Sonny Liston one of the greatest

[Anomalocaris]

- - In 1967 Ali turned down Wilt Chamberlain's agreed up Contract that Cosell had set up as a televised signing. It was embarrassing seeing how quickly Wilt turned Ali into just another confused kid.

Instead he fought ancient Zora Folley who gave him all Ali could handle.

Can't you be slightly more subtle mate!

[Biledriver]

Is it really 2025 and racist pieces of sh*t on this forum are STILL calling Muhammed Ali "Clay"?

[BKM-]

Liston is one guy that I don’t get all the praise for. I know he had the reputation for being intimidating and everyone being terrified of him, but when I watch film of him he doesn’t stand out as being overly impressive in any one area.

What about finishing ability? Once he had his man hurt, the fight would end very soon and very violently. He had very long thick arms and I think it's impressive how accurate he was with his power punches considering that. He didn't waste much.

[BKM-]

He would have wiped the floor with legends like Dempsey and Marciano and Frasier. I would have him in my top 5 best heavyweights ever.

Do you not notice a pattern here? You're mentioning 3 names who loved to come forward. That was obviously a bad gameplan against Sonny Liston. Sonny would have issues with guys who moved and countered well like Ali, Holmes, Evander, Lewis etc.

Still, I appriciate you making this thread. I have a bit of a soft spot for Liston. He was a genetic marvel in this sport.

[Biledriver]

Do you not notice a pattern here? You're mentioning 3 names who loved to come forward. That was obviously a bad gameplan against Sonny Liston. Sonny would have issues with guys who moved and countered well like Ali, Holmes, Evander, Lewis etc.

Still, I appriciate you making this thread. I have a bit of a soft spot for Liston. He was a genetic marvel in this sport.

Coming straight at Sonny was a great way to have an out of body experience. I can't see anyone doing it and not getting knocked out, and probably sooner rather than later. Dempsey actually COULD fight as more of a boxer-puncher style (he was forced to a few times), but then how does he get past Liston's ATG jab? Can't see Dempsey winning that way, either.

[BKM-]

Coming straight at Sonny was a great way to have an out of body experience. I can't see anyone doing it and not getting knocked out, and probably sooner rather than later. Dempsey actually COULD fight as more of a boxer-puncher style (he was forced to a few times), but then how does he get past Liston's ATG jab? Can't see Dempsey winning that way, either.

George Foreman, what do you think? A young George got backed up by an old Liston. Prime for prime it's a tough one. I would slightly favor George.

[Biledriver]

George Foreman, what do you think? A young George got backed up by an old Liston. Prime for prime it's a tough one. I would slightly favor George.

My money's on Liston. Foreman was on record that Liston was the one fighter who intimidated him.....and I think he'd bring that to the ring with him. That's the edge that would make the difference, I think.

[max baer]

often when a boxer intimidates his foe if the foe gets past that feeling for a few rounds the intimidator has nothing else to offer. hence why some say liston quit against ali twice. once on his stool and then by taking a dive (or by simply deciding not to get back up) after the anchor punch. ali practiced that anchor punch over and over and he kept wanting to tell interviwers about it but his coach kept stopping him from revealing his new punch to them. ali was soooooooo hyperactive maaaan he was hyperactive!!!!

[Willie Pep 229]

often when a boxer intimidates his foe if the foe gets past that feeling for a few rounds the intimidator has nothing else to offer. hence why some say liston quit against ali twice. once on his stool and then by taking a dive (or by simply deciding not to get back up) after the anchor punch. ali practiced that anchor punch over and over and he kept wanting to tell interviwers about it but his coach kept stopping him from revealing his new punch to them. ali was soooooooo hyperactive maaaan he was hyperactive!!!!

Cleveland Williams took the same punch and the results were what one would expect, a flash KD. Which Williams got off the canvas from quickly. (Round 3)

Just as Liston first did, but then Liston chose to lay back down again.

The punch was real and the KD was real, the Williams fight shows us that, but it should have only resulted in a flash KD, not a KO.

Liston chose to quit.

[BKM-]

Cleveland Williams took the same punch and the results were what one would expect, a flash KD. Which Williams got off the canvas from quickly. (Round 3)

Just as Liston first did, but then Liston chose to lay back down again.

The punch was real and the KD was real, the Williams fight shows us that, but it should have only resulted in a flash KD, not a KO.

Liston chose to quit.

I think there is merit to the argument that Walcott messed up as a ref completely and Liston was simply bullied into being scared to get back up right away with Ali standing over him. But there is that brief moment where Liston gets on his knees and falls back down again with his limbs spread on the canvas. That was pretty bad, hard to claim it's anything other than a dive as it's not an image that can be ignored.