Cus D'Amato should never have avoided Folley. I always felt Patterson's speed would overwhelm Zora. Patterson by 10th round stoppage.
Well, signing to fight a worthy challenger would be a novel approach for the ultra-cautious d’amato.
That was probably more to do with Folley's IBC connections than anything else. Anyway, I agree Floyd is a bad match for Folley and probably stops him.
It would have been a workout for Floyd, who at the time early in his first title reign was meeting relatively easy competition prior to meeting Ingo in 1959, Tommy Hurricane Jackson, Pete Rademacher, Roy Cut N Shoot Harris, and Brian London.
I'm going to put forth a hotly rejected (probably) opinion. Patterson and Folley could both hit hard, and both had so-so chins. Folley SD. Folley is just too skilled imo.
They were signed and schedule for November 1966, but Floyd pulled out. Which probably saved Folley's title shot.