Shavers vs Patterson

I think people jump the gun whenever Patterson gets put in with a guy who can punch. It's like an automatic reaction with some people. Shavers didn't have a great chin either, and Patterson had a good punch of his own plus the speed and skill to get to Shavers first.

 

If KO wins over Norton, Ellis, Young don't suggest that he could KO Floyd then I don't know what will.

Patterson was vulnerable to right hands, as proven by Johansson, Rademacher and Harris who all knocked him down. Earnie could set up his right hand/uppercut very well.

 

This is all true but if this fight was happening tomorrow and monsey was going down I would pick Floyd to exploit Shavers weakneses first.

Would not be surprised to loose my money.

 

I think a smart betting man would not be putting any money on this fight outside of it not lasting beyond three or four rounds.

Floyd was faster but he was generally a slow starter. Then again people tend to forget that he was often rusty during his championship reign because of inactivity. It always took him a while to get going and he was vulnerable early.

 

I'm thinking mostly about the younger, more aggressive and reckless Patterson since the thread starter indicated that it was pre-Liston version vs prime Shavers.

The Patterson who outpointed Chuvalo and Bonavena could very well take the fight to the later rounds, possibly stopping a tired Shavers or winning a decision. But he didn't take too many backwards steps until later on in his career.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvnpGsZEmNc[/ame]

1:30

The big question about Patterson during his championship reign always was what would happen if this was not an amateur like Pete Rademacher (or Roy Harris) in there but instead a huge puncher like Shavers. The questions were partly answered by Johansson but Patterson came back fighting one of his best fights in the rematch and outlasting him in their third meeting.

You had to knock Patterson out for good to keep him down and Shavers certainly has the ability to do that, but he wasn't always the best finisher either. This is a very even match-up in my view because both have clearly shown vulnerabilities, Patterson against big right hand punchers like Shavers, Shavers against men who could take it and stay in the fight like Patterson. Not that Patterson had the greatest chin of course but he made up for it with a lot of heart and stamina.

 

A few things for certain here 1-This would be a terrific fight 2-It's about a toss up as to who wins 3-Someone is getting knocked out. On one hand Shavers has some real advantages like power, range, height, and size. On the other hand is Pattersons speed, more dimensions, and higher overall skillset. I think I would lean towards Patterson here, he might have to get off the floor a time or two to do it but I say Patterson by a stoppage around round 5 or 6.

 

I would have to agree...Patterson had the far better skills and was fast....Earnie was known to fade and I don't think Floyd would go head to head but use his movement and speed and wait for an opportunity I think you nailed it but I would not bet too large

 

good synopsis

 

Very interesting matchup! If forced to bet on this, I would bet on Floyd.

 

Patterson does not have a glass jaw! He was stopped as often as Tyson. Nobody talks ever about Tyson having a glass jaw. :bart

 

I think people zoom in on Shaver's big wins/near misses and forget about his many defeats/failure to set up his famous ko and do the inverse with Patterson. To me no contest, Floyd was an excellent boxer/fighter with the heart necessary to take the BOMB if Shaver got lucky. BTW I think Earnie could ko anyone but the probability in this case is low.

 

Well yes i agree,but that lets just say is a lot of people's perception. As has been mentioned Floyd had a huge heart and generally got up,but i think it's fair to say his chin wasn't the best!

 

Floyd hit pretty hard too, and with his vicious hand speed I could see him pouncing on Shavers early, but its just as easy to imagine Shavers landing early and sparking Patterson as well.

 

Greetings ron; I thought I was the ONLY Floyd fanatic on board here; he was my childhood hero; as a 5-6 year old in 58-59 my dad had me prepare a sports clippings album (pictures, articles, etc..) Floyd was his own worst enemy but, you're right, NO ONE every put him out! He was always rising. Also, virtually all of his knockdowns (all the BIG ones) came early (R's 1-3) He was often off-balance and many of his KD's were of the embarrassing 'flash' variety. He gave away Quarry 1, should have won the rematch, and gave away the Ellis fight.
Sidebar: What if Ingo had nailed him at the END of round three in their initial scrap? He was as tough as they come in the championship rounds.
I guess in this thread its a matter of which Floyd shows up. Here was a HOF'er that took 24 rounds to dispose of Harris/London???
I wish he would have brought that aggressive mindset that he had in Ingo 2 to all of his fights. His ultimate legacy would be WAY above what it currently is. But I guess had he been a mean, aggressive fighter, he wouldn't have endeared himself to us and others over the years like he has.
R.I.P. Floyd, you will always be a hero to me.