Did Patterson fight in a weak era?

Patterson could fight, he had lighting handspeed and electric power with that speed. But he was too small for real big heavies. He proved his worth after the two losses to Liston. He looks good on film, he fought neck and neck with Quarry, Ellis, beat Machen, Chuvalo, Bonavena. The Maxim fight looks like a bad decision to me. Ingo proved a good puncher could take him out and Liston did just that.
Type of guy that could beat maybe a Norton, a Jimmy young, Tony Tubbs but loses to shavers, foreman and guys that size.

 

I think both of you raise good points.

Patterson's reign indeed could've been better, but the people he supposedly ducked is a bit overblown. Only Machen and Folley have an argument tbh.

Patterson's post title reign somewhat makes up for it though. Imho, he deserves to be 3-0 over Ellis and Quarry which puts his resume in a different light.

 

He definitely went on to right all the wrongs in his subsequent career after Liston.
Machen, Chuvalo, Ali twice, Cooper, Quarry twice, Ellis, Bonavena... He fought a good catalogue of men and got much better in those following years.

 

Yeah, but too bad he never fought Folley and a prime Machen. Good fights both, I reckon. He should have faced one of them in '58.

 

No doubt.

 

It wasn't a weak era it had a lot of depth but it was certainly a very small era.

 

I'd favor Patterson over both. Especially Folly. Folly had some glaring KO losses like to Jones and Lavorante.

 

Yes maybe 88 when Tyson was champ...

 

He defended against weak opposition as Champ,but he redeemed himself as an ex champ by fighting anyone.

 

Lol!

 

When did he leave Cus D'Amatos stable, or did he ever leave it?