Floyd Patterson Discussion?

[Renofan]

I always thought Floyd was a great credit to the sport. I'm not foolish enough to think he could cope with alot of the modern bigger heavyweights, but I think he's slightly underrated. I actually believe he was a better fighter after he lost the title than when he had it, or maybe it was his opposition at the time. Either way, one of my favorite fighters. What's everyone's thoughts on Floyd Patterson?

[My2Sense]

I actually believe he was a better fighter after he lost the title than when he had it, or maybe it was his opposition at the time.

I agree, I've always said the same thing.

After he broke with Cus, it gave him the chance to expand and develop his style as needed, and not just restrict himself to the limited peekaboo style that Cus rigidly enforced on him; plus he eventually built up the confidence that he needed going into fights with tougher and higher level opponents. I believe being able to beat Eddie Machen was a big turning point for him, as he found he could fight these guys that Cus had always built up into bogeymen in his mind.

[mr. magoo]

I think very highly of Floyd Patterson, and have actually started a number of threads on him myself over the years. He was one of the youngest heavyweight champions of all time, an olympic gold medalist, and the first man to regain the title upon losing it. He was also relatively small for a heavyweight of his day, and often competed against men who were a bit bigger. He did however have the tendency to get decked early in fights, and according to his critics, avoided a number of worthy challengers during his title reign. Nevertheless, he was a very respectable fighter and one that I usually rank somewhere in my top 15.

[red cobra]

I've always thought that Patterson's quality as a fighter and as a person actually transcended his actual abilities and accomplishments as a fighter. He always represented sheer class, and was the defiinition of a model sportsman, especially in defeat. I respect him as much as I do any fighter in history.

[mcvey]

I always thought Floyd was a great credit to the sport. I'm not foolish enough to think he could cope with alot of the modern bigger heavyweights, but I think he's slightly underrated. I actually believe he was a better fighter after he lost the title than when he had it, or maybe it was his opposition at the time. Either way, one of my favorite fighters. What's everyone's thoughts on Floyd Patterson?
After he lost the title and was free of D'Amato,Floyd fought all styles and sizes, his record against them is very good he was a very fine fighter ,and an honourable man.

[Renofan]

I've always thought that Patterson's quality as a fighter and as a person actually transcended his actual abilities and accomplishments as a fighter. He always represented sheer class, and was the defiinition of a model sportsman, especially in defeat. I respect him as much as I do any fighter in history.


Well said.........If I remember correctly, after the 3rd Johannssen fight, didn't Floyd say something like "If there is a better fighter out there, I would much rather see them be the champion as myself"?......If Floyd Patterson were fighting today, he would be a breath of fresh air over someone like FMJ's line of bullshit.

[Manassa]

Patterson was pained by the fact he was slightly too heavy for a light heavyweight and not heavy enough to compete with the bigger heavyweights of the time, like Liston.

At around 185lbs I think he was one of the best ever. Better than Marciano, perhaps... Well, it'd only come down to his chin. His punching abilities were top, you've only got to watch the early films to see that, and Ali once said Patterson was the most skilled man he fought.

Emile Griffith mixed with Mike Tyson.

[Minotauro]

One of my favourite fighters, he was an excellent boxer. His speed was amazing for a heavyweight and he had a huge heart would have been interesting if he'd stayed at light heavy for longer. Patterson was a true champ pure class.

[ron u.k.]

Patterson was the first fighter i ever got into,i was devastated when big bad Sonny Ko'd him twice.I just loved his style and his speed and his quick combinations.Floyd actually started off fighting as a pro at 160 odd pounds,i don't even think he was a big Light Heavy never mind a heavy.There's some footage on You Tube of one of his early fights fighting at something like 164 pounds against another young prospect who's name for now escapes me,but what's interesting is that Floyds head was never off the other guys chest,he fought him on the inside all the way through before stopping him.I can only assume that Cus changed him to the peekaboo style later when he was facing the bigger heavier men.After losing the title Floyd put in some very credible displays and never got a fair deal on a couple of occasions. In the ring he always showed skill,courage and bravery he was also a class act outside of the ropes.Whereas they may be able to say Floyd Patterson had a glass jaw,they could never say he had a glass heart.

[janitor]

One of my favourite fighters, he was an excellent boxer. His speed was amazing for a heavyweight and he had a huge heart would have been interesting if he'd stayed at light heavy for longer. Patterson was a true champ pure class.

Now at light heavyweight Patterson would be almost unbeatable if he could make the weight without significant sacrifice.

[dmt]

i agree if he fought as a lhw and if he could make the weight he would be excellent. Shame about the Liston fights though. Still a hall of famer and a underated fighter. Top 20 atg heavyweight IMO

[djanders]

Floyd was a great man! I always liked him! It's an honor for boxing to have him on the list of Heavyweight Champions! :good

[SuzieQ49]

At around 185lbs I think he was one of the best ever. Better than Marciano


Thats highly pushing it. Its very doubtful whether floyd would make it past round 5 vs a Prime Rocky Marciano.


Floyd was a great fighter though. He had superhuman combinations of speed/power in his reproitre, and was a highly technical boxer. Top 20 heavyweight all time for sure.

[Manassa]

I said 'perhaps.' Don't make it sound like it was set in stone.

I'd make it 50/50.

[NB Bulldog 83]

Floyd Paterson was a class act and a very good fighter. But he was just too small to compete effectively against some of the better fighters of the '60s and early '70s. He would have made a very dangerous light-heavyweight in any age.

[SuzieQ49]

I said 'perhaps.' Don't make it sound like it was set in stone.

I'd make it 50/50.


Judging from the Johansson and Liston fights, I have extreme doubts on Floyds chin vs that quality of a puncher. Floyd simply cannot take Marcianos best punches, particulary the Suzy Q right hand. Whats worse for floyd, he loved to brawl. he would come right into marciano. this is suicide.

[brownpimp88]

Now at light heavyweight Patterson would be almost unbeatable if he could make the weight without significant sacrifice.
Would you hold him in a higher regard than Bob Foster? I mean bob couldnt do shit against heavyweights and floyd was a world champ at that weight.

[TheGreatA]

I think post-title Floyd Patterson probably does better against Marciano than the younger, more aggressive Floyd. He outpointed bigger, stronger guys like Bonavena and Chuvalo although Marciano was much more effective with his pressure than they were.

Patterson was terrific at LHW I thought, didn't seem to have any real chin problems at that weight either. Men like Archie Moore and Yvon Durelle could have surely exposed his vulnerabilities if he did have them.

It's only when started facing 200 lb men that he started hitting the canvas. Still, Patterson showed a ton of heart in most of his fights and probably got up around 30 times throughout his long career. If you didn't keep him down, he wouldn't stay down.

Witness the handspeed and punching power of a prime Floyd Patterson:

[Only registered and activated users can see links]
3:20 :good

About Bob Foster, he seemed to have a fairly solid chin at 175 lbs but whenever he stepped up against heavyweights, he looked really vulnerable. One of the big problems he had was that despite being rather tall for a light heavy, he just couldn't put on any weight to his lanky frame and thus gave away close to 30-40 lbs every time he fought top HW's like Ali and Frazier.

[frankwornank]

Floyd had a very interesting style of fighting. He was a very good puncher and very aggresive. In his earlier fights for example vs. Jimmy Slade and Hurricane Jackson he was just as strong or stronger than his opponents. His fighting style never changed but as he went up against bigger guys, he was not as effective. That being said, he was a heck of a fighter. He matured into a well built and extremely well conditioned 190 pounder. He weighed 197 for Chuvalo and looked real good. He was the kind of fighter that would probably never loose to someone his size or smaller. As far as the type guy he was to talk to, I met him couple of times and you could not ask for a nicer person. Real genuine and down to earth. He flew a pipercub airplane and we once flew all over the Marlboro N.Y. area talking boxing. I attended his memorial mass and big turn out. Real gentleman.

[SuzieQ49]

He outpointed bigger, stronger guys like Bonavena and Chuvalo although Marciano was much more effective with his pressure than they were.


Not to mention much more skilled and much better all around puncher than those two. I also believe Marciano was stronger than both, despite being lighter. Floyd won two controversial close decisions over Bonavena and Chuvalo. Floyd was usually on the wrongside of bad decisions though, so I wont complain. Quarry I and Ellis were pathetic decisions.

[round15]

Patterson was a true gentleman of the sport that sometimes didn't give himself enough credit.

He was already beaten coming out of the dressing room, by the time the bell sounded for the first round against Liston. He could have boxed a lot better and put a better showing of his title defense if his mind was on straight.

[Manassa]

Judging from the Johansson and Liston fights, I have extreme doubts on Floyds chin vs that quality of a puncher. Floyd simply cannot take Marcianos best punches, particulary the Suzy Q right hand. Whats worse for floyd, he loved to brawl. he would come right into marciano. this is suicide.

I know, his lack of a good jaw is what makes it 50/50. Because in most other areas he's equal to or better than Marciano.

[Ted Spoon]

Patterson may not have been the sturdiest of fighters, but he was one of the gutsiest, which is far more important. He holds the record for going down, and he holds the record for getting back up. Ingo had to practically bury him in that first fight.

Patterson was a long night’s work; he was tremendously quick, carried zap and put on pressure very well. And a nice resume to boot.