Can you imagine Floyd Patterson staying around at lighheavy in the 1980 s? Who'd win with Patterson vs Saad Muhammad .? Dwight Muhammad Qawi? Michael Spinks ?
I'd pick Patterson to win all those fights, but it's such a severe gauntlet that you can't meaningfully make that prediction IMO.
That's a murderer row of light heavyweights. He could emerge victorious or he could drop one along the way
Assuming he can actually make that weight and stay there comfortably he’d have a very good chance of dominating the division
If he could have maintained 175 I think Patterson could have been the absolute, unquestioned GOAT light heavyweight.
I’m assuming we talking about Prime Patterson getting down to 175. It’s hard to say what he would be. Let’s assume the 1960 Patterson gets to 175 without being terribly weakened. I think he’s very competitive against that great crop of 80s LHs. He could potentially beat any of them except Spinks I believe. M Mohammad and D Braxton have a chance certainly to beat him I d lean slightly Floyd.
Old Joey Maxim beat the best light heavyweight Floyd who existed and finished way stronger — he had Patterson well timed by the last two rounds … and it was only scheduled for eight. Over 15, all of the above take Patterson out. The ‘unbeatable 175-pound Floyd Patterson’ is a myth.
