BoxRec

How would Floyd Patterson feared in the 80s decade? Is it the 80s one of the worst decades in heavyweight history?

If it is, because you can't fight everybody. Let's suppose he had the same schedule of Mike Tyson in the 80s. Would he conquer the Heavyweight Crown or at least a piece of it?

I am talking about the same schedule that Tyson had. Plus, throw in Michael Dokes and Greg Page in the mix.

I think he'd be about like anyone else in that mix. Winning some, losing some against all those guys.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑12 Feb 2026, 16:49 I think he'd be about like anyone else in that mix. Winning some, losing some against all those guys.

Who's in Mike Tyson's ledger, Floyd Patterson would have beaten?

I'd say he'd be 50/50 with Spinks. I think he's 50/50 with Berbick or Smith or Pinklon Thomas. I think he'd beat Tillis, Tony Tubbs, Marvis Frazier, Henry Tillman.

It's hard to say for sure because Patterson is gonna be giving away a lot of size to these guys, but he'd have skill and a lot of the same style that Tyson beat these guys with.

Are we matching Floyd with peak versions of these guys or on the night they fought Tyson ?

goose 5 wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026, 20:49 Are we matching Floyd with peak versions of these guys or on the night they fought Tyson ?

On the night they fought Mike Tyson. Correct.

I would have thought he’d be cruiser.

He’d be giving away 20-30lbs vs most of those guys in the 80s. I suppose he might bulk up to 200-10 the way Spinks did. But he wasn’t famed for his durability vs bigger guys.

Interesting fights with the likes of Holyfield, Qwai, De Leon and Mustafa Muhammad at 190lbs.

I think he beats Marvis Frazier on points. A peak Patterson maybe beats 1986 Tillis on a close decision. Bruno, Carl Williams, Berbick and Thomas knock out Patterson. 1988 Holmes should get out-hustled by Patterson. Spinks beats him. Patterson knocks out Tyson's 1985 schedule but not as fast as Tyson did. This was a very good question. I'd like to do Joe Louis versus Ali's 1960 opponents.

Pretty much agree with this. There are a couple of tricky factors. Many of Tyson's opponents were inconsistent. Also, Patterson's chin could let him occasionally.