Who likely would have dethroned Sonny Liston

Best case scenario he could've reigned till Foreman.

 

Hard to say, his lifestyle outside of the ring led him to deteriorate very fast after the Patterson fights. He was also a couple years older than the age he was officially listed as. Most likely scenario imo is he gets out-hustled by a young Frazier and loses a close decision.

 

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1965, 1966, 1967? One always wonder if Ernie Terrell might have had the huevos and the boxing / tie-up skills, to do what the much smaller Eddie Machen did to a prime Liston....but eke out a decision win.

 

If Liston would have been around longer as a champ I think Patterson would have stayed a lhw for longer. Terrell is a good pick to beat him. Frazier later as well. Quarry, Chuvalo, Bonavena I just can't see.

 

Young Frazier was the best heavyweight of the latter part of the 60s and would have beaten Liston or even Clay had they met then.

 

Frazier is the only one in my book

 

Could have been Ernie Terrel, Doug Jones or even a two handed Eddie Machen. Fighting as few rounds I think 1964 was as far as Liston was going to go really. Maybe he could win the title back later on though.

I think a good percentage of Listons demise to Ali was due to how few rounds he was getting between the Machen fight to the Ali fight. Sonny really was not the same fighter by the time he met Ali in 1964. He had lost too much ground with inactivity. I believe it could have been recaptured if he built back up with more regular fights but a loss was due around that 1964 time anyway.

Chuvalo might have even given Liston a run for his money if Sonny could not stop him early. George was a real handful in the Patterson fight. Sonny got too tired against Ali to do 15 rounds. I think he was preparing for one round fights by then.

 

Terrell was washed up at top level after his February fight with Ali in 67

 

I'd take Bonavena in 67-68 to survive the early onslaught and wear Liston down over 15 rounds. I think he is the only one of the listed crew who I could see having the physicality and stamina to brawl and outlast him. I think Frazier comes in wide and open and gets bounced like a rubber ball just like in Jamaica nine times out of ten up until then. Maybe after Sonny slowed down a bit more, then Frazier could stay upright long enough for stamina to prevail.

 

Liston would have been an old man in 1967. 37 years old. Frazier the up and coming fresh and Young great fighter would stop Liston within 8 rounds. He would just wear him out with his constant pressure. That's where Listons reign ends.