Floyd Patterson vs Ron Lyle (1972)

[Tony1244]

Who would have won?

Patterson had enough going to win a close unanimous decision against Oscar Bonanvena in 1972. Floyd looked okay against a seemingly disinterred Ali in 1972.

Lyle had just started his career and was undefeated.

Floyd thought he'd fight again after the 1972 Ali fight but never did.

What would have happened if Patterson had one more fight later that year against the undefeated but untested Ron Lyle?

Would Lyle have lost a decision like he did to Quarry in 1973? Or would Lyle have won?

[Ambling Alp II]

Patterson did have something left at the end. However, when you get that old you can lose it all at any time. It is possible that Patterson could simply outbox him. However, my guess is that eventually Lyle would get to him at this stage of Patterson's career.

[evrenb]

I pick Patterson to win this. At that stage Patterson was used to the 'big time' and Lyle wasn't..if it was a major fight at MSG say, I pick Patterson on points. If it was in Denver in front of Lyle's hometown crowd he could do it.

[Kalan]

It's a matter of styles, height, weight, reach, punching power, and age...

Bonavena was nothing but a punching bag and Ron Lyle beat him easily... Patterson beating Bonavena has no more significance than Patterson beating Chuvalo.. Neither man could box or reach you with a jab or straight right.. Lyle was big and tall, with a good reach, and real punching power.. He was capable of controlling the much smaller Patterson from the outside and overpowering him with brutal strength. Patterson wasn't a counterpuncher like Quarry. He came straight on weaving and throwing -- and was easy to hit. Quarry countered the crap out of Lyle. Perfect style for him.

The fact that Quarry beat Lyle means little. Quarry had 2 fights where he showed his potential: Spencer and Lyle -- though he got good results in some others.

[Tony1244]

It's a matter of styles, height, weight, reach, punching power, and age...

Bonavena was nothing but a punching bag and Ron Lyle beat him easily... Patterson beating Bonavena has no more significance than Patterson beating Chuvalo.. Neither man could box or reach you with a jab or straight right.. Lyle was big and tall, with a good reach, and real punching power.. He was capable of controlling the much smaller Patterson from the outside and overpowering him with brutal strength. Patterson wasn't a counterpuncher like Quarry. He came straight on weaving and throwing -- and was easy to hit. Quarry countered the crap out of Lyle. Perfect style for him.

The fact that Quarry beat Lyle means little. Quarry had 2 fights where he showed his potential: Spencer and Lyle -- though he got good results in some others.

Quarry could never have beaten Foreman, Ali, or Frazier. But the victory over Lyle did mean he could box, which many don't remember. They just remember him getting cut and beat.

[Kalan]

People remember Quarry's fights with Earnie Shavers, Mac Foster, Ron Lyle, Thad Spencer, and Buster Mathis.. That was Quarry at his best... His fights with Ron Lyle, James Woody, Tony Doyle, and Earnie Shavers was the best streak in his life by far.. Then Jerry started having personal problems again. His relationship with his new wife—who inspired the Hell out of him at first—soured.

Quarry was almost knocked out in his next fight by green-horned novice Joe Alexander. The disciplined and intelligent Quarry left the building and the wild-assed, reckless swinger returned. Everything went south from there. He stopped training. He stopped caring. When Quarry went into one of his deep depressions, he was unreachable. So much of this game is a boxer's mental and emotional state. You gotta be on top of it.

[Tony1244]

People remember Quarry's fights with Earnie Shavers, Mac Foster, Ron Lyle, Thad Spencer, and Buster Mathis.. That was Quarry at his best... His fights with Ron Lyle, James Woody, Tony Doyle, and Earnie Shavers was the best streak in his life by far.. Then Jerry started having personal problems again. His relationship with his new wife—who inspired the Hell out of him at first—soured.

Quarry was almost knocked out in his next fight by green-horned novice Joe Alexander. The disciplined and intelligent Quarry left the building and the wild-assed, reckless swinger returned. Everything went south from there. He stopped training. He stopped caring. When Quarry went into one of his deep depressions, he was unreachable. So much of this game is a boxer's mental and emotional state. You gotta be on top of it.

That may all be true, but if it had been Frazier, Ali, or Foreman who stepped into the ring against Quarry in 1973, I still think Quarry would have lost.

[Kalan]

Like Tyson Fury, I think Quarry talked a great game -- but he didn't really believe he was worthy to be at the top. Your self image means a lot in this game.