Sonny Liston was robbed

I disagree. Liston was too far past it to defeat Frazier or Ellis. By that time, he was avoiding the top guys in the division anyway. Look at what Leotis Martin, who had been stopped by Ellis in the tournament's first round, did to him in 1969.

 

For that matter so we're Zora Folley, Eddie Machen, Cleveland Williams, and Ernie Terrell.

 

Berbick was robbed against Tyson. His strategy was to let Tyson punch himself out and then come back late and stop a weary Tyson. And everything was going according to plan. But Mills Lane stopped the fight too early, no doubt having been bribed by the Tyson camp.

 

You trying to prove a point, or prop Berbick?

 

All respect my friend, but the top guys in the division actually avoided the aging big bear at that time.

 

Everyone who knows just a little bit about boxing, knows that Liston had swept the division a good 2 years prior to beating Patterson, and wouldn't hold his lack of title defenses against him.
Obviously the public view of him would have been different, had he had his shot in 59/60 and had the opportunity to reign.
However he was past his prime after Ali, and I wouldn't offer him many chances of beating a prime Frazier in 68.
I do agree he deserved another shot though.
In short, boxing is a foul business.

 

I agree that he should have gotten a title shot sooner. But once he HAD the title he only defended it once in 17 months. That’s not really anyone else’s fault. As for his chances of winning the elimination tourney of the late sixties I think he might have done well. But given his KO loss to Leotis Martin in 1969 I think it’s doubtful he would have emerged as champion.

 

It was just a product of bad timing, he could have had an aura of invincibility on the level of Tyson. The level of dominance was there despite his one loss plus everyone who fought him spoke of how great he was plus you had future champs idolizing him. Liston deserved much more public recognition which he rightfully received but only decades after his death.

 

He’s still top ten imo.

 

?

 

I think he’s referring to the fact that all were arguably robbed of a championship shot in their prime and only received it when over the hill or past prime (no idea why Terrell is there though)

 

He said that Liston was robbed, in part because he was ducked by Floyd Patterson for some years. Folley, Machen, Williams, and Terrell were all ducked by Patterson simultaneously. Not like Liston was special.

 

What year should he have gotten his shot at Patterson, you think?