Floyd Patterson vs Riddick Bowe. What If?

[dws]

It's very hard to imagine Patterson lasting too long against a prime Bowe.

[Syntax Error]

But Herbie is one of the most fearsome punchers in HW history. He may be small, but he punches like hell. Patterson had underrated power, but he was nowhere near as powerful as Hide.

Knocking out a fat, 40 year old Tony Tucker does not a great puncher make.

Every time Floyd downed someone, it looked devastating and impressive.

Riddick Bowe said that Herbie Hide is by far the hardest hitter he had ever faced & he included Lennox Lewis in that assessment.

[hawaiianpunch]

I just don't see any way Patterson can win this fight. Bowe TKO5.

[evndrbsn]

Bowe would KO Patterson inside a round. Patterson twice froze against the deadilest puncher he ever fought in Sonny Liston, who most likely didn't carry as heavy a punch as Riddick Bowe. We could argue the fact that Liston punched harder than Bowe or Bowe punched harder than Liston all day, but the fact is Patterson never defeated a big heavyweight with a solid chin and big punch. Every talented guy he fought with a bigger punch and better chin defeated him. Patterson would never defeat Bowe at any stage of Bowe's career. I would go as far as to say the Bowe who defeated Billy Zumbrun would have flattened Patterson quickly. And a prime Bowe? I honestly would have laid every penny I had on Bowe to KO Patterson in round one. And I mean a ten count.

Someone earlier said that Patterson was down 17 times in his career. He actually was down 17 times in heavyweight title fights, which is a standing record.

[hawaiianpunch]

I agree that Bowe KO's Patterson pretty early. But to state that the Bowe that beat Zumbrun would beat Patterson? Not a chance!

[evndrbsn]

I agree that Bowe KO's Patterson pretty early. But to state that the Bowe that beat Zumbrun would beat Patterson? Not a chance!

The fact of the matter is that Patterson couldn't take a serious punch. The Bowe that fought Zumbrun probably wouldn't throw many punches and would get outboxed for a very short period of time, but early on a grazing punch would put down Patterson, which he'd rise from just to get sent down again.

[KOJOE90]

For what it's worth I think Rory McCloskey makes some very good points.
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To my mind Patterson was the more highly skilled and dedicated fighter and had a big advantage in speed and was a very hard puncher in his own right. Patterson also fought and beat a lot more high quality fighters than Bowe ever did.

Bowe held advantages in size, reach and strength and also takes a better shot than Patterson.

Both fighters had there own mental/emotional issues that effected their respective Boxing performances from time to time. I sometimes felt some of Floyds knockdowns were as much a case him panicing and general insecurities than a physical flaw, as he also went the distance with some very good punchers.

As for the size difference being a factor, well that largely depends on the fighters respective styles and game plans. If Floyd can maintain his confidence in front of the huge Big Daddy and utilise his superior speed and Boxing ability he would I believe give Bowe a really tricky fight.

But althought I rate Patterson as a better fighter P4P I still have this 'gut' feeling that as the fight went into the second half and the pace began to slow down and Bowe is able to make the fight exchanges happen at close quarters he would eventually get to Floyd stopping him on the 3 knockdown rule sometime around the 10th round.

I just don't see this fight, all things being equel being a one round blow-out for Bowe. What quality fighter did Bowe ever stop in a single round? Bruce Seldon? Please Seldon is NO Patterson.

[BoxBuzz]

The Bowe that is all Holyfield can handle is a Bowe that is too much for Floyd. That's the basis of my arguement nothing more than that really.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Bowe by UD.

[elmersalsa]

Floyd Patterson was a great boxer but, he would have been way too small for a 6'5" 240lbs Riddick Bowe. He was even way too small for Muhammad Ali in the rematch in 1972.

Patterson weigh in at 200lbs not too many times in his career.

[Cojimar 1946]

People like Ambling Alp accuse some of overstating the importance of size and in this case I think its not so much a lack of size as lack of durability and elusiveness that dooms Patterson. If he had a better chin or was more difficult to hit he might be able to win.

[oogiebe]

People like Ambling Alp accuse some of overstating the importance of size and in this case I think its not so much a lack of size as lack of durability and elusiveness that dooms Patterson. If he had a better chin or was more difficult to hit he might be able to win.

He wasn't just his size in his prime (a short prime). He was tough; strong; fought amazing on the inside for a big HW; boxed real well; great chin (although he wouldn't need it vs Floyd). Prime Bowe wrecks Patterson, no question.

[chrisjs1985]

As much as I like Patterson he’s just too small to beat the best of Bowe. There’s no doubt in my mind Patterson is the better fighter, but he’d have resided at 175 during the 90s.

I think Patterson might light him up early and win a lot of rounds but eventually Bowe would stop him. He had the range plus he could fight inside and for all Floyd’s heart he didn’t have a great chin.

[DrDuke]

Riddick would have overpowered Patterson and mauled him down to the late stoppage. Patterson was real deal, he would have had some good moments early, his speed would have been enough to catch Bowe, but Riddick wasn't just big, he was a helluva fighter too, Patterson really had few chances to be elusive enough for the whole distance.

[tiny_acres]

I don't think there ever was a heavyweight champion who has been knocked down more than Patterson.

[gilgamesh]

Bowe swats him like a fly. He takes his china and once again visits the deck.

Though this comment was made nearly 14 years ago apparently. It's no less true today.

[Flump]

Hard to see anything other than a quick Bowe win, gifted as though Patterson was.

Did make me chuckle reading someone saying that Herbie Hide was one of the most devastating punchers in heavyweight history earlier in this thread.

[Hookie74]

Bowe by KO. Patterson was quick and he punched hard... for a man his size. Patterson was down more than 20 times though. Patterson has not a defensive wizard. Bowe is 4 or 5 inches taller, has a considerable reach advantage, and is about 40 Lbs. heavier. Bowe moved well for a man his size, he also punched hard. Bowe was durable. Terrible match-up.

[Hookie74]

I don't think there ever was a heavyweight champion who has been knocked down more than Patterson.

Patterson was down the most in HW title fights. Ezzard Charles was down more times in his entire career though (mostly when he was well past-prime though). Both mwn were down over 20 times.

[Southy1922]

I don't think there ever was a heavyweight champion who has been knocked down more than Patterson.

I think klitschko has the record at 12 (without looking )

[tiny_acres]

I don't think there ever was a heavyweight champion who has been knocked down more than Patterson.

I think klitschko has the record at 12 (without looking )

Patterson was down 7 times alone in one fight.
Just taking a quick glance at his record he was down over 20 times.

[Tuan_Jim]

Wladimir has been down 15 times, which dispels the idea that being a giant makes your jaw less vulnerable to punches. Him and Patterson are all but neck and neck.

[Onetimeonly]

Wladimir has been down 15 times, which dispels the idea that being a giant makes your jaw less vulnerable to punches. Him and Patterson are all but neck and neck.

Bowe would starch both of them quickly.

[cfang]

Bowe does a Liston here. Ko1