What do you think about Floyd Patterson?

I didnt say there was anything wrong with his foot work,but that he was not known for it,his jab was ok but not astounding, Patterson stood rather square on, his head protected in that peek a boo stance,he often leaped in with his left hook, and could be countered ,but his hand speed was unparalleled for a heavyweight. Ive never been a fan of the peek a boo style , it can be self defeating it obstructs the view of the fighter using it .Patterson was down plenty of times he had the heart to keep getting up and his years of toil on the "Apparatus" , meant that he could fire off 6 punch combos in one fluid blur. I'm a fan of Floyd, but he was NOT a celebrated MOVER around the ring ,Jersey Joe Walcott,Gene Tunney, Jim Corbett,Ali Tyson were all better movers IMO.One punch that Floyd is NOT celebrated for ,but which he had down pat was the right counter, watch him employ it against Henry Cooper.

 

i like the guy a great fighter made the best of his abilities IMO. And a brillaint last name

 

You're familiar with how fear can freeze a man in place, yes?

 

Ali broke more then one iron chin, so no shame there.

 

yeah, what did sinatra say to patterson? not that it's important but i'm just curious. i'd like to see sinatra go at it with liston

i read on this forum that sinatra also gave duran a hard time about the "no mas" fight at a las vegas casino. duran responded and sinatra showed anger and had to be held back with one pinky else he'd have beaten up duran. here's someone else mention it click here.

apparently liston & patterson got along just fine after the fights. apparently the two had a cordial talk in liston's dressing room years after their own fights. seems like liston had respect for patterson which is a surprise because you think a guy like liston just hated and destroyed.

just move the playback pin to the 2/3 of the way at 6:40 for patterson's interview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGqlQ9NTa5U

 

Actually had Floyd winning the 2nd Ali fight until it was stopped.

 

Sinatra would have beaten up Duran?

 

Of course. Sinatra was a real tough guy. What did Duran know about fighting?

I was being sarcastic.

 

In case someone isn't familiar with Patterson, here's a tribute I made of him:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6s8bv_boxing-tribute-to-floyd-patterson_sport

Floyd Patterson is one of my all time favorite boxers although I do realize what weaknesses he had as a heavyweight. I don't think his chin was as bad as it was made out to be though, it's just that Patterson was fighting 200+ lb opponents while Floyd himself was little more than a light heavyweight.

 

I always felt D'Amato was both a blessing and a curse for him. He was able to move Floyd up nicely as a LHW and then quickly move him into the gap left by Marciano's retirement. However, his work with Patterson became counterproductive after that IMO. He was much to protective of him and didn't give him the room and the experience needed to grow and develop, both technically and mentally. He built up guys like Liston, Machen, etc. into such bogeymen in Patterson's mind, that when he finally got in with Liston the **** was running down his legs. After Patterson had been away from D'Amato for a little bit, he made a comeback against Machen, one of the guys Cus had steered him clear away from, and wouldn't you know he beats him easily!

D'Amato went on record a few times criticizing Floyd at this stage in his career for getting away from his peek-a-boo style during fights. Cus viewed it as being lazy and undisciplined. Personally, I think it was just what Patterson needed: not to be riggidly stuck within one style, given the freedom to be creative, improvise, and develop into a more versatile and well-rounded fighter. Suddenly he started taking on everyone anywhere, gutted out some gritty, hard-fought battles with the likes of Chuvalo and Bonavena (the kinds fights people never thought he could win back when he was champion), arguably beat guys like Quarry and Ellis in many people's minds; and in the very last fight of his career, nearing the age of 40, he gave an excellent account of himself against Ali.

 

I agree with everything you say in this post. Patterson was excellent, and his only real problem at heavyweight on an all-time basis is his small size.

 

The story is Floyd went to Sinatra's suite and apologised for losing to Liston ,but Sinatra turned his back on him.True ? I dont know.
Aftr Ali heard the story he said "who would want that kind of image?"

 

I esteem Floyd Patterson in a way that transcends his actual standing as a fighter or champion, in that he was, as a man, and as a sportsman, sheer class. It's almost irrelevent how you rate him as a fighter...he was an example to young men back in his day in the late fifties (and even more so today) of how to conduct yourself as a model sportsman and representative in not only boxing, but whatever field in life as well, with class and dignity. He was a great gentleman, period.

 

I forgot to mention, ironically enough, that he was a fine fighter wit solid accomplishments , but would have been greatly benefitted by fighting in the cruiserweight division, where he would have been too much for anyone there.

 

i think its true but i have doubts about the stories of sinatra being a boxer.
its funny that all those ex fighters got on ,ie liston & foreman
frazier , holmes & norton
liston & patterson
but no ali ?? respect yes but no love