Why did Patterson have an easy time with Archie Moore?

I always thought Moore put up a good fight against Patterson n Ali with respect to his age. He was always gonna struggle against their speed and again being much older still doesn't help. Both ATGS at arguably their fastest so no shame he couldn't pull it off. Again, his age lol, makes his efforts impressive regardless.

 

Whilst I don't think your theories are implausible, my own theory is it was most likely, at least partially, due to how good Patterson was.

Patterson's size allied with his limitations, meant he always going to be particularly vulnerable to a monster like Liston (though, what 185lber in history wouldn't be?). I wonder if Patterson's HW career, where he was a small guy in a growing division, and how he is viewed historically as a HW, somewhat unfairly diminishes people's view of how good he was for his size.

His explosiveness and extraordinary hand speed meant he'd have been a difficult fight for anyone around his own size, let alone a boxer 2-weeks shy of his 43rd birthday.

Come to think of it, Moore and Patterson are a great example to demonstrate the distinction between how great fighters are considered to be and how good they likely were at their peaks. Moore is rightly typically ranked substantially higher than Patterson on ATG pfp lists because he achieved so much more and beat so many more world class fighters. He also clearly has a significant advantage in longevity. However, at their respective peaks, as guys of roughly similar size (assuming Moore's peak was in his 30's), I suspect Patterson was every bit as good as Moore. I'm probably in the minority there though.

 

I’m not knocking Patterson. I think he’s a bit underrated for his poor performance against Liston. And I think at that stage of Archie’s career he probably losses to Patterson more often than not. It’s just my theory as to why he performed so poorly. I think prime for prime id wager a lot on Archie winning this one.

 

I would def argue this one. I like Patterson but prime for prime Archie was better at any weight. He had better wins overall and less losses at HW.

 

In a nutshell. A younger Moore would have offered much sterner resistance.

 

I did not know that.

 

Nor me.

 

This is the most efficient answer to the question, add youth and it's crystal clear

 

I like him a lot. I also have fun thoughts of bringing him to the modern day with a time machine, leaning/dehydrating him down to 175 with day-before weigh-in, and turning him loose on the current LHW division.

 

Simple Moore was as old as a fossil, Patterson has arguably some of the fastest handspeed ever for a Heavyweight. And is also a genuine puncher, so it's not surprising Moore couldn't quite deal with all them attributes at his advanced age.

 

You think he threw a fight?? For the world heavyweight championship??!!! Against a relatively unknown kid he was expected to easily beat????!!!!!!

 

I more lean towards no. But the fight was so out of character even his own corner thought he took a dive. Was an odd fight