work to garner (to coin a phrase) the kind of reputation that causes hardened men to go weak at the knees. Liston, Foreman and Tyson had to pay their dues to get that kind of aura. It doesn't mean they were actually invincible; they clearly weren't. But nobody should discredit how fearsome they had to be, initially, to get the advantage of a scared opponent.

 

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Cleveland Williams had serious nerve problems with his legs related to his gut shooting by a .357 mag from a Houston cop in the mid-1960's (the Ali fight most noticeable). Back in the late 1950's Cleveland Williams moved very well for a big man.

 

Yes its a point well made.

 

It naturally hurts when your post is deleted when you make good points and have been a boxing fan since 1959 when I was barely 6 years old.

 

Liston would be troubled by Tim Witherspoon and Thomas, but he would definitely beat Thomas, who didn't have a whole lot besides that strong jab. Everyone else he steamrolls.

 

I got Liston against all of them

 

Get an ambulance , Sonny would be arrested for manslaughter