Sonny Listons height and reach

December 1969

North American Boxing Federation 'Heavyweight Championship'

Sonny Liston versus Leotis Martin

According to the Nevada State Boxing Commission.

Sonny Liston

Height.................6' 1"
Reach..................80 1/2"
Chest (Normal)......45"
Chest (Expanded....47 1/2"

 

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At least we can all agree that the size of his FISTS was no exaggeration

 

How did those fists not land on 'The Louisville Lip'

Unless both of those fights were,,,,,,,,,,,

 

Wlad is a full 6" taller. Reach in boxing is measured with extended arms from finger tip to finger tip. This can be misleading and long fingers and wide shoulders do not add to what I view as " striking distance " which is the measurement of the pit of the arm to a clinched fist.

The fighter with a height advantage need to travel has less distance to reach his opponents head because the maximum striking distance is a straight line from the shoulder, and as one punches upward they lose striking distance. This is why its hard for the shorter man with shorter arms to out box a much taller man with longer arms assuming each has skills.

But Liston was a freak. His arms, and fists are off the charts for a man who was likely just a shade over 6 feet tall.

 

You forgot to add fighting ability

 

One sided whuppins???

 

Heart.................. Of a mouse

 

Way too much is made of Liston's reach. He was just over 6'. He was not quite 6'1" and had pretty long arms for a guy his height. He was also pretty wide... but I still doubt he had an 84" reach... that's 7' for God's sake!

It really doesn't matter. Liston was bigger than most he fought.

He beat Folley, Machen, and Patterson x2... all 3 were close in height (between 6' and 6'1") and had shorter reaches (Folley had the longest reach at 77" and he was a 1/2" taller than Liston).

Cleveland Williams was 6'3" with an 80" reach and about the same weight as Liston (between 210-215Lbs. at his best). Liston didn't have much trouble with Williams (KO3 and KO2). Williams came right at Liston with bad defense and a not so great chin. His conditioning wasn't the best either.

A prime Ali was 6'3" and about 215 Lbs. His reach has been listed as short as 79" and as long as 82". His reach certainly didn't look shorter than Liston's when they fought.

Look, even if a guy has a 90" reach it doesn't matter... if he comes right at you. If he's shorter and comes right at you, than it really doesn't matter.

Liston's reach, even if it was 84", would not look like the longer reach vs. guys like Ali (see exhibit A and B), Foreman, Holmes, Bowe, Lewis, W. or V. Klitschko.

 

A lot of these measurement tapes have an agenda.....Liston was listed at 6 1/2 Ft. and he obviously had a long reach but not sure if it was over 80 inches based on his height...hard to tell....the short guys they make shorter unless the PR is trying to emphasize largeness

 

Actually, shoulder width does add striking distance. We don't box squared up to each other like Rock'em Sock'em Robots. We box with one shoulder forward, especially us southpaws. Height is another factor that adds striking distance and defensive distance, just by leaning from the hips.

 

Height,

Less than 6' 1" by a 1/4" inch.

Fist 14 1/2"

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Maybe that height in boxing shoes, which add 1/2" or so. Aren't most boxers measured in fighting gear: shorts, shoes, etc.?

 

I swear to God Archie Moore is trying to hypnotize us in that photo.