Floyd Patterson’s best win at heavy and light heavy

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Saintpat, Aug 24, 2025 at 9:52 AM.


  1. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    What would you say are his best single wins at each of those weights.

    Archie Moore really wasn’t beating heavyweight contenders after Marciano, kind of grandfathered (no pun intended) into the vacant title scrap with Floyd beating Tommy Jackson in an eliminator to occupy the other side of that matchup.

    Was his best heavyweight win over Ingo? And if so, why — if Ingo never beats Floyd in the first place, would anyone rate him as a big win? Does Floyd get bonus points for this win simply because he got flattened by Johansson in the first place, giving Ingo extra cred?

    Or was it Chuvalo or Ringo? Machen or Coooper?

    And light heavyweight, he has a pretty thin resume. I guess it’s Yvonne Durelle? But what makes that a huge win — Yvon had lost three out of four and four out of seven at the time he fought Floyd … not a serious contender. We know his name because of what he did four years later against Moore in a fight he lost.

    I’d like to hear some opinions on Patterson’s best win at each weight.
     
    Saintpat, Aug 24, 2025 at 9:52 AM
    Saintpat, Aug 24, 2025 at 9:52 AM
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  2. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    At heavyweight it was Ingemar Johansson. Ingo was the undefeated heavyweight champion and Floyd was avenging a loss. At light heavyweight I’m not sure. Yvonne Durelle ?
     
    mr. magoo, Aug 24, 2025 at 10:01 AM
    mr. magoo, Aug 24, 2025 at 10:01 AM
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  3. CarolinaReaper

    CarolinaReaper New Member Full Member

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    Yeah, I do think his best win at 175 is Durelle. You're right that Durelle wasn't a very serious world-level contender in '55, but he was a tough regional champ in Canada with good grit and power. It's a good win because Patterson was 20 and still developing, and Durelle was a rugged, experienced pro with over 50 fights who had won Canadian middleweight and light heavyweight titles and was considered one of Canada's best fighters. It was Patterson's big test against a physically strong, aggressive opponent with notorious knockout power, and Floyd won in 5. Statement win and development test. And yeah, the battle where he dropped Archie Moore three times in the first round does cast his earlier career in a more flattering light.

    Patterson's wins at light heavyweight were all about Patterson's development while D'Amato figured out if there was some way he could beat Marciano. They're a lot of journeymen and fringe contenders, and none of them are really elite, but they show his consistency and range, and like I said it was about Cus sharpening his tools before Floyd would become heavyweight champ at just 21.
     
    CarolinaReaper, Aug 24, 2025 at 1:28 PM
    CarolinaReaper, Aug 24, 2025 at 1:28 PM
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  4. Eddie Ezzard

    Eddie Ezzard Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Chuvalo in the 60s and Bonavena in the 70s are worth more than a passing mention.
     
    Eddie Ezzard, Aug 24, 2025 at 1:55 PM
    Eddie Ezzard, Aug 24, 2025 at 1:55 PM
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  5. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 MONZON VS HAGLER 2025 Full Member

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    Ohohoho this will be a fun thread, we’ve already got “Ingo was the undefeated HW champion” he was also… Ingo, Patterson did not have any “great” wins, he was not a “great” boxer he was a guy who beat Chuvalo, Bonavena… Ingo, Yvonne and great elder Moore - not a shot at you @mr. magoo but it’s kind of adding shine on an otherwise very average win like imagine if an undefeated Terrell was champion it’s like “yeah and?” lol.
     
    Journeyman92, Aug 24, 2025 at 5:27 PM
    Journeyman92, Aug 24, 2025 at 5:27 PM
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  6. Journeyman92

    Journeyman92 MONZON VS HAGLER 2025 Full Member

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    Which is pretty damming
     
    Journeyman92, Aug 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
    Journeyman92, Aug 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
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  7. FrankinDallas

    FrankinDallas FRANKINAUSTIN

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    Pete Rademacher
     
    FrankinDallas, Aug 24, 2025 at 5:32 PM
    FrankinDallas, Aug 24, 2025 at 5:32 PM
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  8. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    There is absolutely a point in time where you could say that world heavyweight professional boxing champion Floyd Patterson was better than any amateur heavyweight in the world.
     
    Saintpat, Aug 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
    Saintpat, Aug 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
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  9. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Floyd beating ingo in their rematch may be the only time in Patterson’s career where he genuinely beat the best heavyweight in the world.
     
    mr. magoo, Aug 24, 2025 at 7:03 PM
    mr. magoo, Aug 24, 2025 at 7:03 PM
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  10. RockyValdez

    RockyValdez Active Member Full Member

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    I think Maxim was his best win at light heavyweight even though he got robbed of it. After that its Durelle and Wagner. At heavyweight Id go with Moore and Johansson.
     
    RockyValdez, Aug 24, 2025 at 8:28 PM
    RockyValdez, Aug 24, 2025 at 8:28 PM
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  11. RockyValdez

    RockyValdez Active Member Full Member

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    After Marciano retired Moore was the best heavyweight in the world.
     
    RockyValdez, Aug 24, 2025 at 8:29 PM
    RockyValdez, Aug 24, 2025 at 8:29 PM
    #11