Floyd Patterson started his career at what toay would have been the super middleweight division. How do you think that version of Floyd, at his best of course would have fared against some of the best fighters from 168 since its inception? He had blazing speed and excellent power, but would has lack of experience at that weight handicap him againt guys like Jones, Toney, Calzaghe, Ward, Benn, Eubank and others or could he have become an ATG had the division existed then and he could have made weight for awhile?
If he could have made weight, he could have ended up being an exceptional fighter at the weight. But could he continue to make weight though?
Given that he was already 182 lbs by age 21, I think it unlikely that he would have been long for 168. In fact he likely would have killed himself trying to stay down there.
Yeah true. So basically this is not a realistic option for him. I forgot how young Floyd was when he won the title.
Don't really see the relevance but I'd bet a lot of money that Andre Ward lasts more than 4 minutes combined in two fights against Liston.
A fair point. But super middleweight has always had day before weigh ins where as Patterson did not. This wasnt something I considered though. How do you think the Patterson who made this weight and could possibly make this weight with day before weigh ins would do against the best super middles in history in spite of his young age?
Probably not too well. He was basically done weighing below 170 by his 20th fight and when he was still around 19 years of age.. A young and green Floyd would likely get schooled by the likes of Benn, Calzaghe, and Ward.
Looking at it with my brain instead of my heart you're probably right. He was just such an incredible talent. Ive always felt he could have been an ATG light heavyweight and only considered how he might have fared at 168 when looking at the weights of his early career.
Floyd at 168? Forget it... He was in the one-eighties before Moore. I'll agree with a Cruiser Weight division he may have been the ATG (or close to it) but it didn't exist at that time so he was a Heavy. Back in the day do you really think he could have stayed at 175 and been a career LH? He unfortunately was a 'tweenie'. Looking at his career, he was, in almost all his fights, in the high 180's low 190's when he fought. And a complete shout out (b**l s**t) to the poster that said so and so comparable weight fighters would have lasted beyond the 1st round against Sonny. They simply don't understand the climate, politics, etc. of that era not to mention the albatross that was on Patterson's back at that time. Done.