Unpopular Opinion: Liston beats everyone that came before him

It'd hardly be unpopular. The only guy I'd give a chance is Louis. At one point many experts did indeed consider Liston better than everyone before him.

 

Louis-Liston is the best heavyweight match up of all time.

You know it.

I know it.

 

I think he beats everyone who came after, including Ali, prime for prime.

 

Louis is the only guy before Liston's time that still holds up by modern standards.

 

Honestly, I find this opinion very credible and I don't see any controversy in it.

I would have the greatest doubts about Liston vs. Louis.

 

Louis is that only guy that I like over him. I like Joe's counterpunching and he had the size and power to hurt Liston for sure.

 

Could see Louis, and possibly Dempsey.

 

No way Liston beats everybody that came before him. There were a ton of amazing fighters that came before him. Not just Liston, but no fighter in history beats everybody that came before them. Every fighter regardless of how talented will have a style they struggle with and Liston wasn't an exception to this rule.

 

Add Jack Johnson and 1 of those 3 is getting his hand raised, isn't he?

 

I don't see any reason to favour Liston over Louis.

 

Liston hits harder than Louis.

 

Hi Buddy.
Probably read better if you had put " imo " after your full stop, how can you tell , unless you have read that some HW had fought both, and picked Liston as the harder hitter, otherwise it's just your opinion, of which I have my reservations, not disputing that Sonny hit very hard, but when you factor in a punch from Joe, cracked, broke, dislodged, a vertebrate in Schmeling spine, plus the faces of Galento and Braddock after sharing the ring with Louis, the giants that were Simon and Buddy Bear being poleaxed by the smaller lighter fighter, I am not so sure Liston hit harder, then again that's just my opinion.
stay safe WB, chat soon buddy.
Mike.

 

I am a Liston fanboy and I agree.

Liston just got unlucky in the era he was in