After Spinks upset Muhammad Ali, one of the boxing magazines talked of Patterson wanting to come back and fight Spinks try to become the oldest heavyweight champion. I'm not sure how serious Floyd was, and I don't see him actually getting the fight even if he wanted it - Leon was obviously eyeing a big money Ali rematch. But let's say the fight gets made for July 1978 because Spinks wants a tuneup and payday prior to facing Ali again. Does a fit and focused 43 year old Floyd beat a post-Ali hard partying Leon Spinks?
Crud I voted without reading the description. Changing my vote to Leon Spinks by UD or late round TKO. Too much youth and volume punching for a 40 year old with a shakey chin.
Leon would beat him at this stage in both of their careers. Floyd beats him in his prime, but only in the rematch.
Floyd had been retired for six years by 78 and Leon was two years removed from Olympic Gold and had Just beat a faded but still dangerous Ali. Remember, Ali had just KO'ed Shavers the fight before and had beaten both Norton and Young a year earlier.
I think the only reason the fight happens is because Floyd thinks he can win. Thus if it had happened I reckon Patterson sneaks a decision over an unmotivated, overconfident, partied out Neon Leon.
I read in a bio on Patterson that Floyd was called in late 1977 and asked if he'd be willing to fight Muhammad Ali in February 1978 for the title. CBS wanted Ali for their February sweeps week (which happened each quarter to determine advertising rates) because they knew Ali fights brought in more viewers. But Ali wanted an easy opponent before he fought Norton for a fourth time. So Ali's management actually phoned Floyd (who had never officially retired after losing on a cut to Ali in 1972) and asked if he wanted to come back and fight Ali for the title. A guy Patterson was training at the time who was in the gym when Floyd took the call is the source in the book. He said Floyd told him about the offer when he hung up the phone. Patterson declined. But it's interesting that it could've been Patterson in the ring with Ali instead of Spinks. Patterson was also supposed to be Ali's last fight before Ali was stripped for refusing to enter the draft. A press conference was even held announcing their rematch in 1967. Which means he was actually offered a fight with Ali on four separate occasions. Floyd always kept himself in shape. I doubt, at 43, he'd have beaten Ali. But Spinks? Who knows.