January 1958 'Heavyweight Rankings'

* Floyd Patterson
1 Eddie Machen
2 Zora Folley
3 Roy Harris
4 Willie Pastrano
5 Nino Valdes

Champion
Age 23
Height 6' 0"
Weight 187 lbs.
Record 33-1-0 (24 KO's)

Floyd Patterson is a fine, young, thoughtful champion who has all the moves. He is at once a
resourceful boxer and a punishing hitter, although his punch is not quite heavy enough on
most occasions to take out an opponent with a single blow.

Patterson has consumate hand-speed and responds with flurries or combinations to the most
meager opening. He has splendid stamina, speed afoot and heart.
His two defects are curiously opposites;
a) at times he is over-eager and throws punches off-balance, even in mid-air
b) other times he is over-cautious and lets attack opportunities to slip by

 

Eddie Machen

#1 Challenger

Age 25 1/2
Height 6' 0"
Weight 195 lbs.
23-0-0 (16 KO's)

Eddie Machen is a sturdy, workmanlike, upright fighter. He possesses a good straight right hand,
but is not impressive as a hooker or infighter. He does not adapt easily,
performing at best from medium-range, allowing for ample punching room. He is
open to right hands and, if pursued, tends to lose poise.

Although he has a powerful punch, the feeling is that Machen is a manufactured
rather than a natural fighter. His opponents have largley been hand-picked to suit his
style--either ponderous, deliberate types like John Holman or harmless old men
like Joey Maxim. Machen still needs instruction and experience.

In 1957, Eddie was boring with decision victories over Joey Maxim (twice),
and Bob Baker. Those were followed up with a Knock-out victory over big, but
limited 253 lb. Edgar Romero, and a late-stoppage over one-time top contender
Tommy 'Hurricane' Jackson.

In 1956, Machen started off the year with a victory over the sometimes dangerous Julio Mederos.
That was followed up with an impressive upset decision win over #3 ranked Nino Valdes, and followed that
up with a devastating knock-out win over the tough Cuban in the re-match. Those two wins were
sandwiched around a knock-out win over a strong but limited Matt Jackson.
The second-half of 1956 included wins over Walter Hafer, a re-match with Mederos, and the slow
John Holman. Eddie finished out 1956 with a workmanlike decision over the cagey and capable Johnny Summerlin.

 

Zora Folley

#2 Challenger

Age 26 1/2
Height 6' 1"
Weight 195 lbs.
39-2-1 (25 KO's)

Zora Folley is a tall, even stately fighter with a great reach. Folley boxes from a classical upright stance,
shooting out the left jab and crossing over, on occassion, with an over-hand right. Rather than block-off punches,
Folley leans back to avoid them, which results in his being, at times, off balance for mustering quick right hands.

He has a reputation as, a lackadasical, safety-first fighter who can be bullied and discouraged. He's a good
counter-puncher who would rather not lead. This reluctance has now been explained to be a chronically
injured knuckle on his right hand, which he now protects with a radical hand-wrapping.

Zora was the busiest heavyweight contender in 1957 with 10-bouts. All were wins, but the group were all
second-class fighters except Wayne Bethea. In the Bethea fight, Folley was floored and almost knocked
out. If there is an indication of a flaw with Folley, it is his whiskers when absorbing a straight right hand.

 

Roy Harris

#3 Challenger

Age 24 1/2
Height 6' 0"
Weight 195 lbs.
23-0-0 (9 KO's)

Roy Harris comes out of Cut and Shoot, Texas, and much has been said of
his barefoot beginnings. But little is known of Harris the fighter, since he has never
fought outside of Texas or been on television.

He's licked Bob Baker, but the mild-hitting Bob put him down with a right-hand.
And he whupped Willie Pastrano by beating him to the punch, by slipping to the right
on Willie's second jab, and coming back with a right to the body. When Willie wised up
to this, Harris feinted with his right hand and landed a left hook.
Willie said after the bout, 'He's effectively awkward'.

In his last bout, the 4-Time Texas Golden Gloves Champion and current Texas Heavyweight Champion
decisioned durable Willi Besmanoff. It was a solid win, as Harris won 9 out of 10 rounds over a fighter
who was ranked in the Top 10 only 6 months earlier.

Harris has been brought along with great care and friendly arenas, and if the same
care is applied, he will be fighting for the Heavyweight Championship within the year.

 

Kenmore,


The boxing writer,,,,,,,,,,,,Gilbert Rogin

The other listed fighters for January 1958;
Mike DeJohn
Wayne Bethea
Alex Miteff
Ingemar Johannson
Joe Erskine
Pat McMurty

 

Willie Pastrano

#4 Challenger

Age 22
Height 6' 0"
Weight 188 lbs.
44-5-5 (10 KO's)

He is the fastest heavyweight afoot, this New Orleanian with sullen good looks and
elaborately curled hair. And he can most surely travel, bounce, dance, slide and glide.
Nimbleness and grace are his preoccupations.

Pastrano can jab prettily - his chief weapon - he has quick hands, but is, at best,
a mediocre puncher. This is due, perhaps, to his constantly being on his toes and therefore,
not sufficiently set to deliver a jarring blow. He is a guileful evader,
takes a punch well and rallies nicely when hit.

Pastrano looked sluggish in his November bout with Willi Besmanoff.
He did look better in his October bout in London,
when he decisioned one of the top British fighters in Dick Richardson.
A June decision loss to Roy Harris has not hurt his cause.

Other wins include a 1956 decision over the previously undefeated northwest
heavyweight prospect Pat McMurty, and earlier victories over name fighters, Rex Layne,
Paddy Young and Joey Maxim.

The drawback here is, Pastrano has no real power, and it does not look like he can
develop any more natural strength.