Mike Weaver beats Sonny Liston

[mr. magoo]

With his outstanding conditioning, great hears, and undying work ethic, Weaver beats Liston. His incredible effort against the much better Holmes, along with wins over Tate, Coetzee and Tillis have convinced me that Liston was way out of his league here.

Williams, Folley, Machen and Patterson were no measure for how Liston could have faird against a prime Weaver.

[AREA 53]

Tate was not a predatory fighter, Coetzee was too wild in front of his own fans, Tillis was a runner, I dont think any of these compare with a Prime Liston

Pinklon Thomas used a Heavy Jab on weaver, the Finished him with a big Right, Bonecrusher Smith Jumped on Mike and stopped in the First, These Results can not be ignored, if you caught Mike with a good punch on Target he could become unglued, Liston of the Cleve Williams fights would i think be favoured to do just this.

[Holmes' Jab]

Holmes is by no way or means "much better" than Liston, I rate Larry ahead but it's very closely matched. Whilst impressed at some of the Weaver performances you listed I can't really see him beating Liston on their best nights. A peak Thomas would have a slightly better shout if he enters the fight well conditioned but would still lose. Aside from Holmes, Tyson is the only HW of the 80's I'd give a 'live' shout against Liston: even then Liston would be slight fave.

Liston UD against Weaver.

[Longhhorn71]

Magoo posts up a good theory in this fight.

I am going out on the limb saying Weaver pulls
a right hand out of the hat and TKO's Liston
in the 15th and shocks the world.

[Bummy Davis]

I think Mature Weaver after winning title would be able to handle Sonny, Weaver had a faster jab, Sonny's long and potent but Weaver had very good power....I would go with Weaver

[Titan1]

I think Liston would win late, but until then, Weaver give him fits.

[Russell]

Liston takes the majority, of course... But if they fought ten times I wouldn't be suprised if Weaver took a handful.

[Sardu]

Liston would knock Weaver out early. But Hercules had a crowdpleasing style and would make it exciting.

Liston KO 3 Weaver

[tommy the hat]

Well, Weaver surely would have a punchers chance. He could end a fight with one punch, and could pull that rabbit out of the hat even when he was losing. The fights against John Tate and Carl "The Truth" Wiliiams are proof of that. Also throw in the fact that Leotis Martin knocked out Sonny Liston with a clean shot in the late rounds and Weaver's chances get even better. That being said though, I still favor Liston in this one. He was the better overall fighter, and Weaver's shaky chin, and hittable style would not do him any good with Liston, who had a powerful jab and could knock guys out with either hand. Also Weaver was always a slow starter in fights and Liston took many guys out early, most noteably Floyd Patterson twice by 1st round KO.

[he grant]

Magoo this is a joke right ? The slow starting, shaky chinned Weaver beats Sonny Liston ? Weaver would not make it out of the second round against Liston, an absolutely terrible match up for Weaver.

[bum of the week]

Magoo this is a joke right ? The slow starting, shaky chinned Weaver beats Sonny Liston ? Weaver would not make it out of the second round against Liston, an absolutely terrible match up for Weaver.

:good At least someone's got this one right.
Weaver would be tailormade for Sonny. He always came forward,only had one gear + it took him a few rounds to get going, and during that time he was very vulnerable.
Against Sonny you had to be alert from the start and be able to move away from him.
And weavers chin? Well, he was stopped in 12 out of 60 fights, and while these statistics might be a bit misleading as he had a difficult start to his career and fought into an advanced age, even during the years he was worldranked(from Holmes I to Bonecrusher I) his record shows 4 ko losses in 14 fights. Yet he never faced a killer like Sonny(as there hasn't been many).
Sonny was simply a class above Weaver+ the styles would be in his favour, so this is a no-brainer.
Hercules unlike most other 80s fighters made the most of the talent he had, and if all fighters had been as humble and classy outside the ring as Weaver the world of boxing would have been a better place.
As for standing a chance against Liston however; no way, José!

[Mendoza]

Liston wins inside of 6 rounds. Weaver can make it interesting while it lasts. I do not think Weaver was much for defense or movement, and with an average chin that formula is not going to work vs Sonny Liston.

[MRBILL]

Not impossible.... Both mothers could punch, and, be KO'd.... Yet, I'll pick Liston to KO Weaver..... Just a "Gut" feeling... Peace...:nut

MR.BILL

[Seamus]

Liston wins inside of 6 rounds. Weaver can make it interesting while it lasts. I do not think Weaver was much for defense or movement, and with an average chin that formula is not going to work vs Sonny Liston.

a voice of reason in a wilderness of idiocy.

[fists of fury]

I don't think it's idiocy at all. Too many times we compare 'names'. The guy with the bigger name wins...

Plain and simply put, Weaver could give a lot of good or even great heavyweights fits. Heck, a waaaay past it Weaver even gave a young, strong Lennox Lewis some uncomfortable moments, and Weaver was not even a 10th of what he once was in that fight.

Most of the guys Liston beat, Weaver could beat too. I'm not saying he would win, but is it really that much of a stretch to make such a prediction?

[Seamus]

And Mike Weaver was a journeyman who got beat by worse journeymen. Please stop trying to dissuade others of this FACT. Sure, he looked formidable but he would stand absolutely no chance against Liston, a guy I think most on this board supremely overrate.

I would rate so many, many heavyweights over the past 30 years so much more dangerous than Hercules.

But I will say he was a very nice chap.

[fists of fury]

And Mike Weaver was a journeyman who got beat by worse journeymen. Please stop trying to dissuade others of this FACT. Sure, he looked formidable but he would stand absolutely no chance against Liston, a guy I think most on this board supremely overrate.

I would rate so many, many heavyweights over the past 30 years so much more dangerous than Hercules.

But I will say he was a very nice chap.

But someone like Walcott lost to journeymen too. Neither he nor Weaver were well-managed during the early parts of their careers. I don't see how that's particularly relevant with regards to the thread.

Of course, Weaver was by no means a complete fighter or anything. He had his limitations, but he did give the likes of Holmes a lot of trouble and beat some very useful heavies along the way. Even as a journeyman he was dangerous, as Carl Williams could attest.

Liston for all intents and purposes SHOULD win I agree, but easily? I don't think so.

[Bill Butcher]

Mike Weaver beats Sonny Liston......... At scrabble (debatable)

[mcvey]

a voice of reason in a wilderness of idiocy.
Encore!

[Mendoza]

I have been watching heavyweight boxing a long time. It is my observation that when matched vs a skilled aggressive puncher like Liston, those with defensive and movement skills tend to last a lot longer in the ring that slower, less defensive fighters. And of course those who are durable tend to last longer as well.

A Sonny Liston example: Machen who was defensive, quick, and pretty durable last a lot longer than guys like Big Cat Williams, or Nino Valdes who were bigger and slower.

I realize Weaver put on some courageous performances and was popular, but guys this is Sonny Liston here. Few heavyweights in history could expect to out slug him, which was mostly Weaver’s style.

Styles makes fights, and when a skilled puncher gets an ideal stylistic match up, usually he’s going to close the show sooner rather than later.

Weaver has a small chance, but I can't see more than that.

[ThinBlack]

Prime Sonny would take apart Mike in 3 rounds, but past-prime, I could see Weaver decisioning Liston, possibly stopping him if this is the 67-70 version.

[frankenfrank]

I think Liston was a bit better and should b a slight favorite 2 stop Weaver , but Weaver does stand a chance .
But , d 1st post of d thread still looks intentionally ludicrous .
I wonder if he meant it or not . Surely he matured by now and will regret it and say that Liston would have KOd Weaver , but "in the heavyweight division 1 punch can turn an entire fight " . :yep