Who is the biggest AND best guy you’d pick Floyd Patterson to beat?

Jess Willard

 

Joshua, Dubois, Parker, Zhang, Wilder, Fury,
to name a few. Patterson could get koed by
any of them, because of his size disadvantage,
however he'd have a much better chance
against them, than prime Mike Tyson.

 

I’d pick him over some less technical big guys of 90s. Botha and Briggs could both be outpointed.

 

Tough question because Patterson wasn't a real HW, he was a LHW fighting at HW and if he fought today could probably fight at SMW and maybe even MW..... He fought in an era where most fighters were only slightly bigger then him or even around the same size and when he fought fighters who were legit HW and had skill he didn't do well as we can see in the Liston fights. So idk its a risk putting him against any SHW just because of the size and his lack of chin and his defense was never the best, so I wouldn't give him any real chance against any decent SHW. Maybe someone on the level of Max or Buddy Baer but even then one wrong move and he's out.

 

I can't think of a big, rated or fringe contender, that Patterson ever beat. Chuvalo? He weighed 208 pounds and it was a close fight. Probably the biggest fighter Patterson ever fought was 222 pound Charlie Polite (13-19-3), who was stopped 17 times in his career. Patterson had to go to a decision with him. I wouldn't pick Patterson to beat any bigger contender unless it was a Willard or Baer level fighter.

 

Max Baer would be a dangerous opponent. He hits at least as hard as Ingo, is stronger than Ingo and more durable. Same can be said for Buddy Baer

 

True, Floyd can't mess around or take either lightly.
I still think he beats em both.

 

Max was a world champion

 

Floyd was actively trying to KO guys, taking risks, selling out. You can't have it both ways. One comes at the expense of the other.

 

And all got hit more than if they took Loche's tactic.

 

And Locche would have got hit a lot more had he fought with their approach. Great fighters know their assets and deficits and fight in a style to flatter the former and avoid the latter. This isn't hard to understand. When they fight out of style they limit their effectiveness.

Plus, JCC is a greater fighter than Floyd. So, of course, he would have been better.

 

I am just being pedantic tbh BUT I don't think you can say Floyd had a great defense. He has great hand speed, character and heart. Off the top of my head the best versions of Jack Johnson, Archie Moore, Ezzard Charles, Jimmy Young, Walcott, Louis, Ali, Holmes, Tyson, Qawi, RJJ, Toney, Vitali, Wlad, Byrd, Fury and Usyk are all better defensively.