Go watch Machen-Patterson. Machen hits Patterson after the bell with three or four of his best shots while Patterson's hands are down and hes not defending himself. Patterson didnt even flinch. He smiled. Machen was no banger. He was a heavyweight so he hit hard and he could catch you just right or wear you down but he wasnt some powerpuncher.
We are kidding ourselves to believe that the Machen that fought Patterson was anything near the Machen that fought Nino Valdes, Zora Folley, Alex Miteff, Sonny Liston, Doug Jones, Harold Johnson, or even Cleveland Williams.
So Machen just magically lost all of his punching power because he had a nervous breakdown? To think that would be kidding ourselves.
A fighter doesn't lose his power that quickly, but he could certainly lose the ability to deliver his power.
Don't get me wrong, I certainly do not consider him a power puncher in the vein of George Foreman or Sonny Liston. But for a smaller heavyweight, he packed quite a bit of heft in his fists.
When he fought Ernie Terrell on March 5 1965 for the vacant WBA title, he really did not come to life until round 15 when he had Ernie hurt. Cleveland Williams was to have met Terrell for the vacant title but he was shot by the Texas State Trooper on Nov 30 1964.
That may be but we arent talking about his ability to deliver power punches. He got several of his best shots delivered unanswered on Patterson who wasnt even defending himself. In fact, when Machen fought Patterson he was on the second longest KO streak of his entire career and the only KO streak he had after he started fighting name fighters.
I like Jimmy Ellis in this one,, but it's not anything I'd bet on. Close fight with both men at their best