Where Would Bowe Have Ended Up, Fighting Prime Liston?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Jun 1, 2025.


Who takes it?

  1. Bowe

    38.5%
  2. Liston

    61.5%
  1. McCallumsJab

    McCallumsJab New Member Full Member

    53
    39
    Jun 2, 2025
    He was great and achieved greatness moving to heavyweight. But he is a lightheavyweight if that in today's boxing world. He's a small guy with a small bonestructure. I'd say physically he's comparable to Roy Jones Jr. Sure he'd beat some heavyweights, but he has a huge disadvantage against many and at least Roy knew when not to trade, where as Floyd did not
     
    Smoochie likes this.
  2. McCallumsJab

    McCallumsJab New Member Full Member

    53
    39
    Jun 2, 2025
    On topic, Bowe is faster, bigger, better workrate, better chin, proven to have a better heart than Liston. If you push a puncher like Liston back you also take away the leverage from his power and Bowe can do this.

    It's different eras though, maybe if Sonny had better food as a child he'd be taller and if he had Emmanual Steward training him he'd be better. Not that he didn't have top class technical skill, he did.
     
    Fergy, Kid Bacon and cross_trainer like this.
  3. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

    25,125
    8,891
    Jul 15, 2008
    Liston was simply better ... his jab would hammer Bowe, Liston was a much bigger puncher, at least as strong, took a much better shot and Bowe got hit often ... I don't see Bowe doing too well.
     
  4. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

    59,872
    43,280
    Feb 11, 2005
    And Bowe was a head case who could be lured into fighting the fight on his opponents terms. Featherfisted, nothing burger Pierre Coetzer gave him issues and frustrated him so badly he resorted to low blowing. An old Tony Tubbs, on a diet of donuts and cocaine, arguably beat him just by demonstrating baseline responsibility. Elijah Tillery got into his head. And slow twitch stiff Golota, the only bigger headcase of the 90's, timed him over two straight fights only to pss it away.

    He and Holy looked great for the same reason that Gatti and Ward looked great. They were both committed to an action fight and their styles meshed. Bowe could have made those fights a lot easier on himself. And the drama of those fights made them both seem more formidable than they were.
     
  5. Kid Bacon

    Kid Bacon All-Time-Fat Full Member

    4,598
    6,030
    Nov 8, 2011
    Right; but in all honesty the Bowe who was emasculated by Golota, was out of the game for good, a punching bag stepping into the ring just to collect a paycheck.
     
    Smoochie likes this.
  6. surfinghb

    surfinghb Boxing Junkie Full Member

    11,469
    17,696
    Aug 26, 2017
    on his back with the lights out
     
  7. Kid Bacon

    Kid Bacon All-Time-Fat Full Member

    4,598
    6,030
    Nov 8, 2011
    I had forgotten how much fun Bowe vs Golota was.

    Ahhh, the 90s; when being a cokehead/headcase was mandatory in the HW division.

    This content is protected
     
    Smoochie and Journeyman92 like this.
  8. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Out For Milk Full Member

    16,974
    18,932
    Sep 22, 2021
    I’m with you but Moorer rematch was 3 years too late IMO to really tell us all that much.
     
  9. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 Out For Milk Full Member

    16,974
    18,932
    Sep 22, 2021
    80s-90s but yeah… glorious we should bring it back.
     
    Kid Bacon likes this.