If Archie Moore beats Floyd in 1956, who is the first Defense? (Note: Patterson defended against Jackson, Rademacher, Harris, London, & Ingo). Would 196 lb Archie give Nino Valdes a shot at the title? (Moore beat Valdes in 1955 by UD....Moore was a 2-1 favorite). Moore might have taken on Hurricane Jackson also....followed by Harold Johnson....who probably would have won the LtHvy title after Moore moves to Heavyweight.
OK we have two obvious lines of evidence here. 1. What were the rankings? 2. What was Moore's policy as LHW champion?
Ring Ratings after 1956 Tommy (Hurricane) Jackson Archie Moore Harold Carter Willie Pastrano Eddie Machen Bob Satterfield
My guess is Ingemar Johansson, the new European champion. Best likely gate, which is what would have appealed to Doc Kearns. Valdes had already lost twice to Moore and was on a losing streak. I think Kearns would have tried to maneuver Machen and Jackson into an elimination. Roy Harris would have been in the mix for a shot, just like he was with Patterson. A good record but lacking the punch to be dangerous for an upset KO. *I looked up Harris at boxrec and he defeated Bob Baker in April of 1957, and Willie Pastrano in June. I think he gets a shot at Moore in August or September. A perfect record with more than 20 victories, but like I said, no dangerous punch. The fight would have been in the Cotton Bowl. Mulling it over, I think Harris rather than Johansson would have been the first defense.
*I looked up Harris at boxrec and he defeated Bob Baker in April of 1957, and Willie Pastrano in June. I think he gets a shot at Moore in August or September. A perfect record with more than 20 victories, but like I said, no dangerous punch. The fight would have been in the Cotton Bowl. Great Analysis...especially putting the fight in the Cotton Bowl or the 72,000 seat Rice Stadium in Houston.
Old Arch thinks he'll have an easy 1st defense, so he defends against the lightest regarded of the bunch, ....light punching Willie Pastrano...and gets outpointed...and loses the title.!!
Wouldn't that have been a real 'downer' in the HW division! Floyd brought charisma/style/punch and an overall positive look to the emerging Heavies. Patterson was a popular guy who broke down racial barriers, something sorely lacking in today's 'identity politics'. If anyone wants to erase the divide we're seeing in this country look no further than Patterson! My $0.02
Yes..lol,...as much as I like Willie P,....it would have been a real downer all right...there's no substitute for Floyd Patterson!! That period of history known as the "late 50's" absolutely belongs to Floyd Patterson IMO!!
Ironically Willie P. & Patterson fought some common fighters. Willie P. beat Joey Maxim, split 2 fights with Brian London, lost to Roy Harris, beat Tom McNeeley, and drew with Archie Moore. Pastrano also split with heavyweight Alonso Johnson, beat heavy D**k Richardson, beat heavy Joe Bygraves and beat heavy Willie Besmanoff (plus, outpointed heavy Rex Layne, an Ezzard Charles UD victim). Sadly, a case could be made for Pastrano as legit Hvywt Champion...but that's another story. (lol)
"legit hvywt champion" Do you mean contender? Interesting addition about Rice Stadium. Off subject, but I read that Rice University owned Yankee Stadium at one time, and Duke University owned the Polo Grounds. How that came about must be interesting and I should try to look it up sometime.
Whoever he defends against I don't see Moore having a long reign .He d be champ for a year at most imo
