Floyd Patterson Discussion?

I agree, I've always said the same thing.

After he broke with Cus, it gave him the chance to expand and develop his style as needed, and not just restrict himself to the limited peekaboo style that Cus rigidly enforced on him; plus he eventually built up the confidence that he needed going into fights with tougher and higher level opponents. I believe being able to beat Eddie Machen was a big turning point for him, as he found he could fight these guys that Cus had always built up into bogeymen in his mind.

 

I think very highly of Floyd Patterson, and have actually started a number of threads on him myself over the years. He was one of the youngest heavyweight champions of all time, an olympic gold medalist, and the first man to regain the title upon losing it. He was also relatively small for a heavyweight of his day, and often competed against men who were a bit bigger. He did however have the tendency to get decked early in fights, and according to his critics, avoided a number of worthy challengers during his title reign. Nevertheless, he was a very respectable fighter and one that I usually rank somewhere in my top 15.

 

I've always thought that Patterson's quality as a fighter and as a person actually transcended his actual abilities and accomplishments as a fighter. He always represented sheer class, and was the defiinition of a model sportsman, especially in defeat. I respect him as much as I do any fighter in history.

 

After he lost the title and was free of D'Amato,Floyd fought all styles and sizes, his record against them is very good he was a very fine fighter ,and an honourable man.

 

Patterson was pained by the fact he was slightly too heavy for a light heavyweight and not heavy enough to compete with the bigger heavyweights of the time, like Liston.

At around 185lbs I think he was one of the best ever. Better than Marciano, perhaps... Well, it'd only come down to his chin. His punching abilities were top, you've only got to watch the early films to see that, and Ali once said Patterson was the most skilled man he fought.

Emile Griffith mixed with Mike Tyson.

 

One of my favourite fighters, he was an excellent boxer. His speed was amazing for a heavyweight and he had a huge heart would have been interesting if he'd stayed at light heavy for longer. Patterson was a true champ pure class.

 

Patterson was the first fighter i ever got into,i was devastated when big bad Sonny Ko'd him twice.I just loved his style and his speed and his quick combinations.Floyd actually started off fighting as a pro at 160 odd pounds,i don't even think he was a big Light Heavy never mind a heavy.There's some footage on You Tube of one of his early fights fighting at something like 164 pounds against another young prospect who's name for now escapes me,but what's interesting is that Floyds head was never off the other guys chest,he fought him on the inside all the way through before stopping him.I can only assume that Cus changed him to the peekaboo style later when he was facing the bigger heavier men.After losing the title Floyd put in some very credible displays and never got a fair deal on a couple of occasions. In the ring he always showed skill,courage and bravery he was also a class act outside of the ropes.Whereas they may be able to say Floyd Patterson had a glass jaw,they could never say he had a glass heart.

 

Now at light heavyweight Patterson would be almost unbeatable if he could make the weight without significant sacrifice.

 

i agree if he fought as a lhw and if he could make the weight he would be excellent. Shame about the Liston fights though. Still a hall of famer and a underated fighter. Top 20 atg heavyweight IMO

 

Floyd was a great man! I always liked him! It's an honor for boxing to have him on the list of Heavyweight Champions! :good

 

Thats highly pushing it. Its very doubtful whether floyd would make it past round 5 vs a Prime Rocky Marciano.


Floyd was a great fighter though. He had superhuman combinations of speed/power in his reproitre, and was a highly technical boxer. Top 20 heavyweight all time for sure.

 

I said 'perhaps.' Don't make it sound like it was set in stone.

I'd make it 50/50.

 

Floyd Paterson was a class act and a very good fighter. But he was just too small to compete effectively against some of the better fighters of the '60s and early '70s. He would have made a very dangerous light-heavyweight in any age.