Who had the better Career Resume...Liston or Johnson

You seem to have missed the part where I unhelpfully pointed out that Johnson actualy beat far more true (200lb+) heavyweights than Liston!

People deploying the size argument in favour of Liston are realy scoring a masive own goal, because Johnson has got it sewn up on size of opposition argument.

 

Well, Johnson also had a size, age, and weight advantage in many of his fights. While its true Liston did not make many title defense, he pretty much cleaned out the division before getting a shot, then faced a young Ali. I don't think Johnson would defeat the Ali that Liston fought either.

I may be the only one here who thinks this, but Johnson's victory over a 20 year old 156 pound Langford wasn't special. That Langford would not last 6 rounds with Liston.

 

Unlike Jim Jeffries?

N.B. Johnson was the lighter man in 4 of his 10 defences.

N.B. Johnson was the older man in 8 of his 10 defences. He also was the same age as
O Brien.
Only Jeffries was older ,by 3 years.


Johnson gave away.
3 years to Willard.
9 years to Moran.
9 years to Jim Johnson.
8 years to Ketchel.
8 years to Kaufman.
7 years to Ross.
N.B Johnson was 3 years older than Burns whom he took the title off.

 

I think apollack covered this already, didn't he? It's highly unlikely Johnson would get near a title shot at that time without cleaning the division thoroughly, specially considering his personality. As for the young Ali H2H, that's a whole thread in itself (and a thread that would be inconclusive IMO).