I'm surprised not to see Patterson's name on this list.Il Duce wrote:World Boxing Association {January 1970}
*** Jimmy Ellis
#1.. Joe Frazier
#2.. Leotis Martin
#3.. Oscar Bonavena
#4.. Al Jones
#5.. Mac Foster
#6.. George Chuvalo
#7.. Jerry Quarry
#8.. Jack Bodell
#9.. Gregorio Peralta
#10. Al 'Blue' Lewis
#11. George Foreman
#12. Sonny Liston
#13. Henry Cooper
#14. Boone Kirkman
#15. Henry Clark
#16. Tony Doyle
#17. Jose Manuel Urtain
#18. Rufus Brassell
#19. Luis Pires
#20. Bill Drover
#21. Jose 'King' Roman
#22. Chuck Wepner
#23. Joe Bugner
#24. Ken Norton
#25. Pedro Agosto
#26. Ted Gullick
#27. Peter Weiland
#28. Jeff Merritt
Sure, he was at the tail end of his career by 1969-70, but he could still deal with many on this list.
Was he considered retired after the 1968 fight with Ellis?