Would Holyfield Have A Chance Against Sonny Liston?

I think the Heart factor is a big plus for Holyfeild in this match-up but Sonny had better power and would have the early edge....Could be a repeat of Evander/Tyson...

 

Holyfield would always have a chance. He would not be that small a guy with Liston. He would use his jab and try to land his own punches, which were strong punches. If he could handle Lewis and Tyson, he could handle Liston and win.

 

Holyfield has a chance against any heavyweight champ, imo.

 

Liston is better then 96 tyson though. Holyfield certainly wouldn't fold if Liston hits him with one of his bombs.

 

Holyfield is perfect for bullying the spineless bullies with no heart like Tyson and Liston. He can walk-through Liston's best haymakers unhurt like he did with Tyson's. Evander would make Liston quit on his stool after 5/6 rounds. Holyfield would easily out-box, out-brawl, counter and grapple/wrestle Liston around teh ring like he did to prime Tyson. The Warrior would use headbutts and lowblows to show Liston who is the boss and make the coward bully surrender.

 

This could go either way. Holyfield has enough heart to be competitive with any opponent, and Liston was hungry enough to be a brutal finisher. It could be a sound argument in either direction.

 

Tyson is a big puncher and a brutal finisher just like Liston -
BUT he found Holyfield to be bulletproof to even his hardest haymakers and impossible to finish.

 

I like Holy here. When push comes to shove he will out man Sonny.

 

The best version of Holyfield wins, but realistically, that best version didn't show up with regularity. The Holyfield who lost to Moorer or fought Chyz or Cooper loses to Liston.

 

Totally disagree. More like Foreman was a bully with no brains and limited skills. Liston was a bully with brains and terrific skills. Liston is better than my foreman in my mind.

 

I don't think people realize how tough Liston was. He fought 6 rounds with a broken Jaw, came back to win a fight after suffering a badly broken nose, and beat the **** out of a cop. People put way too much stock into those Ali fights. Holyfield was no Ali. This one could get really ugly for holyfield when evander starts to engage and brawl with Sonny.

 

It could get real ugly for Sonny when Holyfield starts to engage and brawl with him too.

 

I take it you haven't watched much Holyfield, earlier Holyfield used lots of movement and was often quick footed. YEs he does like to brawl at times but he can also stick to a gameplan and stick and move very well

The thing here is Holyfield loved to stand upto bullies. So Liston is bullying or intimidating, Holy will just sing some hyms to Liston at the staredown as Liston trys to look mean at him. Holyfield has great chin and heart which will effectively seeh him stand up to Liston and fire back. Holyfield's better handspeed sees him land first or counter Liston. Whether he wins on the backfoot or by backing Liston up and beating him up depends if its the younger flighty 205lb version or the 220lb bulky version

 

Holyfield's brawled with bigger/equal punchers in Lewis, Tyson and Bowe and held his own, Liston presents nothing new in this department