I don't really like Patterson's chances here. I somehow see one of the most terrifying one punch KOs happening if Floyd makes even one tiny mistake.
Patterson was small for a heavy, he would have posed some early problems with his speed but eventually will get taken out. Liston/Shavers.. Damn what a war but Liston was so technically sound and a tremendous jab. But man I would love to see how anyone reacts to a Shavers bomb
Probably Quarry/Shavers all over again. Patterson beat more punchers than Shavers ever did. Patterson takes Johannson out before he can touch him. This content is protected [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFeB4j3kc-w"][/ame] Shavers gets blitzed by the accurate hands of Quarry. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXcmdhiraL4[/ame]
i think floyd has a more then decent chance. shavers ain't no liston. only in strength they match. floyd was a way better technician then shavers and way way faster. i would say the odds are about 50%/50%.
Patterson was much faster, more skilled, better defensivly and a hard puncher himself. The only thing Shavers has going for him is his power. I like Patterson by Midround KO or wide UD.
I think Patterson may be sold a little short here...Shavers was not technically as good as Liston, and though he could have ended it with a big shot, I think Patterson could have swarmed all over him and caught him early as Quarry did as well.
Maybe not exactly as Jerry did, but Floyd was potentially more explosive in short bursts, in conjunction with those fast hands of his, as in the last moments of the 1st round in that 3rd Johansson fight, when he sent Ingo to the deck after being down twice himself..and Floyd could crack..he had underrrated power. I think that, if he were to find himself in trouble early on with Shavers, he would be less frozen, as it was, than he was against Liston, and as he did actually lash out at Liston, briefly, before getting ko'ed, and cut Liston's cheek with a right (a punch Liston was later to favorably compare to anything Ali had done to him in theit 1st bout) a desperation surge against Shavers may have been more successful than it was vs Liston. I think that Floyd may have possibly been able to capitalize on Shaver's own not to reliable chin in a sudden shocker after getting a scare from Earnie.
No doubt Patterson would be floored early. But maybe ready for a war afterwards. The chance of Shavers being KO'ed in late rounds is def there.
Shavers also has a massive reach, height, strength and good speed too. I think Patterson can win this but I'd edge toward to Shavers