Liston/Foreman sparring

[fg2227]

Does anyone have a photo?

And does anyone know who get the better of it?

[McGrain]

From what I can pick up, nothing much happened. You've got Foreman - respectful - v Liston - a bit keen not to lose a job I would guess.

But this stuff leaks out. It's never been documented properly as far as I am aware. A photo would be something very special indeed...maybe longcount could sort something out for us.

[Mendoza]

Does anyone have a photo?

And does anyone know who get the better of it?

I have seen a photo. The two sparred when Liston needed sparring partners, and Foreman was set to go to the Olympics. Sonny gave Foreman $5 for the sparring, and Foreman had to turn him down to retain his amateur status

[Unforgiven]

I think they sparred in Las Vegas together in 1969 and fought on the same bill.

Liston lost to Leotis Martin in a huge upset.
Foreman scored a 1st round KO over Bob Hazelton.

They might have shared a cornerman/trainer.

[Minotauro]

I heard that Foreman said that Liston was the only fighter who pushed him back. There is a pic of them I've seen it I'll try to find it.

[Minotauro]

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[ChrisPontius]

Nice picture. I wonder what a conversation between the two went like...


I may be mistaken, but i believe i've seen a short segment of film of them sparring. Could have been on Beyond the Glory with George Foreman.

[Unforgiven]

They are fighting without gloves in that pic ! :shock:

[McGrain]

Minotauro this is priceless, thanks very much.

[McGrain]

They are fighting without gloves in that pic ! :shock:


Looks like they're just moving together, maybe working on clinches and stuff. Imagine separating those too?

Who do you think looks bigger?

[Unforgiven]

Looks like they're just moving together, maybe working on clinches and stuff. Imagine separating those too?

Who do you think looks bigger?

They're similar in size.
Probably both around 215 pounds in weight. Liston might be a bit heavier.

[McGrain]

They're similar in size.
Probably both around 215 pounds in weight. Liston might be a bit heavier.


Liston looks both taller and heavier to me...looks stronger in fact.

[The Kurgan]

Foreman is almost certainly heavier by five pounds or so (his weight rarely varied; it was always about 217-220 in his prime) while Liston looks and is more muscled because he's about three inches shorter. In fact, I'm amazed how (an admittedly older and chunkier) Liston looks so big in comparison.

Liston is one of the few people I'd pick to out-brawl Foreman rather than out-box him. Liston's superior jab, skills and defense would give him an edge in a fight between them, I think. Most heavyweights, on the other hand, would get bounced off the canvas like a yo-yo if they took the fight to Foreman.

[Unforgiven]

This pic is certainly AFTER Foreman won the Olympics.

This is 1969, probably in preparation for their fights for the Liston-Martin bill in Las Vegas, Dec. '69.

The Frazier-Zyglewicz poster dates the fight. That fight happened April 1969.

[Unforgiven]

Foreman is almost certainly heavier by five pounds or so (his weight rarely varied; it was always about 217-220 in his prime) while Liston looks and is more muscled because he's about three inches shorter.

Well, if it's in prep for the fights I think it is, Liston actually weighed in heavier on fight night than Foreman did.
I believe Liston was about 220 against Martin.
Foreman was 214 against Hazelton.
Both fights are on youtube, by the way, or at least I think they are.

Foreman stood 6'3 1/2
Liston is almost always listed as 6'1 1/2 (but boxrec have him an inch less ?).
There's two inches height difference, maybe.


In fact, I'm amazed how (an admittedly older and chunkier) Liston looks so big in comparison.


I think people tend to imagine size differences in heavyweight fantasy match-ups as far more significant than they look in reality.
In real life, when two heavyweights get in the ring, a couple of inches in height and 10 or 20 pounds is rarely noticeable.

[Unforgiven]

Not that true. Just watched Liston-Patterson I and II. Liston was 25 pounds heavier than Patterson in the first one and it had an effect. Patterson wasn´t able to tie Liston up in the clinches and Liston was able to shove Patterson off him when he wanted. Size matters, especially on the inside.

Yes, size matters.

I was meaning big heavyweights though. Guys of 210 pounds against men of 220 or 230, or 6'1 against 6'3 or 6'4 - the difference is never massively noticeable.

Of course Patterson was outgunned by Liston in every area, not just height or weight, but reach especially. And Liston's strength was immense.