Heavyweights: Floyd Patterson vs. John L. Sullivan

I haven’t seen anything of Sullivan. But based on records and what we know of both of them I think Floyd Patterson was a better developed and better trained professional. We also have documented evidence of who his opponents were and their credentials

 

I don't need to tell you that this is a hard fight to call.

We have a very clear idea what Patterson was, but reconstructing Sullivan, is like trying to reconstruct somebody who lived in medieval times.

So we do the best we can.

Stylistically they seem to have been similar, but Sullivan might have been as crude as hell, or he might have had a lot of nuanced refinements.

We just don't know.

I do think that Sullivan probably hit harder than Patterson, and took a punch better.

I would venture that much.

 

He was not even the bigger man then Floyd- he was a doughyish fighter even in his prime which was about 190?

 

Who has seen Sullivan fight?

 

So how can anyone pick?

 

Yes a fat 200lbs.

 

Sullivan's best fighting weight was in the high 190s.

If his tale of the tape is anything to go by, he was a significantly bigger man than Patterson or Marciano.

 

He was not at any state leaner then a prime Patterson whom was about the same weight- John L was however fatter and at the same BF% as Floyd would have been quite a small guy.

 

They were not about the same weight.

Sullivan was in shape at 203lbs, and often fought exhibitions as high as 240.

A quick comparison of their tale of the tape will show you that Sullivan was a much bigger man.

 

Show me a photo of John L at 203lbs... him getting fat and fighting at 240lbs is meaningless.

 

It is difficult to establish his weight at a given point in time, because there are conflicting sources, and no formal weigh ins.

However he appears to be in shape in the 1883 picture, and he never seems to have been under 200 that year.

Besides, if he was just a flabby version of Floyd Patterson, it would be reflected in his tale of the tape.

He might have a bigger waist, but his chest biceps etc would not be much bigger.