Quote Originally Posted by Master View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Bill Paxtom View Post
At the end of 1971

The rumblings were,

That Smokin' Joe was looking to defend in early-1972 against;

* Former 2-Time Champion - Floyd Patterson
* Spaniard - Jose Manuel Urtain
* 'comebacking' - Oscar Bonavena.
Those fights may have been too early and too hard after the fight with Ali. That was the biggest fight ever. Joe could have lost to any of them at that time.
Floyd Patterson

Was angling for a Championship bout in late-1971, but then opted out.

Floyd felt that Joe may have not recovered yet from the March 1971 Cassius Clay
bout.

Floyd thought it over, and decided to wait a few more months.