Is there any fighter with more class in boxing history than Floyd Paterson?

[Ray Corso]

Jose Torres (both from Cus's gym!

Another one that I knew personally years ago and anyone who ever met him will agree he's outstanding in character and is one of the greatest ambassadors of the sport "el Indio" Gaspar Ortega!! None better!!!! Ray.

[Anthony342]

Patterson was a classy and likeable guy who always conducted himself with dignity. But if we're being honest, his heavyweight title reign was crap. You can blame D'Amato if you want, but Floyd avoided top black heavyweight contenders like Machen, Williams, Folley, and (for as long as possible) Liston.

I've heard about D'Amato managing Patterson, Torres, Tyson, but who else did he work with? There must have been others, but I'm guessing they just didn't become big names?

[atomicsad]

I don't know much about all those guys but I always Manny Pacquiao carried himself with a lot of class.

[katjack]

Patterson had a lot of class, so did Louis and Arguello.

[SBleeder]

Patterson's demeanor was more suitable for a sport like Tennis or Golf, however, which could explain his level of success or lack thereof. He was way too "nice" for a brutal sport like boxing ("nice guys finish last").

Seriously? Lack of success? He was a world champion, twice. He's the youngest heavyweight champion in history. That makes him more successful than 99.9% of guys who have ever stepped in the ring.

Too nice? Ask Ingemar (after he woke up from that left hook) how nice Patterson was in the ring.

Being a ****head out of the ring is not a prerequisite for being an animal in the ring.

[Panamaniac]

I've heard about D'Amato managing Patterson, Torres, Tyson, but who else did he work with? There must have been others, but I'm guessing they just didn't become big names?

Correct! "Big names" don't elude the glare of the spotlight. Who'd care about the Joe Blows he may have handled? On the other hand, Cus may have limited his selection to guys with "big name" potential.

[Panamaniac]

Seriously? Lack of success? He was a world champion, twice. He's the youngest heavyweight champion in history. That makes him more successful than 99.9% of guys who have ever stepped in the ring.

Too nice? Ask Ingemar (after he woke up from that left hook) how nice Patterson was in the ring.

Being a ****head out of the ring is not a prerequisite for being an animal in the ring.

Good points all, but I didn't say he wasn't successful, only that he might have been more so (say, ranked within top 10 all-time heavies) with more of a "Killer Instinct" to go with his talent.

[SBleeder]

Good points all, but I didn't say he wasn't successful, only that he might have been more so (say, ranked within top 10 all-time heavies) with more of a "Killer Instinct" to go with his talent.

I think he had plenty of killer instinct. He was a tiny heavyweight who knocked out some very tough and dangerous fighters.