Floyd Patterson vs. Harry Wills

[Luigi1985]

Who wins and why?

[Minotauro]

I’m gonna go with Patterson via KO 8/9 I feel his hand speed would be to much and he would be beating Wills to the punch also he has underrated defence when coming forward his head movement was very good. If a past prime Langford can do it I believe a prime Patterson would.

[janitor]

Wills seems to have been efective at neutralizing come forward fighters. I would cite his record against Langford and McVea in suport of this.

Patterson could hit and he had faster hands than Langford and McVea but he did not have their durability. He was also not as mobile as Langford or strong as McVea. This would make it likley that Wills wears him down.

[robert ungurean]

Wills is another overatted fighter on this forum.

[janitor]

Wills is another overatted fighter on this forum.

Interesting viewpoint.

I would say that he is about as far from being overated as you can get.

[Mendoza]

Who wins and why?

Hard to say as we have very little film on Wills.

[PowerPuncher]

Probably Wills but cant say without saying. Wills could range in ability from being GOAT to a Walcott/Charles level fighter

As for the guy who talked about the Langford loss

How many times did Wills beat Langford? 17? How many times did he lose 2-3?

[Mendoza]

Probably Wills but cant say without saying. Wills could range in ability from being GOAT to a Walcott/Charles level fighter

As for the guy who talked about the Langford loss

How many times did Wills beat Langford? 17? How many times did he lose 2-3?

The Langford vs Wills series was in Langford's favor early on. The matches were tied at 2-2, but Langford won his matches VIA KO. Wills took over the series as Langford abilities continued to decline due to age, and excessive ring activity.

Sam MCvey won his first two fights vs Wills via decision. McVey was not a good boxer type, so this is interesting. Then as McVey's abilities began to decline due to age and excessive ring activity, Wills took over.

The question here is, was Wills too green early when these fights happened 1914-1916? And how far past their best were McVey and Langford post 1916?

It’s hard to say without the films. From what I've read on Wills, he was a good body puncher, a good clincher / wrestler, and had a big punch. However he did opt out of some matches with injury, and fouled out of some others. Wills' intangibles to me are a bit questionable. Wills chin might have been a bit questionable vs the better punchers, and some reports say he was not fast.

History did not work out for Wills. Aside from not meeting Dempsey, Wills never fought Johnson, Tunney, or Godfrey. The Godfrey fight was offered a few times. It would have been a good one that matched two prime vs prime contenders for the colored title.

[McGrain]

All due love and resepct to Patterson, but I don't see him beating Wills as I understand him. I accept that I might be overating Wills.

Wills KO 5.


Good post Mendoza.