Floyd Patterson's legacy

[DrDuke]

Among recent discussions about Patterson on this board there're some claims questioning Floyd's place in his era. There're opinions, that he had never been the man of the division, but a coward, who had been avoiding every contender. There're propositions, that no one accepts Patterson as a champion, because he didn't fight the likes of Cleveland Williams, Zora Folley, Eddie Machen and Nino Valdes, while the likes of Archie Moore, Tommy Jackson and Ingemar Johansson weren't enough. So, why not to take a look on a public opinion with a poll for more clarty?

[Riddick Bowie]

I voted yes, because he was the champion.

Let's be clear right off the bat. Literally no one, and I mean no, has written "no one accepts Patterson as a champion". He won the title.

A better poll would be 'Did Floyd Patterson defend against the best challengers?' My answer then would be no.

[Caractacus]

I would have liked to see him fight Mike DeJohn.
( if only for DeJohn's "Puncher's Chance).