Sonny Liston was a great fighter but not the greatest. He had tremendous power. I think he hit harder than other notable power punchers. I think he hit harder than George Foreman, Ernie Shavers, Ron Lyle, or Joe Frazier. He had a really long reach and his jab was great. He had a good fight with Big Cat Williams which turned into a clasic slugfest. The only knock against Liston is that he was easy to hit. In many of his fights he ended up with cuts, bloody noses, closed eyes. There was some suspicion that he was involved with the mob which may have led to his death. But man his body shots were devastating! I changed him from 3 stars to 4 because he is such a big part of Muhamed Ali's history. He was a very good heavyweight champ but not the greatest of boxers.

an absolute legend

loses to ali.he was good boxer with great power.he beat patterson.liston had the power to beat them all but not the boxing ability.ali would have still been clay if it wasnt for liston

Sonny Liston was the best heavyweight boxer of all time during the late 1950s and early 1960s. During this period he disposed of all the top heavyweights with ease. These included Floyd Patterson, Eddie Machen, Zora Foley and Cleveland Williams. A highly skilled boxer, Liston had awesome punching power and the best left jab in boxing history. He was already past his best when he finally got a shot at champion Patterson but easily disposed of him twice in the first round.

Scary, ugly, hard-hitting, not particularly skilled son of a bitch. More than a few probable tank jobs on his record, both setting his career up and on the way down. Can't go above three stars, and only reluctantly at that.

hes cool

Third best prize fighter of all time.

Sonny Liston is one of my favourite boxers. He was a unbelievable power (right up there with Tyson and Foreman), had a great chin, and was one of the few heavyweights that actually frightened people. It's been said that Sonny could make a guy bleed by scowling at him across th ring. That's how intimidating this man was. The only thing he lacked was heart. Had he been into it, Ali-Liston would have been a joke, plain and simple.

The original scary guy! 3.95

sonny liston could knock somebody out with a JAB! a jab, for gods sake! most fighters use their jab so soften up and study their opponent, not sonny liston. however, liston's flaws outweigh his talents. he took a dive, had nuthing but power, and didnt have much heart. like mike tyson, he relied on intimidation too much. his highlights r definitly when he knocked out floyd patterson in one round, twice! poor sonny, his life is a sad story, and he was never really loved as the champ.

Decent fighter. Had good power especially in his left jab. Should have stayed off the heroine.

I see Sony Liston lke Mike Tyson in his prime he destroyed Floyed Patterson to win the Heavy Weight title but no mach for Ali as was seen in there second fight but still a great fighter.

My personal favorite boxer in the history of the ring. It is a mystery on how great a fighter he was just like everything else about his life. Considering he took a dive in both bouts with Ali, it is confusing on where he ranks. From 1958 until 1963 he was one of the toughest fighters that ever entered the ring. His age will always be a questionmark. How old was he when he lost to Leotis Martin in 1970. An interesting study.

wasn't that great when it came to legends like Clay or Frazier..was the 1st Tyson of the sport and just like him he got his

Liston loses a star for throwing the short Clay/Ali fight. His was a sad life and tragic death. He was an incredible fighter who, like Tyson, just wasn't wired right upstairs. He died with a needle in his arm. Liston turned out to be his own judge, jury & executioner. He was unstoppable when his heart and mind were in the battle.

THE MIKE TYSON OF THE 60'S

If Ali hadn't come along Liston would have been heavywight champ for most of the 60's and considered to be the greatest or second greatest of all-time next to Joe Louis.

sonny was an early version of mike tyson...some head problems and probably some management problems and probably some mob problems.

Intimidated Floyd Patterson but lost his nerve vs. Ali.