Rocky Marciano vs. Sonny Liston
A Great Fight That Never Happened
But it didn't happen. Marciano retired in 1956, when Liston had yet to establish himself as a contender.
If it did, it might've been one of the most exciting slugfests ever seen. At the least, it would've been an intriguing matchup.
Forty years after his death, Marciano still owns the distinction of being the only world heavyweight champion to retire undefeated. With 43 knockouts among his 49 wins, he was a power puncher of the highest magnitude.
But so was Liston, who finished his career 50-4 with 39 knockouts. In his prime, he was the most feared fighter in the heavyweight ranks. If given the chance, would Liston have dealt Marciano his only defeat?
Why Marciano, Liston Never Fought
Marciano's last bout was Sept. 21, 1955, in New York, when he knocked out Archie Moore in the ninth round. He announced his retirement on April 27,1956, at the age of 53.
Seven weeks before that, a 23-year-old Liston won an eight-round decision over Marty Marshall, avenging his only pro loss and improving to 14-1. But two months later, Liston was in jail, charged with breaking a policeman's knee and taking his gun. He didn't fight again until 1958.
By then, Floyd Patterson was in his second year as champion. He defeated Moore for the vacant title, lost it to Ingemar Johansson in 1959, then won it back from the Swede in 1960. Liston did not gain a title shot until 1962, and he knocked out Patterson in the first round. He duplicated the feat in a rematch in 1963.
But there was not another successful title defense. Along came Muhammad Ali, who beat Liston twice. While Liston lost just one more bout -- in 1969 -- he never landed another title shot. He died mysteriously in 1970 of what was officially declared a heroin overdose.
Liston outlived Marciano by a year. The "Brockton Blockbuster" died in a plane crash in 1969.
Setting the Stage
Let's turn back to clock to, say 1956. Marciano postpones his retirement, opting for two fights. He knocks out Patterson, and then pursues one more big pay day.
Marciano's 34, but let's say for the sake of argument that his skills have not diminished. He's strong as an ox, he can dispatch bigger men with a single punch, and he's got ample stamina and durability.
And let's say, Liston avoids trouble with the law, runs up some impressive wins, and lands a title shot in early 1958. He's entering his prime, just short of his 26th birthday (at least according to public records; there's doubt about his actual birthday).
How They Match Up
We don't really know it yet, but Liston doesn't have Rocky's heart (Liston basically quit in both of his bouts vs. Ali). On the other hand, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound Liston is definitely bigger, surely stronger, probably quicker and possibly just as hard of a hitter as the 5-10, 189-pound Marciano.
In addition, Liston has an 84-inch reach -- ridiculously long for a man standing just a shade over 6 feet (the only heavyweight champion with a longer one is 7-foot Nikolay Valuev). Meanwhile, Marciano's reach of 68 inches is the shortest of any heavyweight champ.
But the short reach isn't all bad. It enables him to pack extra power in short punches (like the one he used to knock out Jersey Joe Walcott and win the title). Marciano also uses his lack of height to his advantage, he crouches low, making himself a smaller target, bobbing and weaving. He's not necessarily hard to hit, but he's hard to hit squarely.
Plus, if Marciano does get tagged, he keeps fighting. Moore and Walcott both put him down early, and Marciano went on to knock both of them out.
Still, Liston is a punisher. He not only finishes opponents with hooks, crosses and uppercuts, he can knock people out with his jab. Plus, he's got an iron chin (he took huge blows in two bouts with the powerful Cleveland Williams and never went down).
A Three-Round WarMarciano inches forward at the opening bell, works his way inside, and both fighters open fire. Rocky scores with a glancing right, Liston lands flush with a short left.
After a clinch, and some feeling out, Liston lands a stiff jab, then connects with a big left hook as Rocky lunges in with a right. The two trade combinations, and a pro-Marciano crowd is stunned when Rocky goes down from a short right uppercut.
Marciano's up by the count of two, and goes on the attack. But Liston punishes him with jabs, then staggers him with a long-range hook. Liston moves in for the kill, firing away with both hands.
But as Liston throws a left hook, Marciano gets inside it with a short right. Liston's wobbled, and Marciano flails away. Rocky scores to head and body, and the crowd leaps to its feat. But Sonny not only stays up, he fights back. At the bell, the two are firing wildly, neither finding that one end-it-all punch.
Liston takes over in the second round. His superior size and reach begin to show, and he's also the more fluid puncher. But Marciano won't quit -- he never quits. He lands an overhand right high on Liston's head, but it doesn't phase him. Instead, Sonny rakes Marciano with a two-fisted flurry right before the bell. Rocky's style seems tailor-made for Liston.
A bruised, bloodied Marciano presses forward again in the third. He lands a solid left hook; but as he Rocky leaps forward with a right, Liston wallops him with a left hook and sends him to the canvas a second time.
Marciano's up at four, but he's in bad shape. Another Liston salvo has him basically out on his feet, and the referee stops the fight.
Marciano's as tough as anyone, but there's only so much a man can take.
Sources
Boxrec.com
Sugar, Bert Randolph; The Great Fights: A Pictorial History of Boxing's Greatest Bouts, Smithmark, 1984
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