1968 Joe Frazier vs Sonny Liston

[Joey Giardello]

Back in 1968 Sonny liston was on a good run he never lost that year winning 7 fights by knockout or stoppage. Joe frazier had just won the heavyweight chamnpionship. Who wins?

[BigStereotype]

Liston eats him. That long power jab sticks in Frazier's face all night. Liston would swing and miss quite a bit, but he would land a lot of short power shots before Frazier could burrow his way inside. Frazier lands a bit to the body, but Liston knocks him out by the 8th.

[JAB5239]

Back in 1968 Sonny liston was on a good run he never lost that year winning 7 fights by knockout or stoppage. Joe frazier had just won the heavyweight chamnpionship. Who wins?

Frazier wins this match up in a walk over UD. People like to take Foremans wins over Frazier and use them as an example of how Liston would win this fight. Thing is George threw upward looping hooks to catch Frazier while he was bobbing and weaving in a downward motion. He used chopping rights to catch him in an upward motion. Liston was much more fundamentally sound than George and threw straighter punches which would allow Joe an easier time at avoiding Sonny's bombs. Also take into consideration Liston was never a speed demon and only a year later (1969) had slowed enough to let Billy Joiner go the distance and Leotis Martin get a win by ko. If this was the 1958 Liston we were discussing It would be a whole different ball game. This version loses convincingly in my opinion.

[BigStereotype]

Frazier wins this match up in a walk over UD. People like to take Foremans wins over Frazier and use them as an example of how Liston would win this fight. Thing is George threw upward looping hooks to catch Frazier while he was bobbing and weaving in a downward motion. He used chopping rights to catch him in an upward motion. Liston was much more fundamentally sound than George and threw straighter punches which would allow Joe an easier time at avoiding Sonny's bombs. Also take into consideration Liston was never a speed demon and only a year later (1969) had slowed enough to let Billy Joiner go the distance and Leotis Martin get a win by ko. If this was the 1958 Liston we were discussing It would be a whole different ball game. This version loses convincingly in my opinion.

Does he mean 1968 Liston or only Frazier? Because it does change things significantly. I would pick Liston prime-for-prime, but I can't really disagree with your analysis. I've never heard "more fundamentally sound" as a disadvantage, though.

[Barn]

Does he mean 1968 Liston or only Frazier? Because it does change things significantly. I would pick Liston prime-for-prime, but I can't really disagree with your analysis. I've never heard "more fundamentally sound" as a disadvantage, though.

Ali was anything but, fundamentally sound so it caused difficulty for his opponents.

[BigStereotype]

Ali was anything but, fundamentally sound so it caused difficulty for his opponents.

Same with Roy Jones, but those are two superlative athletes. Liston was gifted, but does anyone think he's an Ali-esque athlete? I guess it's not the first time I've heard it, but it's still funny to hear in an argument.

[JAB5239]

Does he mean 1968 Liston or only Frazier? Because it does change things significantly. I would pick Liston prime-for-prime, but I can't really disagree with your analysis. I've never heard "more fundamentally sound" as a disadvantage, though.

I believe he meant both fighters in 1968.

[sonnyboyx2]

Frazier by KO8 Liston was badly on the slide by 1968 regardless of his record against journeymen that year

[DarkTerror88]

in 1968 it boils down to these points:

Liston was not terribly slow, but he wasnt too fast either. Especially in 1968. Frazier has the speed advantage in this one.

Liston had a powerful jab that could temporarily halt Fraziers advance...when it landed. Frazier from this period of time, his "prime" as some would say was able to avoid Alis speedy jabs with his bobbing and weaving, let alone Listons slower jab.

However Liston has the power to knock Joe down, but a post prime, out of shape Joe got up 6 times against the heavier handed George Foreman, and according to Mercante was "raring to go" every time he got up. I see Joe able to avoid Liston's straight punches and getting up the times he got down.

And this is the main point. In his prime, Liston tended to get tired as the fight went on towards the 15 round limit, let alone the 1968 version. Even on the downhill, Frazier tended to get stronger as a fight went on, even more so with his prime version. And this would be the deciding factor in this matchup.

I see Frazier getting a pretty clear UD. Liston had a solid chin.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

Liston was beginning to lose his punch by this time. In spite of the KO's & stoppages, watching the film from around this period, it was apparent he was not the snappy & brutal hitter he had been, despite retaining a still damaging shot with either hand. True enough, he was on a run, but the competition was leagues below the burgeoning Frazier of 1968. Prime-for-prime, I think this is a truly awful match-up for Frazier, & would side with Liston accordingly. In 1968? Sheesh, y'know, just...I think it's a bridge too far for him. Frazier cuts through that limited output of Liston's & is just going to flat out-work him, as I see it. Nothing fancy --- there's no flashy left hook knockdown, KO, or one-sided tee-off on a defenseless Liston along the ropes or in a corner --- but in much the same way an old Hopkins was starting to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of Calzaghe by fight's end, so too would Liston just not have the lungs to match his man. This would resemble that element of that fight, but it would be clearer, & more apparent.

Frazier simply runs Liston ragged. TKO9, possibly with Liston being relatively unhurt (the man was tough as teak), but just not able to go on.