Patterson is greater than Tyson

I think historically speaking Tyson hurt himself by never getting off the canvas to win one and never rematching for a victory. That being said Tyson was much more dominant and ducked no one at his best. Same can’t be said of Patterson.

 

All good points. Patterson may very well win the statistical battle. Head-to-head in the ring, though ..........

 

This is a very interesting idea. I think Mike's losing badly to guys (besides Holy and Lewis) who weren't exactly ATGs hurts his legacy.

That said, did Patterson rule the heavyweights anywhere near as ferociously or successfully as Mike did in the 80s? Mike beat Berbick, Thomas, Tucker, Smith, Bruno, Tubbs (all champs at some point). I'll count Holmes, though he was five years past his prime.

I can't buy that Floyd was greater, but this might be an interesting thread.

 

LOL yeaaahhh ok

 

Typical

 

#1 Sonny Liston agency on this website?

Surprise, surprise

Even Morlocks voted....

 

That Patterson vote. But since you´re in the same boat...

 

Tyson emphatically cleaned out the division in short order, better so than Dempsey or Liston. Floyd achieved nothing of the sort.

 

From Tiills thru Williams, he fought 18 fights with only a few soft touches. Ex-Champs, future champs, young fighters, big fighters, boxers, power punchers, slicksters... That run was better than anything Dempsey or Marciano put together, and certainly better than anything Patterson ever accomplished.

 

Patterson had a great and very successful career before and after his title days though, the same can't be said of Tyson. In fact, Patterson probably has one of the best post-title runs of any heavyweight.

 

Over 18 fights, from Moore to Cooper, Patterson fought ex-champs, future champs, young fighters, big fighters, boxers, power punchers and slicksters, too. Seven of those 18 fights came against Hall of Famers, compared to Tyson's two.

Patterson fought a prime Ali, a near prime Sonny Liston (twice), a prime Ingemar Johansson (three times), Archie Moore (the top heavyweight at the time with the most KOs), perennial contenders Eddie Machen, George Chuvalo, Henry Cooper, Brian London and Tommy 'Hurricane' Jackson.

And you could argue the lesser lights like Harris, Rademacher, Powell and McNeeley weren't any worse than some of the guys Tyson fought between Tillis and Berbick.

Colonel Sanders makes good points. Regardless of how a Tyson-Patterson fight would go head-to-head, Patterson's resume stacks up.

A young Tyson may not have beaten the '65 version of Ali or the '62 and '63 versions of Liston, either.

 

Not to mention Patterson beat Bonavena and arguably defeated Jerry Quarry at least once and Jimmy Ellis as well.

 

And this was an old Floyd beating the latest sensations who should have given him a lesson.

 

I don’t disagree. Patterson had a lot of heart and was a solid fighter and a real champ. But in terms of greatness and accomplishments Tyson is better.