If Marciano had fought and beat Patterson...

He might be ranked a little bit higher because Patterson was young and very fast, and some accuse Marciano of building his record on old washed-up fighters.

If he had lost it would have put him down quite a lot on most people's lists, I guess.

 

Not sure it would effect the Rock's rank by much if he lost to Patterson.

Marciano was reaching 33, and it should not relly effect his ranking by that point.

No one ranks Louis on the Charles and Marciano loses or Dempsey on the Tunney fights.

 

A lot would depend on what Patterson did after the Marciano fight. If that 49-0 Marciano had beaten Floyd in say 7 rounds, with Floyd slightly ahead on the cards (not a bad prediction...in my opinion), would Floyd have still gone on to beat Archie Moore for Marciano's vacated title, lost to Johansson, regained and then lost to Liston, pretty much following his career path? If so, I would say it would have had a minor upward push on Marciano's all-time status. A loss to Patterson at that point would have had a very negative effect on Rocky's status as an all-time great...in my opinion.

 

Well I have him right behind Ali/Louis. Even with beating Patterson I don´t think I could rank him higher. If he would have lost, he would drop. Probably still made the Top10 though.

 

True. No sensible boxing fans rank Louis or Dempsey based on those fights alone, but they can't be completely erased from memory either. In Marciano's case, I think a loss to Patterson would have had a larger effect. It's undeniable that the perfect 49-0 gives all-time great Marciano supporters a lot of ammo to work with. 49-1 would not support Rocky's case nearly as well.

 

If he beat a young Patterson and Patterson never went onto be champion it wouldnt improve his legacy that much. If he comes back after retiring and beats Patterson the champ it boosts his legacy plenty.

In terms of longevity Marciano gets overrated on his 49-0 record, his time at the top of the sport was only a few years

In some fans eyes, the undefeated record sets Rocky apart, it makes it hard to see him lose, given it never happened. Marciano knew he was ageing and Patterson was a young fast handed, fit young kid in his prime. I really dont think he fancied that 1 too much and thats why he was interested in Johannsen fight but not a Patterson 1 (unless Im wrong on that)

 

I dont think the lost would be a big lost imo. Marciano STILL clean out his era before Patterson came, and was still the man of the 50's like Louis was for the 40's and Dempsey as for the 20's.

People would look back and see that Marciano on his 49-0 run beat greats like Walcott, Charles and Moore who were STILL very good or great fighters. And that Marciano was 33, OLD for a fighter of Marciano's style.

Take Marciano, Fraizer, and Tyson, were in there hay days at the top of there game in there 20's, and pretty much over the hill by 32.

Same with Dempsey. I think the lost to Patterson would be view as a younger man beating a ageing older champion like Tunney did to Dempsey.

Nothing more, and nothing less. I dont think the lost would have much effect.

Hell the lost to Tunney for Dempsey had VERY LITTLE effect. And he didnt face the top contenders of his era that Marciano did(Wills and Greb) and most people have Dempsey top 5.

 

I think Rocky was more than happy to take on a former supermiddleweight with a questionable chin. It's more of a question of whether the 33 year old Marciano would win or not(rocky of 52 destroys floyd). Rocky would fight a bear if you asked him too.

 

A win over patterson in 56 would be icing on the cake for Marciano. I don't think it would improve his stock that much, but certainly a little bit. It would be a past his prime win over a young ATG in his prime. The win would completely shun Marciano detractors who claim he never beat a great young opponent.

 

Marciano's record was impressive period.
But more wins under the belt and a 50-0 would also be very good..

 

I never consider Patterson "Great" so to speak.

Much less a ATG, Louis, ATG, Ali, ATG, Marciano ATG. Johnson ATG, Patterson less so.


I always consider Patterson being champ in the gap of the Marciano era and the coming Ali era for the most part, kinda of like Hart and Burns were to Jeff and Johnson.

 

If Rocky had beaten Liston, after Liston destroyed Patterson. Then that would have went a loooong way for Rocky's stature.