Floyd Patterson- a lot better than he gets credit for!

[Bill Paxtom]

YK-Dad-Ajama,

Floyd was a 'good man', and a credit to Boxing and Sports in general.

He was a 'good citizen', very humble, and not a braggart.

But he was but protected by 'Cus D'Amato and the Gang'.

Yes, he was better than he gets credit for.

[Beanflicker]

Floyd was a fantastic fighter, great hand speed, very athletic, and a lethal spring-loaded left hook.

[Master]

Floyd was protected and only criticism led him to take on Liston. Floyd was talented but not a great heavyweight champion.

[Beanflicker]

To what degree was he protected though? Was it any more than any other champ?

[Bill Paxtom]

Henry Cooper

"Floyd hit harder than Cassius. The man could really smack."

[ykdadamaja]

Some folks suggest even Marciano was protected... but we know Marciano was fighting a weak division at the time....

[Bill Paxtom]

The Book

Rocky Marciano had his opponents 'smartly selected'.

Floyd Patterson was 'protected' pre-1962.

Ingemar Johansson was at the 'right place at the right time'.

Sonny Liston was 'controlled'.

Cassius Clay had 'brilliant' management.

Ernie Terrell was the 'best' of an average division.

[Master]

To what degree was he protected though? Was it any more than any other champ?

Floyd beat Archie Moore for the title and then fought Tommy Jackson, who he had beaten just before he fought Archie, Pete Rademacher (first professional fight against Floyd), undefeated Roy Harris (who), Brian London (domestic English champion) and then lost to Ingo Bingo. Protected.

[Bill Paxtom]

"Protected"

If you think that avoiding Eddie Machen or Zora Folley and fighting
Pete Rademacher as a challenger instead is 'normal'.

You want to buy a bridge ?

And nobody regarded Roy 'Cut-n-Shoot' Harris as any good, except
Floyd's manager Cus D'Amato.

Cus D'Amato >
"Roy Harris is the 2nd Best Heavyweight in the World."

[Master]

Oh my god I am agreeing with Bill.

[SlimTrae]

To what degree was he protected though? Was it any more than any other champ?

King of the world by David Remnick is another book on Ali, but gives a take on Patterson.

The author starts off with he and Ali then age 54, watching the Liston fight, then it backtracks to the previous champ-Patterson and his trainer D'amato.

D'amato- supposedly lived in such fear he slept with a gun under his pillow- and he did all he could to prevent Patterson from meeting Liston. (this is according to the author of this book.)

he stated Patterson dealt with more depression than I could imagine- he quoted Patterson from his final knockdown against Johananson after seeing the actor John Wayne looking at him, like wow you got KTFO! That depressed the beejeebees outta him.

It appears it was only Liston he was protected from, but Liston was the man at that time.

[nuggetdotcom]

Floyd is a lot better than he gets credit for, I did have a Floyd punch ball as a kid! Liston was the overblown puncher at the time, very much like Tyson later. I wait for Bills comments as to how Ali stopped this Liston domination, no doubt there will be some interesting conspiracy.

[Bill Paxtom]

Floyd Patterson

Early in his career, his nickname was 'The Panther'.

His 'bad' losses were over-blown, and his good wins were
somewhat over-looked.

With a 'bad back', he still went nearly 12-Rounds with Cassius Clay
in November 1965.

Was he ever the best Heavyweight in the Division.
1-Year only > '1956'.