If Patterson had faced Cleveland Williams instead of Liston?

I would pick Floyd to win a decision. He was simply too fast.

 

This is what it broils down to IMO .People may say Patterson was much the better , skilled fighter , which he was , but he could be caught and hurt early. And Chance's are it's a big puncher that does that .So Williams can't be dismissed off hand .

 

You could never be sure of Patterson’s chin?

You could never be sure of Williams chin! Right through his record Williams was often decked by his opponents. Sylvester Jones knocked him down twice. Satterfeild knocked him down twice. Ali knocked him down four times. (In fact Williams resembled a table cloth in that fight, spread eagled across the canvas like a star fish) Liston knocked him down several times. Mel turnbow knocked him down. Mac Foster knocked him down four times. Al Blue Lewis knocked him down. Bob mashburn knocked him down. Al Jones knocked him down twice.

Altogether, considering far fewer of Williams opponents were actual competitive fights, Williams ratio for going over was possibly more times than It was for Patterson against live opposition.

Nobody like Mashburn and Sylvester Jones were decking Floyd.

Who was the best guy Williams fought who did not knock him down?

 

He was past it when Ali, Turnbow,Foster ,Lewis ,Jones dropped him
Best who didnt ? Terrell ,Machen.

 

Welcome back. You disappeared for near on a week.

 

So it’s just the 8 knockdowns against Sylvester Jones, Satterfeild and Liston that count?

 

Given what happened in Liston - Patterson i'd be smartly leaving that segment alone. He was a last minute sub vs Satterfield too.

 

Not against Sly Jones. What happened there?

 

Well the Big Cat came back 9 months later and rectified the wrong. Flogged him. These things happen. Fireman Jim anyone.

 

At 28-0 and 20 years old Williams lost to 7-3 Sly Jones. It’s like Tyson losing to a 10 fight novice around the time he fought Berbick. Tyson was actually 27-0 against Berbick and a bit older than Williams was when he dropped the ball at the polo grounds on the Marciano v Lastarza card.

 

Do you want to count the guys that dropped Floyd?

 

Edit

 

You would need an abacus, Macca.

 

You can't compare various fighters via number of fights. Tyson developed fast and no-one is saying Williams is a better fighter or as good as Tyson are they?

Williams lost one, simple. He came back quickly to emphatically avenge it.