Why is Liston held in such a high regard when the best guy he beat was Patterson?

Liston is held in high regard because he was a specimen and possibly the scariest boxer to ever live. Pattern crapped himself before getting in the ring with him. Everyone was terrified of this guy and no one wanted to fight him. The only guy to call him out was Ali, and he was the only guy (as far as I can remember) to beat Liston. To put it simply: Liston was THE MAN for a period of time, and that's why he's held in such high regard. (Now next time, post in the appropriate section. I know you post this here because you don't think anyone would respond to it if you didn't, but there's plenty of people in the history section, more knowledgable than myself, who can answer your question much better.)

It states in his bio that he could have probably beaten anyone but Ali. ​​​​​​ There's nothing to support that.. He decisioned Machen.

So he’s fought two Hall of Famers and went 1-1 he’s also 6-0 (6) against opponents who also faced Ali. what a bum. He never had a tough champion caliber rival that he actually beat. It was a strong era for sure.

Not a bum but overrated in my opinion. Of course, greater boxing minds than mine disagree, so there's that. He literally can't time a shot on someone who moves around like Machen or Ali..he had nothing on them. His jab is also grossly overrated. It was poor defensively and Ali punished him for it in the rematch. And he was relatively slow. Strong suits in his prime: tough, powerful.

Because he had really long arms which is really cool

Not a bum but overrated in my opinion. Of course, greater boxing minds than mine disagree, so there's that.

None of who'm are hall of famers. So he’s fought two Hall of Famers and went 1-1 he’s also 6-0 (6) against opponents who also faced Ali. what a bum.

Machen, Foley, Cleveland Williams x2 just off the top of my head. And Williams didn’t have a bullet in his stomach at the time. Seriously OP? None of who'm are hall of famers.

Machen, Foley, Cleveland Williams x2 just off the top of my head. And Williams didn’t have a bullet in his stomach at the time. Seriously OP?

take it to the boxing history section. Most here have no idea who liston or patterson are. lmao .....

I have never understood why people now retrospectively think he was so great. There is nothing in his record to support it. For every other WC you need a good rival to place them high up. Listons best win was Patterson, one of the weakest champions. Who was also a small HW. Take it to the boxing history section. Most here have no idea who Liston or Patterson are.

Mods move to Boxing History