Ranking Floyd Patterson Above Lennox Lewis, Can It Be Justified?

[Perfect Plex]

In a HW ATG list?

[DET. IRONSIDE]

Not enough title fights. Not enough succesful defences.

Its harder for Lennox aswell because he had to unify.

[CarlosG815]

Two totally different era's. Floyd wouldn't even be a HW in the era of LL.

In my opinion, his win's over Johansson trump any of Lewis' wins.

[sonnyboyx2]

Patterson beat the better quality of opponent and fought the better quality of opponent.. Both rank between 15-25 ATG list with Patterson ahead of Lewis

[JAB5239]

Patterson beat the better quality of opponent and fought the better quality of opponent.. Both rank between 15-25 ATG list with Patterson ahead of Lewis

I would respectfully disagree with this all the way around my friend.

[sonnyboyx2]

I would respectfully disagree with this all the way around my friend.

then lets see your take on it

[sonnyboyx2]

Patterson

Muhammad Ali (twice)
George Chuvalo
Jerry Quarry (twice)
Sonny Liston (twice)
Ingo Johansson (thrice)
Henry Cooper
Archie Moore
Joey Maxim
Yvon Durelle
Roy Harris
Jimmy Ellis
Oscar Bonavena
Tommy Hurricane Jackson
--------------

Lennox Lewis

Mike Tyson
Donavan Ruddock
Ray Mercer
Evander Holyfield (twice)
Andrew Golota
Frank Bruno
Vitali Klitschko
David Tua
Hasim Rahman (twice)
Oliver McCall (twice)
Tommy Morrison
Shannon Briggs

[Greatest1942]

Patterson

Muhammad Ali (twice)
George Chuvalo
Jerry Quarry (twice)
Sonny Liston (twice)
Ingo Johansson (thrice)
Henry Cooper
Archie Moore
Joey Maxim
Yvon Durelle
Roy Harris
Jimmy Ellis
Oscar Bonavena
Tommy Hurricane Jackson
--------------

Lennox Lewis

Mike Tyson
Donavan Ruddock
Ray Mercer
Evander Holyfield (twice)
Andrew Golota
Frank Bruno
Vitali Klitschko
David Tua
Hasim Rahman (twice)
Oliver McCall (twice)
Tommy Morrison
Shannon Briggs

Don't mean to be cross you Sonny but, Patterson lost to many of the fighters he fought. Ali, Liston, Maxim etc. Lost to Johansson once too. And didn't fight some very good contenders of his era like Machen, Williams etc.

[Davros?]

Don't mean to be cross you Sonny but, Patterson lost to many of the fighters he fought. Ali, Liston, Maxim etc. Lost to Johansson once too. And didn't fight some very good contenders of his era like Machen, Williams etc.

Patterson beat Eddie Machen just after he lost to Liston for a second time, and most people think Patterson beat Maxim.
Patterson fought a lot of good fighters as did Lewis although with Lewis both Holyfield and Tyson were past there best (Tyson was almost done). I would rather watch a Patterson fight than a Lewis one tbh, but I would pick Lewis to beat Patterson.

[Greatest1942]

Patterson beat Eddie Machen just after he lost to Liston for a second time, and most people think Patterson beat Maxim.
Patterson fought a lot of good fighters as did Lewis although with Lewis both Holyfield and Tyson were past there best (Tyson was almost done). I would rather watch a Patterson fight than a Lewis one tbh, but I would pick Lewis to beat Patterson.

I am talking of a Machen that was in his prime...When Patterson was teh champ he avoided machen. Nevertheless Maxim was old by the time he faced Patterson but he won(disputed right). He missed Folley there too. Either way he missed top contenders when he was the champ.

Patterson lost to a lot of the guys mentioned period. Lewis won against all of the guys (atleast once). Competition, no doubt patterson met the best, but the best bested him. Lewis beat the greats of his era (far past their primes may be), but still he did it.

You can have Patterson higher no problems, but it should not be based on who he faced, rather who he beat IMO.