Was Sonny Liston an ATG?

[Ray Corso]

He fought DeJohn also and Williams and Valdez, contracts were out there and most weren't signed! Johansson was a pefect opponent for Sonny and thats why it wasn't signed!
The Ali fight wasn't that big of a deal with people in the know! Clay sparred against Sonny when Clay turned pro and Sonny chased him all over the ring but didn't/couldn't do anything to him. Dundee knew in time that he could get the shot if Sonny won the title and if Clay had a quality record!!! It worked out pretty well.....................for Dundee!!!! When they sparred Clay was 6'1" and about 195lbs but he looked like he was 185lbs! Listons people got their shock at the weighin then in the center of the ring when Clay was obviously the bigger man at 6'3" 210lbs!!!

Just a side note, when Sonny was breaking into the division Marciano was heading out! There was alot of talk about Marciano not wanting to meet Sonny but thats just BS!! Marciano fought for years with back problems and was making good money as a motovations speaker. Anyone who thinks Rocky was "afraid" of anyone is a moron!!! Just look at his face with his nose hanging off and see what happened after that!!

The no-bodies look pretty simular to the guys Wlad fights!!! Except Sonny's nobodies are a little better! Ray

[Schmerzen]

Liston would have killed Marciano

[Ray Corso]

Your use of the word "killed" says it all! Theres words in boxing that knowledgeable people never use! My choices when debating winners and loosers are just that...winning & loosing never Killed! I hope its just an expression, thats never used by boxing people!!

Your avitar names explains your immaturity also! Ray.

[StarshipTrooper]

Top-10 ATG Heavyweight. Cleaned out a decent Heavyweight before he ever got a title shot including destroying Cleveland Williams twice. Didn't get his shot at Patterson until he was already past-prime. Losing to the best Heavyweight in history when you're already on the slide is hardly a black mark.

Poet

[Scott9945]

He didn't dominate anything he beat a few barely top 10 guys and Floyd Patterson twice.
Why didn't he fight Johansson, Machen, De John? among others.

How can you dominate a division when you spend 6-8 years fighting nobodies?

If you can't say anything else good about Liston, you still have to admit that he never ducked anyone. Being an ex con linked to the mob may have hurt his career, but Sonny feared nobody. Believe me, Johansson didn't want any of that.

[Scott9945]

He did fight Machen and won but it was a major snooze fest !!

That fight was painful to watch. ESPN Classic just showed it this week.

[GeneralZod]

I'd feel like an a**hole if i said he wasn't

[RubenSonny]

He didn't dominate anything he beat a few barely top 10 guys and Floyd Patterson twice.
Why didn't he fight Johansson, Machen, De John? among others.

How can you dominate a division when you spend 6-8 years fighting nobodies?

He beat both Johansson and Machen, why even come in here talking as if you know anything about Liston when you clearly don't?

[KO'er]

Well Liston didn't fight Johannson, but he demolished twice (Patterson) a man who beat Johannson twice. I think it would have been highly likely Liston would have won.

As was said above, Liston was highly feared and wasn't on top of many peoples lists. Think GGG if he gets another couple of brutal KO's. Henry Cooper said himself that if Sonny Liston was walking down the same straight as him, he would cross the road.

[IronDanHamza]

ATG in general? No.

ATG Heavyweight? Of course.