Did Patterson Improve Post Title ?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by he grant, Nov 24, 2011.


  1. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    It's a well known fact D'Amato kept a very tight reign on Patterson and who he fought ... he was widely criticized for avoiding top contenders like Machen and Folley while fighting stiffs like London, Harris and Rademacher (getting floored and out boxed in the first two rounds) ... after being destroyed by Liston twice, putting aside the fact he lost every minute of every round against Ali he did go on to fight better fighters and do well ... Machen Chuvalo, Quarry, Ellis, Bonavena ... to me it appeared he improved as a fighter ... thoughts ?
     
  2. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

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    If you thought he was in some way better from say Moore to Ellis, I have no idea where to begin or what to think. He'd have butchered Ellis in the form of the Moore fight, imo.
     
  3. tommygun711

    tommygun711 The Future Full Member

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    You criticize him getting knocked down by those guys, even though he still went on to win. you could think of plenty of times where fighters were unimpressive in winning efforts. It doesn't diminish his ability as a fighter, In Patterson's case it just shows that he always had a bad chin.
     
  4. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    The point on his chin was Liston aside no one crushed him ... Ingo could hit like hell and he dropped him seven (?) times in their first fight and Floyd kept getting up ... he seemed to have excellent recooperative powers for the most part ..
     
  5. round15

    round15 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    His back was really messed up after the Liston defeats if I'm not mistaken. He was declining, but still a good, tough fighter.
     
  6. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    Maybe improved in confidence but certainly not in ability. I have never seen him look as good on film as against Archie Moore in 1956 and Ingemar Johansson in 1960. Patterson lost some of his speed/reflexes post Liston.

    I think Floyd would have knocked out Folley and clearly outpointed Machen had they fought in the late 50s, if Floyd was up for it. Williams would have always been a very dangerous fight for Floyd.
     
  7. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Hard to say ,he may just have fought better opposition ,and raised his game.
     
  8. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    :goodgood post.

    williams would have been dangerous but I would bet on floyd, machen, folley and ingo beating him.
     
  9. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    no way. Johansson would **** his pants against Williams, Floyd would freeze up like a snowman, folley would get knocked out if Williams landed, and machen already proved he couldn't beat williams.

    Williams was very dangerous for all of those men. He goes 2-2 against those men in my opinion.
     
  10. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    williams was a dangerous fellow but I find proving he could beat a prime world class fighter as dificult as saying gerry cooney does.
     
  11. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    He beat Ernie Terrell. Terrell was world class. I don't give a **** what your world rating says. He was 23-3 in the prime of his life and went on to beat all these top fighters less than a year later. Williams knocked out Terrell.
     
  12. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    Cooney knocked out a washed up ken Norton who was possibly no better than the untested Terrell at the time that Williams beat him.

    The point I’m making is that it is hard to put much stock into any untested fighter against proven, great, world class fighters if the starlet isn’t so proven himself.

    would you bank on Cooney beating mike dokes, weaver, page and witherspoon? Yes gerry has a chance but would you bet on it with his pedigree at the point he met Holmes?
     
  13. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    Ernie Terrell was in his prime when Cleveland Williams beat him, and he was in his prime for the 2nd fight too, which I had Williams winning 6 rounds to 4.
     
  14. choklab

    choklab cocoon of horror Full Member

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    so do you pick cooney to beat dokes, page, weaver and witherspoon?

    terrell did not find his way untill after the williams fights.
     
  15. SuzieQ49

    SuzieQ49 The Manager Full Member

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    not true, Terrell was rated # 5 in the 2nd fight and had already beaten zora folley. this was only 1 year after Williams had beaten him. It was the only time Terrell was knocked out in his career until 1971.