Was Floyd Patterson a Paper Champ?

Archie Moore was not only the # 1 rated heavyweight contender the world, he was the unanimous choice by all the papers,boxing writers, experts as the clear heir to marcianos throne. He was a big favorite over patterson.

Williams wasnt even FIGHTING in 1955-1956, the last time he fought in 1954 bob satterfield knocked him out.


Eddie Machen and Zora Folley were coming along, and you can make a case they deserved the shot over patterson


Valdez had already lost a title eliminator to archie moore


Sonny Liston went to jail in 1956, he wasnt even fighting

 

I don't think he was a paper champ, just a very protected one.

 

There was a Elimination Tournament upon Marcianos Retirement to determine his sucesser


The top 3 ranked heavyweights Archie Moore # 1, Hurricane Jackson # 2, Bob Baker # 3 and John Holman # 4 were all in it. However, becuause of floyds recent spring into the heavyweight division monthly ratings upon his move up to heavyweight with a dominating win over jimmy slade, and upon marcianos PERSONEL request based on his opinion of floyds talent, floyd was placed in the tournament and moved up to # 2 in the rankings.




Preliminary Round:

Bob Baker 12 Unanimous John Holman


2nd Round:

Hurricane Jackson 12 Split Bob Baker- Very controversial decision, most ringside scored heavily for baker. I think Baker would have been a more dangerous opponent for patterson


Semi Finals


Archie Moore- top seed Bye

Floyd Patterson 12 split Hurricane Jackson


Finals


Floyd Patterson KO 5 Archie Moore

 

I think your missing the point that patterson defended his title vs some very soft fighters like london, harris, radamacher, mcneeley instead of valdez, folley, machen, williams all very dangerous highly rated contenders. It was Cus Damatos fault he ducked these guys.

 

I don't think he was a paper champ. Marciano retired, what else could he have done? Moore was a top contender and so was he. I'm glad they wasted no time as currently is being done, but recognized a linear champion.

 

He avoided alot of heavyweights that were big and could really crack his chin, paper, no. But yes, he was very over protected.

 

he was protected

 

He was a protected champ but a legitimate one.

 

Protected

 

Some say he was protected, while i say molly coddled... take ya pick.

 

When Marciano retired, Moore was so far ahead of the field that the title could virtualy have passed to him unchallenged.

Put it this way.

People dont recognise Wlad Klitschko as being lineal for beating Ibragimov, but if anybody beat Klitschko they would automaticaly gain linearity.