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The other thing to consider is the fact that Tyson wasn't anywhere near mentally focused for that fight. With due respect to Douglas, he came ready. It helps that his team knew that Tyson was doing everything except training. It's no excuse. Still, Douglas would not have enjoy such an advantage with Prime Liston.
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The bigger problem we have with Liston is that, between his age (which no one knew for sure) and his mob ties, who knew when his prime really was? His whole life was shrouded in mystery.
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Liston only lost 4 fights. Three have clear explanations and we'll never know what the deal was in the ALI rematch.
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The other reason to forget Douglas' size advantage is that Liston actually has a longer reach. At 84 inches, his was second only that of Primo Carnera and tied with Lennox Lewis'.
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The final reason to forget the size advantage is that it could be argued that Douglas could have fought effectively at 220-225. He always carried a percentage of excess fat, even at his best.
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Douglas had a wonderful jab. However, Liston could match him in accuracy and clearly surpass him in power. Douglas' jab was strong but where it stung opponents, Sonny's knocked them senseless.
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This fight isn't very difficult to call at all. Douglas might win a round or two before learning that he can't outbox Sonny. He would retreat to the ropes and look to cover up. Sonny's close friendship with Joe Louis didn't leave him anyone's fool. Joe was one of the greatest ring tacticians in history. Sonny would know what to do when Buster covered up.
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Lacking the speed to escape or the power to discourage his adversary, Douglas would find himself in deep trouble. A look at his history would give a clear indication of what he's likely to do in this situation. Giving him the benefit of the doubt, I'd assume he would fight rather than quit.
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It wouldn't matter because Sonny would work the body as Douglas covers up on the ropes. Sonny would force him there and keep him there. A solid right to the body opens Douglas up. A left on the inside shakes him and a right finishes him along the ropes.
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Liston by KO in 6.
Sonny Liston would destroy even this Douglas. Douglas was phenomenal that evening in Tokyo. However he beat an unmotivated unprepared not physically in shape Mike Tyson. Tyson nearly ended the fight with one punch. Douglas throughout his career was an underachiever. Liston was better before Ali. He had a ramrod devastating left jab a long reach good boxing skill and was mean. He would smoke Douglas like a cheap cigar. This fight would not last 5 or 6 rounds. Liston would be all over Douglas like his shirt and win easily
Prime Douglas lost to Evander Holyfield by KO in 3 rounds. We all know how much harder Liston hit than Holyfield, so he takes him out earlier. A good prepared Tyson would've knocked Douglas out in one round, similar to the Spinks fight. Let's also not forget that Tyson was a good friend of Douglas and shared the pain of the loss of Douglas mother prior to the fight(Tyson also lost his mother early, at age 16), so I'm sure Mike was holding himself back, not to seriously hurt Douglas. That's why Mike wasn't angry about the loss afterwards.
Liston by 1st round KO
In 1960, two years before Liston beat Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight championship by first round knockout not once but twice, he fought five times taking on top contenders Howard King, Cleveland Williams, Roy Harris,Eddie Machen and Zora Folley, beating all but one (Machen) by KO.
On the other hand, Douglas in 1989, a year prior to his challenge of Mike Tyson, fought two times beating veteran Trevor Berbick and then upcoming Oliver McCall on points. He was on a six-bout winning roll since 1987 when he lost by TKO 10 to Tony Tucker for the vacant IBF heavyweight title.
By 1960, Liston's only lone loss by SD8 in 1954 to Marty Marshall was but a distant memory, in fact a loss he more than avenged by beating the same Marshall twice in succeeding fights, including one by KO. That early, Liston was definitely very primed to take on and beat Patterson if not for the fact that Patterson continued to duck him.
Given that background and the fact that in Tyson, Douglas fought a very rusty fighter in a forlorn land, Liston would have been a far formidable even foe for a well conditioned and highly motivated Douglas.
The 6-4 Douglas would not have had much advantage over the 6-1 Liston skills-wise as Liston was possessed of above average boxing skills and had a longer than normal reach of 84" ( longer than Muhammad Ali's!) as against Douglas's 83"
Hence, I don't see Douglas outboxing Liston the way he did against the 5-10 shorter-armed Tyson and the way then Cassius Clay, using his speed, mobility and greatest ever footwork did against Liston
Douglas was as big as Cleveland Williams but perhaps not as tough, powerful and durable as The Cat was in his best prime when he first met Liston. And Liston easily steamrolled over Williams.
Liston showed later in 1962 that he had little problems dispatching off fleet-footed defensive boxer as Floyd Patterson.
He may have had a little more problems with Douglas given Buster's size but I think Liston would have also caught up with Douglas in the later rounds and knocked him out or stopped him.
Douglas was a one night wonder, a 50-1 underdog. This night however, wouldn't be his night against Liston who could match him jab for jab, only Liston's was much harder. and not fold like Tyson . Liston doesn't let Douglas get into any sort of rythem and out boxes him scoring a 4 th round tko stoppage.
Liston knocks out Douglas in less than 5 rounds.
Remember that Tyson knocked Douglas down and should have stopped him, but he was not in great shape.
Liston by KO in round 7. He had a lot more stamina than Tyson.
Buster Douglas
It is a MYTH that Tyson was not ready for that fight
At that time the press was talking to Tyson about his possible bout against Holyfield. The fight with Douglas was a pre-fight preparation and exhibition to face Holyfield
It would have been absurd that Tyson lost for lack of preparation when everyone would see their performance against Douglas
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That night in Tokyo Holyfield was watching and commenting on the fight and could not explain what was happening
Liston by KO
I'd go with Sonny. He's stronger, faster and definitely hit harder, and he got plenty of skills, including a sledge-hammer of a jab and punches in bunches all thrown correctly.
