The Liston Of The Patterson Fights...

I don't think Liston was as dangerous as peak Tyson simply because he didn't have Mike's speed and explosiveness. I'm not saying Tyson would beat Liston or that Tyson would do better against other greats, but I think Tyson would be more dangerous overall. Tyson would surprise more fighters - at least early on!

 

I think he was better than Tyson H2H.
It's hard to accurately assess Liston though. His losses to Clay/Ali were odd, and then he faded away.

 

He was diferent.

He would in my opinion have beaten Tyson at any stage of their respactive careers for stylistic reasons.

That dose not mean he was better however.

 

Liston had fought 3 rounds in approx. two years, and 6 rounds in
3 years before falling to Clay / Ali.

In retrospect it is not that surprising Liston lost.

Jess Willard & Jack Dempsey both laid off 3 years as champs and their crowns came tumbling off.

 

I'd say Liston was better in '58-'60. A bit lighter and quicker, while still very heavy handed. He'd be up there with the best - top five.

 

A conspicuous difference is that Willard and Dempsey both fought hard to hang on to the crown, and they took bad beatings in the process.
Liston capitulated almost inexplicably.

 

"Liston capitulated almost inexplicably."

Those four words pretty much sum up the 2 Ali fights.

Good job "Jab".

 

Liston wasn't explosive like Tyson. If Liston and Tyson were coming up the pro ranks at the same time, I bet Tyson would garner more attention! Again, I'm not making a case for one guy being better or more capable than the other, but I just think Tyson would be a more dangerous opponent to a wider array of fighters than Liston. It's that speed and explosiveness of Tyson's.

 

He was awesome. My uncle took my cousin to see the first Liston-Patterson fight at a drive-in movie theatre on Long Island. My uncle made the mistake of going to get popcorn and missed the fight!

 

Tyson was more explosive, but Liston had that jab and freakish reach. Mentally they seem to have been much the same: bullies who tended to fold when things clearly didn't go their way. A toss up, really, but it's a fight I would like to see no doubt.

 

Hahaha, classic story!

 

I guess I am supposed to believe he was some sort Colossus in defeating Patterson and yet just over 6 months later he was schooled by a very green, vulnerable and scared Clay.

No thanks on the Kool-Aid.

H2H he ranks somewhere around Schmeling and Ron Lyle.