Floyd Patterson vs Buster Mathis - 1967 for the vacant title - who do you picK?

On March 22, 1967, Muhammad Ali stopped Zora Folley in a world heavyweight title fight.

Two weeks later, on April 4, Ali and Floyd Patterson signed contracts and held a press conference announcing their rematch. Ali said he wanted to give Patterson a return bout because Floyd was suffering from back spasms during their first fight and couldn't perform up to his normal level.

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Patterson had scored three straight KOs since losing to Ali in 1965, including stoppage wins over Henry Cooper and Bill McMurray. After the McMurray fight Patterson was quoted as saying:

"I'm ready to meet Clay. Any date is agreeable to me. I've been waiting a long time for this. I'm going to do the best I can. I hope it is enough to bring me out victorious."

Then, on April 29, Ali refused induction into the U.S. Army and had his passport seized, his boxing license revoked, and was subsequently stripped of the heavyweight title by the World Boxing Association and the New York State Athletic Commission.

Meanwhile, Patterson's former trainer and manager, Cus D'Amato, was working with Buster Mathis and guiding the winner of the 1964 Olympic Trials up the heavyweight ladder.

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In May 1967, Mathis would improve to 19-0. And while Mathis was definitely protected, and had only faced a series of journeymen, he had beaten one future title challenger in Chuck Wepner.

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IN REALITY, when the Ali fight collapsed, Patterson took a fight with Jerry Quarry (21--1-3) in California in June and fought to a 10-round majority draw.

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Then Floyd joined the WBA tournament and lost a 12-round rematch with Quarry in October.

AND MATHIS would finish 1967 with four more wins before taking on Joe Frazier for the vacant title recognized by FIVE STATES, including New York.

WHAT IF, instead of Patterson fighting Quarry and Mathis fighting Frazier, the New York State Athletic Commission decided to stage a vacant heavyweight title fight between Patterson, one of New York's favorite boxers, and the rising heavyweight Buster Mathis in 1967?

Patterson was a top contender and was preparing for a title fight before facing Quarry the first time. Mathis was a U.S. Olympian. The "grudge factor" was there between Patterson and Mathis, with D'Amato now working in Buster's camp.

Buster had size and fast hands, and a pretty good chin. But this was Floyd's chance to be a three-time champ. Yet, in reality, he couldn't beat Quarry in two fights around the time this Mathis bout would've hypothetically occurred. (Although both fights were razor thin.)

Let's say Mathis goes ahead and fights Wayne Heath in August to move to 20-0, Floyd never fights Quarry, and the Patterson-Mathis fight is held in Madison Square Garden that fall.

WHO WOULD YOU PICK in a fight between Floyd Patterson and Buster Mathis in the fall of 1967 for a portion of the Vacant Heavyweight title?

 

I think Floyd's left hook could do serious damage. But the 50-pound weight difference, and Mathis' fast hands, would be rough on Floyd. Especially if Mathis laid on him in clinches, given Floyd's back.

I can't pick a winner.

 

Mathis was a good puncher and scored a lot of knockdowns in his career. He put Wepner down with a quick right hand right out of the gate.

 

There's also the question of whether Cus D'Amato's presence or influence in Mathis' team would affect Patterson positively (as in Patterson is more motivated) or negatively (it messes with Floyd's mind/Cus knows Floyd's weaknesses).

Mathis was a pretty confident guy in 1967. Here he is at the end of that year knocking out the South African heavyweight champion in 36 seconds.

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