Was Cus D Amato too over protective of his fighters? Floyd Patterson.

It was a complete farce.

Rademacher literally bought a shot — hey let me round up some money and you give me a shot even though I’ve never thrown or taken a punch as a professional. SMH.

 

And then he floored Patterson in their title fight.

How many times did Dave Zyglewicz floor Frazier in their 96-second title fight?

Hell, for his seventh win, Rademacher beat Chuvalo (before Chuvalo fought Ali and Terrell for their titles). Don't act like Rademacher was nothing.

We can fill a thread with worse title challengers than the Olympic Gold Medalist Pete Rademacher.

 

About Teofilo Stevenson against Muhammad Ali:
I would say give Teofilo Stevenson 2 to 3 years to get used to professional boxing and it could be a great fight (if he hasn't lost until then, see Ed Sanders).
Private difficulties that he might have faced outside the ring in a foreign country are not taken into account. However, they could have an enormous impact on Stevenson's performance.

 

For sure.

 

1976 Teofilo Stevenson beats 1976 Ali.
1977 Teofilo Stevenson beats 1977 Ali.
1978 Teofilo Stevenson beats 1978 Ali.

No "years" as a pro necessary. Ali looked awful in fights in all three of those years.

As a still active George Foreman said in 1976 sitting ringside watching Stevenson beat John Tate, he (Stevenson) is the best heavyweight in the world.

 

Teofilo Stevenson never fought more than 3 rounds in his amateur fights.
Even if he should defeat Muhammad Ali, which I highly doubt, it wouldn't be a fair contest, because he could be much better with experience as a pro.

 

I doubt the Teofilo Stevenson we saw in 1977 or 1978 would need many rounds to beat the Ali who fought Alfredo Evangelista or lost to Leon Spinks. He may not even need many rounds against the Ali who fought Jimmy Young. Stevenson was at his peak. Ali was not at all.

 

I think he would probably still lose without any experience as a professional. If he should fight though against the best pro-boxer from 1977/1978, he should better fight against Larry Holmes.
All in all, I think an amateur boxer should first gain experience as a professional.

 

Everybody floored Patterson. He was knocked down at least 20 times in his career. A stiff breeze could knock him over. That’s why Cus wanted him fighting an amateur.

What Rademacher did later doesn’t justify giving a guy with zero professional fights a shot at the heavyweight championship of the world.

 

Yeah, that's probably why they picked that amateur Archie Moore to challenge for the title, because Moore couldn't punch at all. And that's probably why Floyd fought the #1 heavyweight contender next and destroyed him. And then fought the Olympic heavyweight gold medalist who had just knocked everyone out at the Golden Gloves, qualifiers and the Games, and that's probably why Floyd spent a year negotiating to fight Rocky Marciano, only for him to drop out.

Because they only wanted to fight guys who were amateurs and couldn't punch.

You totally nailed it.

 

I know.

 

They did pick Rademacher. Who was an amateur.