Who would win Sonny Liston vs Rocky Marciano?

Question

Marciano was 49-0 however Sonny Liston was dominating boxing before losing to the greatest of all time in Cassius Clay aka Muhammad Ali.

Answer 1

Sorry to say this but Liston was just too much of a man for Marciano to hang with. Sonny contained power beyond any one's belief when he would literally drop bodies with one punch, not only that but most were allot bigger than Marciano.

You forget that Marciano fought old timers and light heavyweights, this would be Marciano's first real heavyweight fight with a great at his best. Don't expect Marciano to take this fight so lightly as he will be in for a big surprise, because of his lack in defense Liston will expose Marciano once and for all. I honestly believe Liston would have been the first to beat Marciano as Marciano rolled past Patterson.

Big E, had Marciano kept fighting at least through half of the 60's his first lose would have been to the hands of Liston I guarantee it. There is no possible way that Marciano could over come such a massive hill. Liston had power a great jab could take a punch and literally decapitated his opponents early also note that most of his opponents were very big men who all came to fight. Liston had one punch KO power but just lacked the endurance to stay that way towards the late rounds, no worry he won't need to go that long for he will knock Marciano out very early.

I think if Marciano could land his big right hand it would stun Liston but by no means would one knock Liston out. Marciano would need a combination of punches to knock Liston out. As Ali did to Liston when they met. Liston doesn't go down from one big punch he goes down from frustration when a flurry of punches are thrown at him. The jab that sent Liston down against Ali was the final blow.

Marciano was great but this would have been the very first time he faced another great who was allot stronger and bigger. Marciano would just simply be in way over his head in this match up and that is that.

There will be allot of people giving me thumbs down for my answer because they just can't realize and comprehend the fact that Marciano can't beat everyone he will lose against allot in the history of heavyweight boxing. Maybe if they would look past the color of his skin and lean more towards general skill then maybe they can cope with Liston destroying Marciano.

Liston by KO in round 2 or 3.

Answer 2

I must say, I like Felix's answer it's accurate and most certainly defined.

Rocky was a decent fighter who fought old greats but beat them well. Sonny Liston would be too much for Marciano because of his weight and power along with a brutal jab that would easily open Marciano up with just one. This would be too much for Marciano to overcome, I honestly don't even see Marciano beating Liston both in their primes. Liston was in a whole different fighting mode compared to Marciano. In generalization, Marciano really looks like a middle weight next to Liston and would be beaten badly.

Enough with all this Rocky in his prime could beat this guy and that guy everyone literally thinks he can beat god, if that character even exist. Fact is Marciano barely got away with two victories over boxers who are generally smaller than him and most definitely over the hill. Marciano in his prime was a decent fighter but by no means was he great. Prime for Prime Liston would beat Marciano senseless.

Great answer Felix.

Answer 3

Liston - W 50 (KO's 39) TF 54 - W pct 93% - KO pct 72% - wins over Patterson, "Big Cat" Williams and Folley - KO'ed by Ali{2} and L. Martin (average fighter) - #15 ranked puncher - #71 ranked fighter Marciano - W 49 (KO's 43) TF 49 - W pct 100% - KO pct 88% - wins over Walcott{2}, Louis, Moore and Charles[2] - KO'ed by none - #14 ranked puncher - #12 ranked fighter Retired undefeated as champion and as a fighter He was smart enough to remain retired (super kudos) Marciano was a sometime bleeder and Liston was a sometime quitter. Both of these fighters are going to come forward with both hands blazing. In this fight Marciano is cut but he is used to tasting his blood. We can not say the same thing for Liston. As the referee goes to Marciano's corner to advise him that he only has 1 or 2 rds left because of his cuts, Liston quits in his corner at the end of rd 10.

Answer 4

I have to go with Sonny Liston in this one. He outweighed Marciano by 30 lbs., had a 15" reach advantage, and a thundering and very accurate jab. Not to mention one of the great right hands in the history of boxing. Granted, Marciano had more stamina, but he wasn't very skilled at keeping his distance from other fighters, and wasn't particularly good at tying fighters up to neutralize their power. And Liston was a stalker -- he came right after you. I don't think Rocky would have had the power to keep him off.

The only way to beat fighters like Liston, Tyson, Foreman, and Frazier was to keep away from their power, jab at them, and out box them. Like Ali and Buster Douglas did. Marciano simply wasn't that kind of a fighter. Absent your ability to do that, you were going down. Liston in 6 rounds.

Answer 5

Some people are boxers. Sonny Liston seemed like someone you'd never want to mess with.

I slightly favor Liston although if Marciano connected Liston would fall like everyone else.

Answer 6

The one thing Marciano had over Liston was heart and a fierce desire to win. He would have found a way to get inside of Sonny's jab and would have made Liston look bad. He would have been able to hurt the big man with powerful and clubbing punches. Also Marciano's stamina was far greater than Sonny's and he would have eventually worn him down in a bruising battle by round 10.

Answer 7

once again i will tell you guys marciano was not great as they try to make him. sonny liston would have knocked him out by rd2. the was that a rock! the top names that he defeated were older fighters and needed money,the younger were club fighters,he had no compition.

Answer 8

the bluedevil is 100 percent right! if the rock would not have retired and keep fight i pick liston to pound him into retirement because he would have been shot by then. but both in their prime i pick the rock. he once said he sensed liston had dog in him and he was right! sonny would bust the rocks face up early but then marciano would take it to him in the middle rds and put him away late.

Answer 9

Despite what appears to be the popular trend today among some of " Rock Bashing " & Despite the fact that Liston was no slouch.....a prime Rocky would have KOd a prime Liston.

Answer 10

I think Marciano would have beaten Liston, but it would have been one hell of a fight to watch.