The best version of Patterson vs the best version of Baer. And the best version of Johannson vs the best version of Baer. Does Max go undefeated here?
He might be able to beat Johannson. Though I can see him losing that like in the Braddock fight. He definitely loses to Patterson IMO.
Stylistically, he's all wrong for Floyd, he stops him in 5 imo. Which hurts coz I love Patterson. Johannson represents a Schmeling-esq task, Baer at his best deals with him as well.
Floyd was much more talented fighter but I always felt he fought a very bad style for his skill set .. he simply lacked the ability to absorb punishment as a swarmer at heavyweight against big , top heavyweights .. I see Baer over powering him at some point if he actually woke up that day wanting to fight .. a big if ..
Don't know about "definitely". Patterson was surely the more skilled fighter, but Baer was the stronger fighter and the harder hitting fighter. If Baer caught Patterson with a big right hand, it could be all over for the gentleman from New York.
Patterson was a great heavyweight, but he was always going to come up against a brick wall in certain kinds of opponent. I suspect that Johansen would have beaten him all three times, if he had a chin like Baer's.
Max Baer's limitations always give me pause , but he should beat both, but if you told me Floyd won a decision I wouldn't be surprised , hey Braddock did.
Patterson had to be favored against Baer. It's a Ferrari against a broken down Dodge pick-up. I'd take Floyd 4 times out of 5. Baer was easy to make look silly.
