Could/would Patterson have taken the title from Marciano?

If they met in 1956 in a 15 round title fight, how do you think it would have gone down? I'd pick a prime Marciano to beat Patterson without hesitation, but Marciano was on the slide in 55' when he retired, how much further past it would he have been in 56', say exactly one year after his fight with Moore? What kind of chances would Floyd have?

 

I just could not see a fighter as fragile as Floyd beating Marciano under any circumstances.

 

Kinda like when Stanley Ketchel put Jack Johnson down.

A young, fast, Patterson gives Marciano a flash knockdown.

Then Rocky gets up and knocks the sh*t out of Patterson.

Rocky had a chin,... but Floyd's could be easily dented by the Suzy Q.

 

Patterson had tremendous hand speed and was sharp defensively. Moreover, he had power. True, his chin was problematic, but he had to have been more durable than people like to give him credit or he wouldn't have been two-time heavyweight champion with a solid post-championship record. I don't see this as an easy task for Marciano at all.

 

If the question is merely " could? ", then my answer is yes. But, if we're focussing more on the issue of "would?", my inclination would have to be no. Even though Marciano was something like 33 years of age in 1956, and probably past his prime, a 21 year old Patterson would have still been outmatched. Floyd continued to have durability problems throughout his career when facing big punchers.. At 21, and against one of history's best hitters, he'd be in over his head. We also have to consider that Rocky had been the 15 round distance and had partaken in several wars during his tenure as champion.

 

That.

 

Floyd had very fast hands. In there with a past his prime Rocky, I could see Patterson ahead for as long as the fight lasted. The problem is I don't think that would have been long...3 rounds at most...Marciano winning by a knockout...in my opinion.

 

No

 

Well, a 21 year old Patterson would still be too green and unexperienced for the aging, slipping but still very very good Marciano. He would possibly take all the early rounds and most of the middle rounds but then Marciano takes over and finishes him around the 11th.
I don´t buy this Patterson was fragil argument. Patterson was knocked out 3 times, Tyson too but you hear nobody claiming Tyson would have been fragile. Patterson got knocked down quite often but he got up and won more times than not and these knockdowns were more due to beeing off-balance because of his style than anything else. The knockouts were all against very good to great punchers and 2 of them against a fellow atg who just had his number stylitically. That would be like saying Frazier was fragil because he got knocked out by Foreman.

 

The Patterson who fought Moore vs the Marciano who fought Moore?

Well, Patterson certainly looked better against Old Archie but all that proves is that their styles and abilities were different. Head-to-head I can see the aging Rocky beating a young Patterson but I wouldn't be too certain.

It could be that the speed, skills and determination could upset the former champ who was struggling to find motivation to keep going at that point. For a pressure fighter like Rocky, if you slip once in training you won't have that advantage anymore. For those who believe Patterson's chin would have cracked, don't be too sure, Rocky is not entirely comparable to Sonny Liston or even Ingemar Johansson.

If it was the Marciano who was thinking of making a comeback when Johansson had become the champ against the Patterson who fought Johansson the second time, it would probably end up being like Johnson-Jeffries, Holmes-Ali and so on. Can't see a 37 year old Marciano who had been out of boxing for 5 years being too successful at that point.

 

Can't see Patterson beating Marciano.

 

Patterson might look good in the first few rounds, but it wouldn't take very long until Marciano caught Floyd, and it would all be over. Marciano might even win the early rounds with knockdowns. Floyd might look better, but he would be getting put on the deck.

 

Marciano by BRUTAL KO...

 

I see it as late round TKO for Marciano. Rocky behind on scorecards though

 

In '56, It's possible............ Patterson was young, spry and fast............ Patty at age 21, would be very slick and too quick for the aging and slowing down 33 year old Marciano............ I'd love to see this match in a time machine........... My guess is, F.P. beats Marciano in 1956............ Cheers......
:bbb:deal

MR.BILL:thumbsup