If Patterson fought in the modern day, he likely starts at super middleweight and works his way up to cruiserweight, although he'd be a small cruiserweight with day before weigh ins. But let's say he unified the cruiserweight division and wanted to capture a heavyweight belt. Besides John Ruiz, which beltholders since the year 2000 would you pit Patterson against to win a heavyweight strap?
Well with todays steroids Floyd would be a rock solid 220 pounds with great handspeed and boxing skills. That Patterson would beat far more than he'd lose to.
Maybe Inoue or Bam Bam Rodriguez. No one from CW and up. I'd favor both Beterbiev and Bivol over him. Sure, he'd weigh maybe 210, but the chin would still be puny.
I think he would KO Maskaev quickly. Maskaev had beyond glass jaw and was extremely slow starter. I also think he would outbox Valuev - fat, old cruiserweight Marcelo Dominguez actually did it and he was shorter than Patterson and didn't have a fraction of his skills, speed or power. I can also see Patterson outboxing Briggs and Stievern unless he gets caught early.
True, but you can say the same for Marciano. Marciano was even more physically powerful than Patterson. So he could also be a muscular 220 pounds with the same workrate.
I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion he beats The Quiet Man… The jab and grab style of Ruiz may negate much of what Patterson does well.
I think he might beat Liakovich. Briggs would probably still catch him. He’d have a chance against Martin, 280 Andy Ruiz, John Ruiz, Rahman, and Maskaev too.
The world would literally be his oyster. He would be able to fight anywhere from 168 to 200. There would be four versions of the title in each division, and he woudl be free to pick off the weaker belt holders where he wanted to. He would probably go on a belt harvesting safari. Just to put the cherry on teh cake, he woudl be very marketable. A humble black American boxer, with a crowd pleasing style. How would you go wrong?