Who do you guys think hit harder, Sonny Liston or Mike Tyson? I believe Liston was the hardest hitter in boxing history, but what do you guys think???

Tough call. Liston probably threw wit more force, but Tyson had great handspeed which enhanced his punchin power. Hard to say.

That is a tough one. I would say Liston. I have a feeling some of Tyson opponents went down a little easy.

Liston was real heavy handed, massive arms and fists, i just don't think he was quick enough to sometimes unload those huge shots. And that's what makes a puncher.

hard one... tyston?

Hard to say, many feel that Liston's power (as opposed to and physical stature and strength) was overrated by his contemporaries. One should take into consideration that he was a converted orthodox, explaining his powerful jab but weakening his right hand power shots.

Incidentally, I've also heard that Tyson was converted orthodox, but he seemed a bit more ambidextrous than most.

Liston had the most powerful left jab of all times, but punching? hard to say.

Liston was the heavier handed so out fo the two I'll say he hit a bit harder.

Thats a tough question...I think people forget just how devestating a puncher Liston was...On the other hand, Mike Tyson is fresh in everyones memory so its just natural that many will assume that he was the harder puncher...

IMO the biggest difference between the two is that Tyson pretty much threw every punch with the intent of knocking his opponent out...Liston on the other hand was a little more technical in his approach...As far as one punch KO power is concerned I give a slight edge to Liston...

I think maybe I'd give a small edge to Sonny. The guy used to break heavybags in training with his left hook.....try that sometime. The truth is, though, when you get to that level of power that guys like Liston and Tyson possessed it becomes a bit like splitting hairs. Both had one-punch KO power but any differences are a matter of small degrees that you probably couldn't tell the difference in the ring; until you start getting to the real frightening punchers like Shavers and Foreman where you stop thinking of one-punch KO power and start thinking of one-punch KILL power.

Power

I think maybe I'd give a small edge to Sonny. The guy used to break heavybags in training with his left hook.....try that sometime. The truth is, though, when you get to that level of power that guys like Liston and Tyson possessed it becomes a bit like splitting hairs. Both had one-punch KO power but any differences are a matter of small degrees that you probably couldn't tell the difference in the ring; until you start getting to the real frightening punchers like Shavers and Foreman where you stop thinking of one-punch KO power and start thinking of one-punch KILL power.

Power

Shavers was defently a killer, but i do not think he hit as hard as Liston or Tyson. As for Foreman, he could defently pound you with thoes long looping hooks, but i read an interview that was done with him a few years ago where he explained that he was Listons sparring partner when he was up and comming. He went on to say that it was not uncommon for him to do down againt him a few times a round in sparring, they asked who he thought hit harder both in their prime, George said Sonny easy, he was an absolute monster.

Shavers was defently a killer, but i do not think he hit as hard as Liston or Tyson. As for Foreman, he could defently pound you with thoes long looping hooks, but i read an interview that was done with him a few years ago where he explained that he was Listons sparring partner when he was up and comming. He went on to say that it was not uncommon for him to do down againt him a few times a round in sparring, they asked who he thought hit harder both in their prime, George said Sonny easy, he was an absolute monster.

Earnie Shavers is generally regarded as the hardest punching Heavyweight ever. Polls of experts and boxing historians he consistantly place him at the top of the list usually by a confortable margin. Consider also that Larry Holmes fought both Tyson and Shavers and said that hands down Shavers NOT Tyson was the hardest puncher he faced. This is simply a matter of punching power NOT a consideration of other factors that go into making a puncher ie. precision of punches ect. Tyson may very well have been a more effective puncher over-all but that doesn't make him the HARDER puncher.

Poet

It's not a tough question. Tyson hit harder.

I would go with Tyson, and at this point both Lewis and Wlad have better jabs then Liston, not to take away anything from him though.

I think Listons shots were more Thudding and heavy, theyd stay with a guy!
Where as Tysons were BAM! Fast hard and snappy, Hate to compare Mike with Zab Judah as he is an allround puncher but Mike would be the Judah type of puncher to Listons Cotto type if that makes sense!?

I would go with Tyson, and at this point both Lewis and Wlad have better jabs then Liston, not to take away anything from him though.

No way Lewis had a better jab than Liston. I think Listons was a little quicker, they both had the same reach on it, and Listons was 10 times more powerfull, Liston could knock people out with a single jab, Lewis was never able to do that. Walds was also good but both Listons and Lewis's were better.

Slight edge to Sonny. Very similar styles, and both were undressed by master boxers

I think Listons shots were more Thudding and heavy, theyd stay with a guy!
Where as Tysons were BAM! Fast hard and snappy, Hate to compare Mike with Zab Judah as he is an allround puncher but Mike would be the Judah type of puncher to Listons Cotto type if that makes sense!?

Good post. i agree with the comparison.

Good post. i agree with the comparison.
Good, i know what i ment but i was worried it would sound stupid! lol

I think maybe I'd give a small edge to Sonny. The guy used to break heavybags in training with his left hook.....try that sometime. The truth is, though, when you get to that level of power that guys like Liston and Tyson possessed it becomes a bit like splitting hairs. Both had one-punch KO power but any differences are a matter of small degrees that you probably couldn't tell the difference in the ring; until you start getting to the real frightening punchers like Shavers and Foreman where you stop thinking of one-punch KO power and start thinking of one-punch KILL power.

Power


Liston treated 150 lb bags like 40 lbders..he had arms like Foreman and even bigger fists. It's to bad he wasn't the quickest fighter, with his genetic gifts (massive fists and reach).

In terms of a Jab i'm gonna say Holmes had a better jab, maybe not heavier but definently better. Listons was a heavy jab that he used his reach to his advantage.

I hate Tyson with a passion, but even I can't deny the sheer explosive power of his punches. I have never seen anyone get KO'ed the way he KOs guys, and I've seen several tapes of Liston in action.

I hate Tyson with a passion, but even I can't deny the sheer explosive power of his punches. I have never seen anyone get KO'ed the way he KOs guys, and I've seen several tapes of Liston in action.

speed kills thats why, if you can't catch a fighter with one of those shots, you aren't going to have a great KO record. Tyson had solid power in both fists, but topped it off with incredible speed. I've been watching a lot of Liston's fights lately, his only real short coming was his lack of speed, he plodded behind his big jab - but he was very slow.

Liston may have had heavier hands than Tyson, He just had a hard time catching his opponent's.

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc_268cv1pI&feature=related

even the punches he lands on the arms are moving his opponent, but as you can see he has difficulty landing it on the jaw or under the rib (catching his opponent by suprise)

Liston treated 150 lb bags like 40 lbders..he had arms like Foreman and even bigger fists. It's to bad he wasn't the quickest fighter, with his genetic gifts (massive fists and reach).

In terms of a Jab i'm gonna say Holmes had a better jab, maybe not heavier but definently better. Listons was a heavy jab that he used his reach to his advantage.

Yeah, usually when talk comes around to Heavyweight jabs it's always Holmes, Liston, and Louis (no particular order) that historians bring up. Maybe Holmes had the best of the bunch but I wouldn't fancy trying to get inside of any of the three's.

Btw, I used to think of Liston as very slow but in watching some of his fights he may have been faster than I gave him credit for. I still don't think he's fast but definately not as slow as I once thought.

Poet

It's not a tough question. Tyson hit harder.

If it's so inherantly obvious than please reveal to us uninlightend dolts the criterion that makes it so. Or are you just a kid who thinks boxing started with Tyson?

Poet

I would say Sonny Liston had the slightly harder punch. Mike Tyson was the more effective puncher though.

margarito with his plaster lol!

Hard one, I've never been punched by either. I think Tyson had explosive power and Liston had more power from strength, like Foreman, if that makes any sense.

Liston was a harder one punch hitter.

Hard one, I've never been punched by either. I think Tyson had explosive power and Liston had more power from strength, like Foreman, if that makes any sense.

It does. Holmes once described the difference between getting knocked down by Shavers and getting knocked down by Tyson as "Tyson was like getting run over by a Ferrari and Shavers was like getting run over by an 18 wheeler". In other words: Shavers was the more powerful puncher, while Tyson the more explosive puncher.

Poet

Liston was a harder one punch hitter.

Good avatar! I love it when people give the old-timers their props. Makes me think there's hope for humanity LOL!

Poet

I think Liston was the harder puncher and more heavy handed. I think Tyson's power so effective because he had the speed with it, and Sonny didn't need speed and he wasn't the fastest fighter in the world, he was just a machine. I know Floyd didn't have the best chin, but i don't think Ive ever seen anyone effected that much when they are touched to the head. Not only that but Liston knocked him out twice, and both in the very first round.

Who do you guys think hit harder, Sonny Liston or Mike Tyson? I believe Liston was the hardest hitter in boxing history, but what do you guys think???
Very good question. On my vote I picked Tyson. But thinking a bit more about it, I'll swing more towards Liston, because he was just so naturally strong. Tyson's hand speed and aggression contributed to his awesome power, but if Sonny touch you, it was over. I think the hardest puncher ever though was Ernie Shavers. What do you think?

Liston treated 150 lb bags like 40 lbders..he had arms like Foreman and even bigger fists. It's to bad he wasn't the quickest fighter, with his genetic gifts (massive fists and reach).

In terms of a Jab i'm gonna say Holmes had a better jab, maybe not heavier but definently better. Listons was a heavy jab that he used his reach to his advantage.
I agree. I'm not much of a Holmes fan, and there were no great fighters in is day to really gage his place in history. But I do believe he had one of, if not the best jab in boxing history(though he could get a little lazy with it at times and get caught by an over hand right at times. Shavers could've been champion if he could've calmed down after hurting Holmes). Listons was much harder though, and very effective.

Very good question. On my vote I picked Tyson. But thinking a bit more about it, I'll swing more towards Liston, because he was just so naturally strong. Tyson's hand speed and aggression contributed to his awesome power, but if Sonny touch you, it was over. I think the hardest puncher ever though was Ernie Shavers. What do you think?

honestly from watching both liston and shavers fight, it looked to me that liston was the stronger puncher. I know ali said shavers hit him the hardest, but watch the ali-liston fights, liston never landed a good hard clean punch on him like shavers did. some say liston lost to ali because ali's speed was much to overwelming, yes there was defentaly an issue there. but i am still a firm believer that both fights were fixed. a 21-22 year old kid beating the most feared athlete the world had seen to that piont. i dont think so. just my opinion.

honestly from watching both liston and shavers fight, it looked to me that liston was the stronger puncher. I know ali said shavers hit him the hardest, but watch the ali-liston fights, liston never landed a good hard clean punch on him like shavers did. some say liston lost to ali because ali's speed was much to overwelming, yes there was defentaly an issue there. but i am still a firm believer that both fights were fixed. a 21-22 year old kid beating the most feared athlete the world had seen to that piont. i dont think so. just my opinion.


tyson hit harder than liston and shavers . tyson knocked his sparring partners out with 18 ounce gloves. also shavers and listons gloves were a lot less padded . they were made from horse hair . also tyson is the only fighter to knock down oliver mccall who had probably the best chin in heavyweight history.

tyson hit harder than liston and shavers . tyson knocked his sparring partners out with 18 ounce gloves. also shavers and listons gloves were a lot less padded . they were made from horse hair . also tyson is the only fighter to knock down oliver mccall who had probably the best chin in heavyweight history.

But did Shavers and Liston have the footspeed to dance around the ring?

Mike Tyson

tyson hit harder than liston and shavers . tyson knocked his sparring partners out with 18 ounce gloves. also shavers and listons gloves were a lot less padded . they were made from horse hair . also tyson is the only fighter to knock down oliver mccall who had probably the best chin in heavyweight history.

Horse****. Tyson may have hit the cocaine harder or his ex-wives but in the ring no-way. People who know a HELL of a lot more about boxing than you ever will have already rated Shavers the hardest punching Heavyweight ever. Now, go back to drinking your Tyson brand KoolAid you nuthugging fan boi.

Poet

Horse****. Tyson may have hit the cocaine harder or his ex-wives but in the ring no-way. People who know a HELL of a lot more about boxing than you ever will have already rated Shavers the hardest punching Heavyweight ever. Now, go back to drinking your Tyson brand KoolAid you nuthugging fan boi.

Poet

Now for me, I'm no Tyson nuthugger but I have to ask... Why do you think Shavers hits the hardest ever? Word of mouth? Seeing the fights? I saw some of his fights but I just don't fully see it.

Now for me, I'm no Tyson nuthugger but I have to ask... Why do you think Shavers hits the hardest ever? Word of mouth? Seeing the fights? I saw some of his fights but I just don't fully see it.

A. Watching his fights.
B. The views of boxing historians
C. The testimonials of fighters that fought Shavers, in particular Larry Holmes
who fought them BOTH.

Poet

Hard one, I've never been punched by either. I think Tyson had explosive power and Liston had more power from strength, like Foreman, if that makes any sense.
That makes perfect sense. Some guys are explosive, like Tyson,some are heavy handed like Liston and some are monster strong like Foreman. Then you have guys like Mayweather that aren't huge hitters, but he hits you so damn clean and so often that you will go out. Camacho hit like a feather, but he put Leonard to sleep from an amazingly clean shot. And Leonard had a good chin.

Now for me, I'm no Tyson nuthugger but I have to ask... Why do you think Shavers hits the hardest ever? Word of mouth? Seeing the fights? I saw some of his fights but I just don't fully see it.

A. Watching his fights.
B. The views of boxing historians
C. The testimonials of fighters that fought Shavers, in particular Larry Holmes
who fought them BOTH.

Poet

Horse****. Tyson may have hit the cocaine harder or his ex-wives but in the ring no-way. People who know a HELL of a lot more about boxing than you ever will have already rated Shavers the hardest punching Heavyweight ever. Now, go back to drinking your Tyson brand KoolAid you nuthugging fan boi.

Poet

View of historians . And who are these historians?. Bert Sugar . a guy who knows about boxing history but knows nothing about boxing itself . Who has he or these historians ever fought or trained? . Nobody . The real experts such as emmanuel steward, eddie futch and angelo dundee and all his trainers such as rooney, brooks and roach all agree that tyson was up there with the hardest punchers in history . what holmes or any of those other 80's bums have to say about his power is irrelevant . All those bums who say tyson didnt hit that hard all have one thing in common . They were all knocked out by tyson and all had to bow to the golden boy in boxing . Many of tysons opponents such as bruno.williams,spinks,stewart,tubbs,tucker,saverse s and many more plus his sparring partners said tyson had power like no other . So i would be more inclined to listen to them than clueless historians and the most bitter man in boxing larry holmes who has never praised another fighter in his life.

View of historians . And who are these historians?. Bert Sugar . a guy who knows about boxing history but knows nothing about boxing itself . Who has he or these historians ever fought or trained? . Nobody . The real experts such as emmanuel steward, eddie futch and angelo dundee and all his trainers such as rooney, brooks and roach all agree that tyson was up there with the hardest punchers in history . what holmes or any of those other 80's bums have to say about his power is irrelevant . All those bums who say tyson didnt hit that hard all have one thing in common . They were all knocked out by tyson and all had to bow to the golden boy in boxing . Many of tysons opponents such as bruno.williams,spinks,stewart,tubbs,tucker,saverse s and many more plus his sparring partners said tyson had power like no other . So i would be more inclined to listen to them than clueless historians and the most bitter man in boxing larry holmes who has never praised another fighter in his life.

And who have YOU ever fought or trained? .Nobody. I'm really getting sick of nuthugging fanboi pukes like you running your cum-dumpster and acting like you actually know something about boxing. Holmes an "80s bum"? Holmes was a better fighter than Tyson ever dreamed of being. Tyson was punk who wet his pance when someone actually stood up to him. I'm sure you remember him being *****ed slapped by someone named Buster Douglas? Maybe you've erased that memory because that KoolAid your drinking suddenly tastes like **** when you think of it. Now go back to sucking on your hero's dick leave the posting to people who actually know what the phuck they're talking about. ,,!,,

Poet

speed + strenght = power
so I go with Tyson

Who do you guys think hit harder, Sonny Liston or Mike Tyson? I believe Liston was the hardest hitter in boxing history, but what do you guys think???

What you believe and what is reality is 2 different things. Did you fight Liston? No you didn't? Ali did and said Foreman and Shavers hit harder. Holyfield said a old Foreman hit harder than Tyson. Guys like Briggs and Morrison probably hit harder than Tyson, Tyson just put his punchers together better. Not to mention Tyson fought alot of bums and setups.

Liston's best knockouts came against Floyd Patterson a glass chin super middleweight and Cleveland Williams a hyped up journey man level fighter. Tyson's best knockouts came against people Don King paid to take a dive for him. I will give Tyson the nod because they people he knocked out were actually heavyweights.