Were Does Sonny Liston Rank in ATG Heavyweight list?

i feel he is top 10 or atleast 15

 

i think 6 is about right but i have never made a top 10 heavyweights might make 1 tonight

 

Everybody has different top 10 lists depending on what they personally look for in a fighter. You also have to take into account what era they fought in and take into account the standard of opposition .. For me Sonny Liston belongs at 9 or 10, and you could put Foreman, Tyson and even Dempsey at that point .. People love Dempsey and im a big fan but he is often elevated because he was perhaps the most popular fighter in the history of the heavyweight division, sometimes the mythology of the man takes over from the facts .. I personally have Gene Tunney and Jack Johnson ahead of Liston, Foreman and Dempsey, thats my opinion and plenty of people disagree with it ..

 

Under no cirumstances does he deserve in anyway shape or form to be edging into a top 5 list. His overall record as a heavyweight doesn't deserve such a placing. Because he never got his title shot earlier and eventually lost the title to Ali doesn't do him any favors. I suppose he was unfortunate. He was champion for under 2 years.

 

Somewhere in the lower 10. Very close to Tyson.

 

Length of tenure as champion is not the critical factor. Foreman never had a long reign, but he is undoubtedly a top 10 heavyweight. I actually rank Liston higher than Big Overrated George.

 

No, he's not.

 

I think he is. Not a fan at all, but I think he is.

 

I have Liston low in the top-15 ATHvy's. But anyone in the top-15 can be reasonably argued as top-5.

 

It's a critical factor when others done better. Fought better opponents, reigned longer, and regained the title, etc. Liston's record is clearly inferior to other great heavyweights. If someone tells me otherwise, it be the equivalent of telling me having £10 in your pocket is better than having £20.

Outwith Liston only reigning as champion for under 2 years, his quality of opponents in non-title bouts don't exactly catapult him into a justified top 5 placing.

Being at the very top in boxing is holding a world title. Ask all the pro fighters in gyms up and down the country who have goals and most will tell you thats what they strive for, being a world champion. Liston's time at the very top was brief. And while he had a hard upbringing when he was thrown to the wolves during the 50's, not one of these wolves challenged for world title themselves, far less win a title. Liston was mixing with decent class and solid top challengers while he wasn't champion, but you would need to be mentally handicapped to say this along with his brief time as champion is deserving of a top 5 placement. :good