Is Floyd Patterson a top 20 all time great heavyweight ?

[WillieWild114]

He was a great boxer in the 60's and 80's.

[QueensburyRules]

He was a great boxer in the 60's and 80's.

- - If he was #1, he's be in the top 20.

Maybe narrow the scope of your question...

[Dr. Z]

He was a great boxer in the 60's and 80's.

Not in my book or most boxing lists post 2000.

[Willow The Wisp]

Patterson fighting in the 80s assumed to be a typo.

No. Almost though, he's no 34 of 43,409 professionals, which is dammed good.
One of the 4 fastest heavyweights in the modern era, Patterson also had great power. He held the distinction of being history's youngest HW champion for decades, and was the first to regain the title after losing it. The biggest drawback for Patterson was his size being that of a small Cruiserweight.

All Time Post Sullivan List - Modern Heavyweights:


1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Jack Dempsey
4. Jack Johnson
5. George Foreman
6. Lennox Lewis
7. Larry Holmes
8. Sonny Liston
9. Mike Tyson
10.Rocky Marciano
11.Wladimir Klitschko
12.Tyson Fury
13.Joe Frazier
14.Deontay Wilder
15.James J. Jeffries
16.Evander Holyfield
17.Gene Tunney
18.Sam Langford
19.Ezzard Charles
20.Harry Wills
21.Vitali Klitschko
22.Joe Jeanette
23.Luther McCarty
24.Anthony Joshua
25.Rid**** Bowe
26.Ken Norton
27.James J. Corbett
28.Max Schmeling
29.Sailor Tom Sharkey
30.Max Baer
31.Jerry Quarry
32.Jess Willard
33.Jersey Joe Walcott
34.Floyd Patterson

[mrbig1]

Not with that glass jaw.

[Willie Pep 229]

Patterson fighting in the 80s assumed to be a typo.

No. Almost though, he's no 34 of 43,409 professionals, which is dammed good.
One of the 4 fastest heavyweights in the modern era, Patterson also had great power. He held the distinction of being history's youngest HW champion for decades, and was the first to regain the title after losing it. The biggest drawback for Patterson was his size being that of a small Cruiserweight.

All Time Post Sullivan List - Modern Heavyweights:


1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Jack Dempsey
4. Jack Johnson
5. George Foreman
6. Lennox Lewis
7. Larry Holmes
8. Sonny Liston
9. Mike Tyson
10.Rocky Marciano
11.Wladimir Klitschko
12.Tyson Fury
13.Joe Frazier
14.Deontay Wilder
15.James J. Jeffries
16.Evander Holyfield
17.Gene Tunney
18.Sam Langford
19.Ezzard Charles
20.Harry Wills
21.Vitali Klitschko
22.Joe Jeanette
23.Luther McCarty
24.Anthony Joshua
25.Rid**** Bowe
26.Ken Norton
27.James J. Corbett
28.Max Schmeling
29.Sailor Tom Sharkey
30.Max Baer
31.Jerry Quarry
32.Jess Willard
33.Jersey Joe Walcott
34.Floyd Patterson

On any given night Patterson could beat at least half of the fighters ranked above him. Then again they could all just as likely beat him.

[The D3vil]

Patterson fighting in the 80s assumed to be a typo.

No. Almost though, he's no 34 of 43,409 professionals, which is dammed good.
One of the 4 fastest heavyweights in the modern era, Patterson also had great power. He held the distinction of being history's youngest HW champion for decades, and was the first to regain the title after losing it. The biggest drawback for Patterson was his size being that of a small Cruiserweight.

All Time Post Sullivan List - Modern Heavyweights:


1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Jack Dempsey
4. Jack Johnson
5. George Foreman
6. Lennox Lewis
7. Larry Holmes
8. Sonny Liston
9. Mike Tyson
10.Rocky Marciano
11.Wladimir Klitschko
12.Tyson Fury
13.Joe Frazier
14.Deontay Wilder
15.James J. Jeffries
16.Evander Holyfield
17.Gene Tunney
18.Sam Langford
19.Ezzard Charles
20.Harry Wills
21.Vitali Klitschko
22.Joe Jeanette
23.Luther McCarty
24.Anthony Joshua
25.Rid**** Bowe
26.Ken Norton
27.James J. Corbett
28.Max Schmeling
29.Sailor Tom Sharkey
30.Max Baer
31.Jerry Quarry
32.Jess Willard
33.Jersey Joe Walcott
34.Floyd Patterson

Deontay Wilder above Evander Holyfield who won the belt 4x and should've won it again against Valuev, Vitaly, & Rid**** Bowe, ???

[Dr. Z]

Patterson fighting in the 80s assumed to be a typo.

No. Almost though, he's no 34 of 43,409 professionals, which is dammed good.
One of the 4 fastest heavyweights in the modern era, Patterson also had great power. He held the distinction of being history's youngest HW champion for decades, and was the first to regain the title after losing it. The biggest drawback for Patterson was his size being that of a small Cruiserweight.

All Time Post Sullivan List - Modern Heavyweights:


1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Jack Dempsey
4. Jack Johnson
5. George Foreman
6. Lennox Lewis
7. Larry Holmes
8. Sonny Liston
9. Mike Tyson
10.Rocky Marciano
11.Wladimir Klitschko
12.Tyson Fury
13.Joe Frazier
14.Deontay Wilder
15.James J. Jeffries
16.Evander Holyfield
17.Gene Tunney
18.Sam Langford
19.Ezzard Charles
20.Harry Wills
21.Vitali Klitschko
22.Joe Jeanette
23.Luther McCarty
24.Anthony Joshua
25.Rid**** Bowe
26.Ken Norton
27.James J. Corbett
28.Max Schmeling
29.Sailor Tom Sharkey
30.Max Baer
31.Jerry Quarry
32.Jess Willard
33.Jersey Joe Walcott
34.Floyd Patterson

While it your list maybe you can explain to me why Dontay Wilder is so high. He did not beat any top 5 ranked contenders in his career. In a similar fashion I never seen Luther McCarthy ranked so high and I have 50 historical lists! As far as I know McCarty is not on film. His box rec record is 19-4-2 and is best win is over Frank Moran who was maybe the 5th best heavyweight at that time.

[Willow The Wisp]

Deontay Wilder above Evander Holyfield who won the belt 4x and should've won it again against Valuev, Vitaly, & Rid**** Bowe, ???

Oh yaa. But Deontay has to wrap up nicely to stay there.

[Willow The Wisp]

While it your list maybe you can explain to me why Dontay Wilder is so high. He did not beat any top 5 ranked contenders in his career. In a similar fashion I never seen Luther McCarthy ranked so high and I have 50 historical lists! As far as I know McCarty is not on film. His box rec record is 19-4-2 and is best win is over Frank Moran who was maybe the 5th best heavyweight at that time.

Meh, favorites. Do lists such as this ever reflect anything else?