How would the technical Johnson done against the formidible Liston? I haven't had the chance to view much footage on Johnson...But I recently had the opportunity to watch Johnson/Doug Jones...That was a masterclass of technical boxing by Johnson...Johnson certainly has the capabilty to slip Liston's monster jab...and even though the Jones fight was later in his career, he demonstrated very good speed...enough speed to work angles and counter punch with Sonny... Does anyone give him a chance?...It would be a longshot...
I saw him fight several times on TV..Archie Moore had his number. I don't think he was mentally tough enough to take on Liston....in a title fight. Though he probably would have done better than Patterson due to styles. Liston by TKO in 6.
Liston would be the favourite. It could be an interesting fight like Liston - Machen. Johnson was a muscular and athletic boxer, but I do not how good his mental toughness was (are there any informations about his personal background?) Maybe Liston by decision or a knock out in the later rounds.
I think Johnson might lack the pop to keep Liston off him ,and he wasnt as mobile as Machen usually ,so I see Sonny getting to him eventually ko around 9.
I believe Johnson was scheduled to fight Liston early in his career, in '55 i believe... Harold was a 50 fight veteran at that point, i think he would've beaten a green Liston then. But in '63, Liston was at his peak and probably stops Johnson late.
Harold Johnson was an excellent boxer and master ring technician. He is underrated and not as high profile as some of the other LHW champs like maybe Bob Foster or Michael Dokes. But beat a monster like the 1963 Sonny Liston? NO!!!. Johnson puts up a fine boxing display to last a few rounds but is finally stopped somewhere in the middle rounds.
He might well have beaten the green Liston of the 50s. I could stretch a point and see him beating the Liston of the first Ali fight. The Liston of the first Patterson fight would not have been denied.
I think Johnson would find himself undersized and outgunned in this match. He wasn't big or physically strong enough to hang with Liston in the clinches, and he didn't have enough power to keep Sonny honest. I see this going a lot like the Liston-Machen fight, with Johnson appearing competitive at times, but ultimately being clearly outpointed, or stopped at some point if Liston catches him flush.
Interesting question. If you go to boxrec.....you see Harold was fighting and beating some of the exact guys Liston was...except Liston is much bigger. http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=6138&cat=boxer In reality, Johnson might even had been able to beat Patterson, but was never given the chance.
Thank God this is why we have weight divisions in boxing. A great technician like Johnson had no business going in against a guy the size of Liston. I'm glad the match was never made, like I'm glad other greats of the past never ventured too deep into waters they couldn't have possibly succeeded in. Sonny Liston was way too big and powerful for any lightheavyweight and that would have included Harold Johnson. Willie Pastrano was fighting in the heavyweight division in the early sisties, and wisely decided to drop back down to lightheavy when he saw and heard of Liston. A wise move. It's good when a fighter sticks to his natural weight class, and has the sense to remain there.
I can't picture a lightheavyweight like Johnson surviving against the 1963 Liston. Maybe Johnson runs and survives for a few rounds, but I think Sonny would eventually catch him.
