Could any heavyweight MMA fighter beat prime Floyd Patterson in a boxing match?

No.

 

Could, of course. If Ngannou lands clean he'll knock Floyd, and maybe everyone else, out.

Would is different however. Never been very impressed by a HWs boxing skills in MMA. Stipe isn't too bad, though. If I'd put my money on anyone it would probably be him, but his defence doesn't look good enough for Floyd's speed. On the other hand, it's very difficult to say, since throwing hands in MMA is very different to doing it in boxing.

 

What a random question.

But tbh, yeah, probably. Patterson was pretty much the size of a modern MMA WW. Size, strength, power and PEDs can override skills to some degree. I'd favour guys like Ngannou, Pav, Gane etc to have beaten him.

 

Junior Albini makes it look easy.

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The safe answer is no but if guys like Ngannou, Lewis, Rozenstruik or Pavlovich were able to land then it's probably goodnight for Patterson.

 

Yeah even though most MMA Heavyweights have terrible striking, there have been some guys over the years with the right combination of size and just enough striking fluidity to cause Patterson real problems. You can add Dos Santos, Filipovic, Schilt, Volkov, Overeem, Kharitonov and others who would have caused him real problems in the boxing ring.

 

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Kharitonov actually acquainted himself very well with modern super heavyweights who went on to be contenders in the pros.Although he may be an extreme multi-sport outlier that should tell you that not all MMA Heavyweights have abysmal hands, and could have decent go at things in the squared circle if they made the jump.

 

Kharitonov is an excellent call. He had pulverizing power but his best attribute imho was his toughness. The dude was an armour-plated locomotive. Overeem beat the crap out of him for most of their fight but Kharitonov ate it all and ended up knocking Overeem out of the ring. He wasn't very quick but his timing was good. Patterson would not enjoy fighting a guy like him much. Also I think that he beat Hrgovic.

 

He was quick and nimble in his younger days, but he gained some weight after some injuries and adopted this high guard flat footed seek and destroy style. I agree. re-watched and scored the Hrgovic fight the other day, 48-47 Kharitonov with the rounds being fairly clearly.

 

Patterson would be wise not to stay in the pocket for too long with Kharitonov. If it turns into a war like the Chuvalo fight did then Kharitonovs power/size would likely be too much for him. He would need to get in and out with his combinations and jab a lot early.

 

Agree completely. Patterson would have a decent chance so long as he kept moving and did not exchange. Kharitonov was not the fastest fighter and as long as Patterson did not give him a chance to land clean he could do it. But SK did have good timing and he wrecked many fighters faster than him by catching them right.

 

LOL he took hard shots from bigger guys than Patterson using MMA gloves. He sure could handle Patterson's power.