Was Liston passed it for Ali?

[CarlosG815]

Was Liston at the top of his game, or had he already peaked and began a downward slide when he fought Ali?

[Vadrigar.]

No, he had just come of 2 devastating knockouts of Floyd Patterson. further back a TKO cleveland williams and a KO of zora folley. Also watching his fight with Ali, there was no noticeable difference compared to his previous fights. Ali simply outclassed him.

His only loss before then was a split decision loss to Marty marshall.

His age isn't anything to go by here. What we can do is look at the facts which I have presented.

It also looked as If he had trained quite decently for the fight. There was no big fluctuation of weight.

I believe he was about 3/4 through peak, but Ali made him do a "duran". I think this shattered his confidence more than his physical condition.

incredible win for ALi against a live opponent.

[NChristo]

I would say that he started going downhill but wasn't completely passed it yet.

[GJC]

Problem with boxing is that sometimes there is no gradual decline especially if you happen to run into the next big thing so to speak. Not like tennis where the kid starts to run you close take a couple of sets off you then one day.....
Boxing it can be over in a minute.

For sure Liston was still a solid heavyweight and without Ali around could have reigned for another couple of years but I think his peak was around 59/60.

[carlos slim]

if you look at the first few rounds of the fight liston is actually fighting the same way in his prime, its just that he couldnt hit ali...add to the fact liston was not used to guys fighting back and going rounds so thats why he broke down...

[El Jesus]

if you look at the first few rounds of the fight liston is actually fighting the same way in his prime, its just that he couldnt hit ali...add to the fact liston was not used to guys fighting back and going rounds so thats why he broke down...

I came in here to say this, but no matter what happened. Even if Ali would have never existed, at some point his personal life would have caught up with him.

[sonnyboyx2]

Liston thought all he had to do was turn up, put the stare on young Cassius Clay and he would fold in the first 2rds, Liston was in decent shape but not expecting Ali to be as confident as it turned out to be, i genuinly believe that Liston injured his shoulder in a way similar to how many fighters injured their shoulder fighting Chris Byrd... in their rematch Sonny Liston got himself into tremendous physical shape and strongly fancied his chances but Clay suffered a hernia 2 weeks before the fight so it had to be cancelled for 9 months.. in that time Liston lost his desire also in that time Clay grew from a boy into a man so when they met in ring centre before the opening bell Clay was huge and very confident, he intimidated Liston during the stare-out and the rest is history.

[bojangles1987]

Liston was fine. He was just outclassed.

[TheGreatA]

He was past his very best, but he was still good enough to beat anyone else in the division. Huge win for young 22 year old Ali.

[boxing boy]

Liston was past his prime and Clay was before his prime of 1966/67 with only 19 pro fights when he fought Liston.