BoxRec

Patterson-Liston
Spinks-Tyson

Liston & Tyson were certainly the favourites, but 1st round?
Why was it so easy for them? Patterson & Spinks are hall of famers.
It should have been a lot closer than it turned out.

Cus Damato didn't want Patterson boxing Liston, but one must comend Floyd for taking on a big challenge. Correct me if I'm wrong, but when the first fight was announced, was there a theory that Patterson could perhaps out-box Sonny, that he had better boxing skills etc?

I can see why people may have thought like this, but I also feel Liston's own boxing ability was underrated, especially his jab, which was like some guys right hands/left hooks. I think it was styles with Patterson vs Liston. Floyd could not compete with Sonny on the inside, Liston was much more powerful, not to mention bigger, stronger etc.

Tyson vs Spinks? You can tell Spinks is not over-eager to say the least to get it on with Tyson when the introductions began for their bout. Spinks was visably trying to control, conceal his emotions, while Tyson was stalking the ring, ready to get down to business.

Obviously, I don't think anyone predicted the actual outcome of the fights, and they may have indeed been easier then one expected, but that's boxing for you. You just never know! Anyway, can you imagine being in the opposite corner going out to face a peak Tyson.

I've heard people all the time say "sure, for the right money, I'd have faced him". But saying it & actually doing it, going through with it, is another matter entirely.

The greatest trusim in boxing if not in all of sports is "Styles make fights." The truth is Patterson and Spinks do belong in the HoF but they were custom made opponents for Liston and Tyson. I won a hundred bucks on the Shavers/Norton fight. I didn't predict the win, I predicted a 1st round ko with a right uppercut. Why? Norton usually fought moving slowly forward while leaning forward and Earnie had a monster right uppercut. Sure you could have legitimately thought Floyd could outbox Sonny but could anybody reasonably think Floyd could hurt Liston or take Sonny's shots? And Michael was a relatively small heavyweight with a very stand up style. Exactly the kind of fighter Mike feasted on.