Heavyweights: Floyd Patterson vs. Eddie Machen - Late 50's

[Scypion]

One fight that I think should have happened During the late 1950's was Patterson vs. Machen. It was Patterson's manager, Cus D'Amato, that did not want the fight due to Machen's involvement with the corrupt IBC and it's president Jim Norris.

It could be that the real reason was that Eddie Machen was pretty good. Floyd and Eddie did have a bout during the 60's, but they were both past their best at that time. Patterson won on a decision. It may have been different if they fought a few years earlier. Machen was older than Patterson and may have been farther from his prime than Floyd was.

So, if Floyd defended his heavyweight title against Eddie during the 50's, who would win? Opinions are welcome.

[DrDuke]

I don't think it would change much prime vs prime. Maybe Floyd would score a KO, cause he was more explosive at his best. Patterson either by UD or by late KO.

[scorpio83]

Prime Patterson would still beat prime Machen by decision in a closer fight. Machen would jab and counter Patterson with good combinations, but Patterson would outspeed him with quicker jabs and good combinations to earn a decision win.

[Nile4000]

Machen by SD.

[HomicideHenry]

It's hard to say because Cus was so overly protective of Patterson that it's difficult to gauge how well he really would have performed against certain guys--- but you could make a case that Eddie could have won. He was clearly the top guy for a while and it was quite a dirty trick to have avoided him, IBC corruption or not.

If my memory serves me right he was supposed to fight Patterson provided that he was able to get passed Ingemar Johansson who was basically seen as a one-trick pony, but Eddie got iced in the first round.

Because of that there was no way that Patterson was able to avoid the Swedish heavyweight because Eddie had such a great standing for so long, and Cus honestly thought it would be no problem because Ingo was so reckless.

Of course Patterson lost and then won the rematch and then won the rubber match and that trilogy still goes down as either the second best or third best series in heavyweight history.

But 1956-1959? Patterson may well have been the fastest heavyweight champion of all time up until that point. And he did put away Tommy Jackson, who was legit, in pretty good fashion. Jackson fought both men back to back and it was the same result, a ten round stoppage.

It's hard to say. Because Eddie went the distance with Liston (1960), even if he did run away the entire time. Floyd Patterson was blasted out in one round twice (1962 & 1962).

Call it the cowards way out but I'll call it a draw. After all, Eddie did have a draw with Zora Folley, so it's not out of the realm of possibility.

[Cutman Scabbers]

As small as Patterson was for a heavyweight, he had huge hands.