Floyd Patterson vs Michael Spinks /Winner?

Interesting fight Burt, I'm thinking that at light heavy Spinks' edge in experience would help him get a decision over the younger Patterson...At heavy (post title Patterson) Much tougher for Spinks...I'll reverse my pick and say Patterson by decision.

 

Patterson would've fared well against any of the great Light Heavies, he was one of the very best physical specimens and offensive powerhouses at the weight. I think I rate him higher than most on that basis. He was a natural Light Heavy that proved himself among the best at Heavyweight.

As for a fight with Spinks, I'd have to give it more thought. It's an interesting styles clash. If I had any reservations off the top of the head about Patterson's chances it would be as to how his chin would hold up to Spinks's power. Spinks was always a very aware and calculated technician, so while he'd take his share of blows, I'd probably give him the greater benefit of the doubt as to how he'd hold up to Patterson's firepower.

I think Patterson would give him a real go as far as getting set, and I don't think Spinks would be able to apply a consistent out-boxing approach the way he was with Qawi because of Floyd's speed. However, he was a master of getting leverage into his shots at any range including the inside. I think that might make the difference at some point, even if he were down on the cards. Floyd would likely try to close the distance early and often in the exchanges, looking to work Spinks with combinations. Eventually I'd expect him to get clocked cold in there, which would turn the fight in Spinks's favor, as he was a great finisher. On first thoughts that's how I see it playing out, with a Spinks KO sometime around the 7th or 8th while down on the cards.

 

Patterson could well have been one of the ATGs at 175 had he been willing/able to stay down there. He completely outclassed Moore, who was still considered great even at his advanced age and was actually favored to win; and he had some other good wins over LHW contenders, like Yvon Durelle.

Hard to tell how a match with Spinks would go, but if the Moore fight is any indication, Patterson probably could've fought with any of the greats at 175.

 

Interesting fight! I think Patterson's superior hand speed gives him the edge here. I'm going with Floyd!

 

At Light Heavy, "Leaping Floyd" goes airborne, and the Spinx Jinx provides the second stage for him to become the World's first astronaut in 1956.

 

Patterson was never down after the 4th. Either you stop him early or not at all. I would favour Spinks at lhw - at hw I'd favour Floyd - but it's either an early KO or a close UD loss for him.

 

:verysad

 

Okay, I expressed it wrong. "Either you KO him early or not at all" would fit better. :good

 

Floyd would beat the **** out of Spinks at any weight. Patterson could have easily made175 throughout his career he was always force feeding himself to make the 180s, so take any version you want.

 

People talk about Floyd's superior hand speed but he also had superior power .. Mike built his career KOing light heavyweights. Floyd had heavyweight KO power ... a terrific and underrated pound for pound puncher ...that being said he did get hit , he was a bit sloppy and his chin was obviously not terrific although putting the Liston and Johannsson fights aside, most of his knockdowns were flash. Sonny and Ingo were both huge punchers and against Ingo Floyd showed Frazier like heart ...

This is a terrific , well matched up fight ... I lean to Floyd but who knows ?

 

I don't agree, I really like Floyd Patterson, but Spinks was awkward, intelligent, and hit hard.

I can't see Patterson 'beating the **** out of him'. I personally feel Spinks at light heavy is a far more dangerous propsotion than Ingo at Heavy, if that makes sense:good

 

This is a really good topic, and so difficult to say who'd emerge victorious. Like people have said about Patterson being a success at heavy, he has tremendous speed and is a puncher, he's forcing the action and he will make it difficult for Spinks to be comfortable. I also see the point of Felamn that Spinks is simply an amazing fighter head to head at this weight, and he has such a great money punch, one that when timed perfectly has worked against Patterson before, albeit at heavyweight, and hence the debate. It's going to be hard to box against Patterson because of the nature of his fast darting moves that close distance and make you fight suddenly, but Spinks would engage men a lot at 175 when they tried to corner him etc, and he'd turn them and unload on them. This could be a classic, i'm leaning towards Spinks.

 

Felamn :rofl

 

I just don't like Spinks herky jerky style, and I dont think hes up there with other ATGs, I think Patterson is a far more complete dynamic fighter. At LHW he fought no one near the level of Patterson, at HW he was lucky to get an old Holmes and fight similarly close fights to the likes of Williams and Witherspoon had already done to a younger version. Quality win but maybe overrates Spinks

Tyson is the nearest thing to a Patterson that spinks encountered. Albeit Patterson doesnt hit nearly as hard, but stylistically the style/speed/head movement would always be wrong for Spinks imo. Tyson dissected him so fast not just because he was bigger but because he was the better boxer, could outspeed and slip and counter. Now maybe Spinks was a past prime version, scared and undersized

Some in this thread have said 'what about Pattersons chin', well what about Spinks chin, both were blown out in a round, Patterson is likely to land first of the 2 and imo the second best composite puncher Spinks would have faced

I'm also not sure Spinks is better than a HW Ingo, who Patterson did show superiority over.

As for Patterson I rate him really highly, I think he has a case to be rated above Archie Moore on a P4P list, something I've never seen anyone do. Patterson gets **** on P4P lists for taking the real crown of the support instead of going for the tin crown at LHW