MYTHICAL MATCHUP: SONNY LISTON VS. MIKE TYSON
M y Mythical Matchups for The Ring are written with each fighter at their best on the night they meet, with their greatest victory being achieved in their last bout. This fight will take place after Sonny Liston’s rematch with Floyd Patterson, when Liston was the most feared heavyweight in the world after crushing Patterson twice in consecutive first-round knockouts. Mike Tyson will also be at his best for this fight after a meteoric rise in the heavyweight division that culminated in the knockout of Michael Spinks in one round. However, since both men were in possession of the Ring, WBA and WBC belts following their victories, we’re going to vacate everything and just call this a battle for the undisputed heavyweight championship. As with all of my Mythical Matchups, I will take great poetic license to insert boxing icons from the past for the reader’s enjoyment. The fighters’ late career losses are not factored into the equation. Boxing history has taught us that no fighter is invulnerable and that electrifying upsets happen all the time. For the last 10 years, my son Brett Lipton, former inspector with the New York State Athletic Commission and pro boxing judge, has vigorously argued the outcome of this particular fight with me. I dedicate this Mythical Matchup to him. BACKGROUNDS CHARLES “SONNY” LISTON ® Born: Around 1930 in Arkansas; reliable date of birth unknown ® Pro record: 50-4 (39 KOs) ® Pro career: 1953-1970 ® Weight for Patterson rematch: 215½ pounds ® Died: Dec. 30, 1970, age 40. The cause of death was supposedly an accidental drug overdose, but some close to Liston believed it was mob-inflicted under duress.
Weaknesses: ® He let his abilities and desire wane with time after losing Cus D’Amato and Jimmy Jacobs as his mentors. ® Dangerously emotional inside and outside of the ring. ® Let outside influences impact negatively on him while losing the spartan focus that brought him to the pinnacle of his boxing career. PRE-FIGHT EVENTS Tyson and Liston had agreed to a 12-round unification heavyweight championship fight in Madison Square Garden, with a 60/40 split of all monies in Liston’s favor. There was more than a bit of speculation that Liston’s larger share was due to pressure from “nefarious figures” rumored to be silent partners among his management team. This had been the dream of Tyson’s trainer, Cus D’Amato, ever since Liston had destroyed his beloved protege Floyd Patterson in back-to-back knockouts. Those defeats shattered Cus almost as much as they did Floyd. D’Amato believed deeply in the style of fighting and philosophy he’d taught to Patterson – lessons in courage, belief in one’s self and character building that had instilled high hopes of riches and success in his beloved heavyweight champion. However, Cus felt redemption was close at hand with his new protege, Mike Tyson, who was a stronger, meaner, faster and harder-punching version of Patterson. Cus believed with all his heart that Tyson could not only beat Sonny Liston, but that he would serve him up and demolish him, just as Liston had done to Floyd. He was totally alone in that belief within the boxing community, the consensus being that Liston was simply too strong to overcome, regardless of how hard Tyson could punch. But Cus was a student of life and of boxing, and he was positive he was right. He had seen enough upsets to believe Mike Tyson had more than a good chance to take down Liston.
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Most notable victories: Mike DeJohn (TKO 6, 1959), Cleveland Williams (TKO 3, 1959; TKO 2, 1960), Nino Valdes (KO 3, 1959), Zora Folley (KO 3, 1960), Eddie Machen (UD 12, 1960), Floyd Patterson (KO 1 twice, 1962 and 1963), Chuck Wepner (TKO 9, 1970) Strengths: ® Considered by many boxing experts the hardest puncher of all heavyweight champions – and the most dangerous. ® Possessed devastating power in his left hook and a pulverizing right hand, and his ramrod left jab was described by opponents as feeling like other heavyweights’ power punches. Would stun his opponents, then club them to the canvas with ponderous short punches, as he did with Cleveland Williams and Nino Valdes.
Strengths: ® Blazing hand speed in combinations. ® Ferocious mindset, well-known killer instinct. As with Liston, Tyson’s aura could have a withering effect on his opponents. ® Destructive power in both hands, vicious right uppercut to the body and chin, explosive left hook. ® Fast, elusive and varied defensive head movement, amazing ability to pivot at high speed while maintaining balance and achieving punching angles. ® At his zenith, one of the most dangerous and formidable heavyweight champions in boxing history. ® His powerful neck added to his great punch resistance; he took the hardest punches Razor Ruddock could throw and shook them off.
® His aura of menace (heightened by stories of childhood trauma and prison time), baleful stare, fists that were 15 inches in circumference and amazing reach had many opponents beaten before they got into the ring. His trainer, Willie Reddish, a former heavyweight fighter, called Liston “the strongest man he had ever seen.” ® Seemed impossible to hurt to the head or body when on top of his game. ® A deceptively good boxer with solid skills. Weaknesses: ® Very slow-footed and lacked hand speed; had to go the distance with fighters who moved and boxed. ® Mob figures had influence over his career, which hurt him as he got older.
MIKE TYSON ® Born: June 30, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York ® Pro record: 50-7 (44 KOs) ® Pro Career: 1985-2024 ® Height: 5-foot-10 ® Reach: 71 inches ® Weight for Spinks fight: 218¼ pounds Most notable victories: Trevor Berbick (TKO2, 1986), James “Bonecrusher” Smith (UD 12, 1987), Pinklon Thomas (TKO 6, 1987), Tony Tucker (UD 12, 1987), Tyrell Biggs (TKO 7, 1987), Larry Holmes (TKO 4, 1988), Tony Tubbs (KO 2, 1988), Michael Spinks (KO 1, 1988), Frank Bruno (TKO 5, 1989; TKO 3, 1996), Carl “The Truth” Williams (TKO 1, 1989), Donovan “Razor” Ruddock, (TKO 7, UD 12, 1991), Bruce Seldon (TKO 1, 1996), Frans Botha (KO 5, 1999)
® Height: 6-foot-1 ® Reach: 84 inches
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