Whatever you can say about Floyd Patterson, he had an incredible run of form at world level. He was beating legitimate contenders until two years after Liston's death in 1970. Liston to be fair was beating contenders up to 1968. Let's say that they decided to get it on for a third fight. We will pick the time of the Wepner fight, as being the last realistic date, and probably the one that makes the chances of a different result the greatest. The question is, could Patterson ever have beaten Liston?
You must also take into considersation. that Patterson had seen better days as well. You must also factor in his mindset. I believe prime for prime Patterson could've given Liston a better fight physically but not mentally. Liston just had Patterson's number.
I think Liston looked better against Wepner than vs Martin. This could be explained by Liston having the flu when he faced Martin according to Foreman.
I can easily see this but imo a prime Patterson vs past prime Liston depends entirely on Patterson's mindset. Keep in mind that Patterson came back from a brutal KO at the hands in Ingo to return the favor.
Liston's comeback, IMO, wasn't that impressive. His only big win was against ranked Henry Clark in, I think, 1967. He wasn't the same Sonny after the 2nd Ali fight. He was more of a passive 'plodder' who still had a punch. The thread mentions an early 70's bout between them; Floyd took two years off after Ellis (Sept 68) and would have been 'rusty' at that time. That being said, IMO, had Floyd engaged Sonny in, say, early 1969 he could have bested Liston. At that time Sonny had only beaten, save Clark, 'tomato cans'. Floyd was active and, IMO, perhaps became the first HW to be a 3-time champion against Ellis. Does anyone truly think Patterson would have stepped in against Liston in early 69 scared to death!? No World Champion in history, after being humiliated 2x can sport a continuing record of success beyond that than Patterson! In closing, to be fair, Liston was past prime. Floyd was still active and a top contender tho aging. This thread is a weak "what if". But, as a Floyd nut-hugger, I could easily see an early 69 Patterson UD or...even a late stoppage. My $0.02
I think Floyd at this point could beat sonny possibly by stoppage.he hit hard and was very fast .Liston was on the wane and Floyd would of loved it .
Patterson had an incredible run of form and consistency, and Liston was declining very quickly towards the end. A theoretical point where Patterson could have beaten Liston exists, the only question is whether it comes before Liston's untimely death!
Not sure I see Floyd beating, but interesting question. Ali was doing the co-commentary during the Floyd vs Chuvalo fight in 65. Could be he was just hyping the upcoming fight with Floyd and trying to make Floyd even more credible, but his take was if Floyd fought Liston the way he was fighting Chuvalo he would have beat Liston. Not sure I agree but I did find it an interesting take.
