Sonny Liston vs Ray Mercer

[uncle ben]

Agreed. Mercer was as durable as they come.

Danny Williams beat Mike Tyson, maybe he'd get Sonny Liston too?

[QueensburyRules]

Danny Williams beat Mike Tyson, maybe he'd get Sonny Liston too?

- -Miss the short bus today?

[louis54]

Slightest of edge to liston but mercer might take his heart

[uncle ben]

- -Miss the short bus today?

Yes. Yes I did.

[Ascended]

Another page where people act so ****** son was slow and easy to read with bad defense how does he win he doesn't idiots

[mrbig1]

Liston had better skills than Ray. I think this fight goes the full 12 rounds. I do think Mercer beats Tyson. Tyson has never won a hard fight. He would fold like a lawn chair. Liston on the other hand fought the full 10 rounds against Marty Marshall with a broken jaw. Plus a few wars with Machen, Clark, Williams.

[Willie Pep 229]

Another page where people act so ****** son was slow and easy to read with bad defense how does he win he doesn't idiots

Where is the cut off date? Everyone before which date is garbage? Or is it just relative to who is the most recent fighter?

[Willie Pep 229]

Liston had better skills than Ray. I think this fight goes the full 12 rounds. I do think Mercer beats Tyson. Tyson has never won a hard fight. He would fold like a lawn chair. Liston on the other hand fought the full 10 rounds against Marty Marshall with a broken jaw. Plus a few wars with Machen, Clark, Williams.

Tyson never won a tough fight. Interesting point!

He won a few completive fights, Smith, Tucker, and Green.

But what about Ruddock, you don't think those were tough fights.

No doubt he did indeed come up short on several tough fights.

[tokon]

Uncle Benny dont forget the Ray Mercer that went 10 Hellacious rounds with Holyfield, I was at that one in Atlantic City. You tube it guys
It was a back and forth good matchup with neither man backing up and standing there ground. I was at the Lewis fight at the Garden at Garden it was the under card of the Holyfield vs Czyz fight .
To this day I think Mercer beat Lennox.
With all that said I think its a toss up fight . Both guys tended to take fights Off.
Distracted fighters both of them.
I saw Ray at his best in 3 fights live, and I saw him not even show up vs Jesse Ferguson.
Gun to my head I pick Ray .
But who knows.
I asked Chuck Wepner one time at a mutual friends Gym out of all the guys you faught , and Chuck took on everyone , He said to me, listen nobody Hit like Sonny Liston. The Bayonne brawler said I could feel bones breaking in face when sonny punched him Flush. And thats that

Great post! I too thought at the time, and still think, that mercer hear Lewis. However, that power wepner referenced may well have been the difference that would have resulted in Liston beating mercer? Thanks.

[tokon]

Don't forget the hook!

Watching him drop Leotis Martin was crazy. It's a shame we couldn't get more of Martin. He showed real heart getting back up and winningthat fight.

But I disagree about a fit Mercer being stopped. He would get beat up, but I think Sonny has to work hard for a U.D.

I just don't see him stopping MErcer.




Good call on that fight.

I do think that Liston was a lot like Holyfield - if Holyfield had power.

The speed, the sound Boxing technique (Sonny couldn't really cut off the ring, though), the pressure/killer instinct.




I think the difference is that Lewis was like Norton, when the other guy wanted to fight, Lewis and Nortson suddenly didn't. Lewis is better than Mercer, but he lost that fight because Mercer wanted it more.

That won't be the case with Liston. While Mercer is leagues superior to the grossly overrated Cleveland Williams, I am not sure he's that much better than Machen.



Great point.

I do think Mercer was a better Boxer than Chuvalo. He wouldn't be able to run away like Machen, but he can definitely do more than impersonate a heavy bag (as Williams did).




Well said. Liston should be the favorite. But a lot of times it seems his offensive abilities are exaggerated. Mercer is definitely not Floyd Patterson. In fact, in many (though not necessarily the mot important ones when facing Sonny Liston), he's better than the version of Cassius Clay that Liston fought.

Another great post, thanks for the perspectives Rusty.