1969, Madison Square Garden. Liston weighs in at 225 pounds. Patterson weighs in at 190 pounds. 10 Rounds. It's the fight Floyd always wanted... What happens?
I don't see a much different outcome. Still have Liston by early round KO. In the last fight of his career he gave Wepner the worst beating he ever got in his life.
Right before that hypothetical fight in my hometown as I had posted twice previously, Charles Sonny Liston beats up two good sized men in my hometown in a tough neighborhood called South Park Las Vegas. True story, he was arrested after giving these two toughs a concussion after beating them at poker, both tried to confiscate Liston's winnings. The arresting police officer was a co worker of mine, Pete B. Pete asked the two men if they wanted to press charges, both said no, as they were being loaded into the ambulances. Sonny may have a longer fight against Floyd Patterson this time around, this is not 1962 or 1963, and Liston has lost to Muhammad Ali twice. Sonny's biggest win has been against Elmer Rush in April 1967, in what Liston claims, was for the vacant title after Ali was stripped of his license and title. In Dec 1969,, age would catch up to Sonny as he is stopped in the 9th round by Leotis Martin on ABC's Wide World Of Sports. Floyd gets his revenge in this Sept 1969 non title contest. During the time since his title loss to Liston, Patterson was stopped by champion Ali in 1965, TKO 12. Floyd has defeated George Chuvalo, Eddie Machen, and drew with Jerry Quarry, also losing to Jerry. And Patterson lost on a disputed 15 round decision to WBA Champion Jimmy Ellis. Patterson stays away from the mammoth Liston to win on points, Sonny has aged very fast.
After 2 rounds with Liston in 2 fights I can't see Floyd wanting to go anywhere near Liston even an aging one.
Interesting article by Bob Franklin: https://www.boxingoverbroadway.com/...tterson-what-if-there-had-been-a-third-fight/
Ah. Apologies to Janitor. This was done before: https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/liston-patterson-iii-1970-revenge-or-repeat.643335/
I see Floyd still losing by Ko. But taking Sonny into at least the fifth, and Floyd looking not bad at all before getting stopped.
I remember in Sept 1969 there was a projected WBA title bout between champion Jimmy Ellis vs Henry Cooper, but negotiations fell through.
I’m not sure this is peak second-go-around Floyd. He didn’t fight at all in ‘69. Probably soul-searching — he’s 0-2-1 in his last three fights with Ellis and Quarry (twice). His next impressive win is over Ringo Bonavena in ‘72. Sonny is physically degraded but I think Floyd still sees Godzilla when they step to the middle of the ring for instructions. He freezes. Liston KO 1. Like the Talking Heads said: “Same as it ever was.”
Actually, Floyd was trying to become an actor. He appeared in the TV series "The Wild Wild West." In one of Howard Cosell's books, he talks about how Floyd was more interested in an acting career than another title fight after the Ellis bout. (Patterson was a pretty bad actor.) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0748555/mediaviewer/rm3507093504/ This content is protected
Floyd would have to be insane to want a third fight,, sort of like Frazier wanting a third match with Foreman
My opinion: I think Floyd does whatever he has to do, in order to survive round one. He moves and boxes Liston. (Round 1= 10-9 Patterson.) Round 2 starts out the same, but then Sonny lands a left hook and drops Floyd for an 8 count. Floyd goes into a shell and survives the round. (Round 2=10-8 Liston.) In round 3 Patterson trades with Liston briefly and the crowd cheers the exchange. Liston looks a little puzzled. Floyd then goes back to boxing Sonny. (Round 3= 10-9 Patterson.) In round 4 Patterson boxes Liston then suddenly moves in for another exchange. Liston pushes off and knocks Floyd down with a vicious combination. Again, Patterson rises at 8. Liston moves in and almost immediately knocks Floyd down again with a body blow followed by a hard left to the temple. Patterson rises at 9 but doesn't come forward at the referee's instruction. The referee waves it off. Sonny Liston wins by KO/TKO in 4.
LOl, Liston in 69 was stopped by cannon fodder Martin and went 20..... Twenty rounds with 3 Bum of the month fighters.... Liston was DONE in 69, stick a fork in him....Patterson wins. Liston was already loosing his true battle by that time aka facing booze, coke / heroin and OD'ed on his own not the Mob, lol, in 1970. In retrospect , Liston was irrelevant after the second Clay quit job.
