Recently I posted footage of upcoming Floyd Patterson's impressive performance against Don Grant at light heavyweight. Here's 37 year old Patterson nearly 20 years later, having gone through a complete change in style against Pedro Agosto: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRa_pM3hkYs[/ame]
More about leg movement than head-movement? Gloves a tad bit lower ready to fire easier. It's a subtle change, not a complete overhaul though.
I never cared too much for Pedro Agosto............. I recall Foreman used Agosto as a "Tune-Up" for his '77 loss to Jimmy Young.......... Foreman stopped Agosto in 4 rds..... No surprise there....... MR.BILL
It is from this I'd say: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LYm8vQgwzM[/ame] Floyd didn't take a backwards step until the second Johansson fight.
You've got to respect the way he kept coming back for more against Foreman though. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scABOojmnxI[/ame]
But foot-movement doesn't totally occupy a style of its own. Lennox Lewis learned to use his mobility more under Steward. His style changed a bit, too. He was more cautious, but it wasn't like seeing another fighter. It's not like you had shown a kid footage of Patterson fight, and then his 70's comeback the kid wouldn't know who it was. And I'm talking based on how they fight and not look. Not the best example... I know.
However the 1950's Patterson would be described as a pressure fighter while the 1970's Patterson would be described as a boxer-mover.
Pedro Agosto's cornermen cared LESS about their boy......... I'm also shocked Jay Edson allowed that slaughter to go like it did.......... Sure, Agosto was tough, but way out-classed...... P.A. was made to order for Foreman like a 'Burger King' Whopper....... Still, all in all, not bad action for ABC TV back in '77......... I miss them days / nights of boxing..... ESPN stinks so bad I have to watch that network with my full-face respirator on........ I can't stand the smell there........ MR.BILL
I'm not sure I'd ever describe the 50's Heavyweight version as a pressure fighter. He turned into a boxer-puncher to a boxer-mover.
I'd say early on he put on a lot of pressure. Watch the Don Grant for example. Against Archie Moore he was a bit more refined already, probably his peak performance when he was young, and against Johansson the second time he showed some movement after being tagged again by Johansson's right. The Liston KO's made it necessary for Patterson to change up his aggressive style which is why he survived in there against much stronger fighters in George Chuvalo and Oscar Bonavena. I understand what you're saying but I didn't really mean that he wasn't still the peek-a-boo, bobbing & weaving Patterson who threw combinations. That's what he was and it was never going to change. What I meant was that he had completely changed from the aggressive and youthful, even at times a little reckless fighter, into a smart and strategic boxer during his older days.
Well said, I agree. Typically though I don't really refer to Patterson as aggressive. He's not a conventionally aggressive fighter I guess. He certainly became more of a forward fighter to a fighter that was willing to use more movement, though, which is the gist of it I guess. No need for a continued semantics debate.
