[djday45]

I have got some great research on Folley so feel this rating is pretty accurate.
Along with Machen, Folley is considered the finest heavy of the 50s that didnt get a shot at Pattersons title a highly skilled boxing counterpuncher with a very dangerous right hand producing over 40 stoppages Folley was both ducked and unlucky and also lost big fights at bad times and was accused of a lack of championship heart.

FIGHT INSIDE -1. Reduce by one. Folley was a scientific counter puncher not someone that mixed it up on the inside.

GO FOR KNOCKOUT - 2. A very underated hitter with over 40 stoppages to his name, this strategy was always on the table.

CONDITIONING - 3. Always in good shape but there is evidence that his manager for financial reasons sometimes took fights he didnt need to or when Folley was not ready Liston and the 2nd Jones fight come to mind.

INTELLECT - 9. A very smooth clever operator who would often pick apart his opponents with his scientific patient style and stop them late on.

CONTROL VS BOXER - 11. Both control factors up a point to show he was really a top draw contender, he was in the ring ratings for ten years without a shot at the title and although he had a slight problem with swarmers who wouldnt give him room to counter he defeated nearly all comers.

CONTROL VS SLUGGER - 10. See above.

ABSORB PUNISHMENT - 4. This was said to be Folleys big weakness, a lack of fighting heart, it must be said I think they were right he was stopped 6 times and quit more than once most famously against young Jack Johnson.

ENDURANCE -9. Up one. He was very good indeed at pacing himself and slowly picking apart the opponent and was often had plenty left in the tank at the end of bouts.

DEFENSE -2. He had an excellent defense and this rating has to be improved. He was fast slippery with good movement and his whole style was based on making the other guy miss and coming back with that nasty right hand counter.

HITTING POWER - 8. Way up from the paltry 4 given. He was not a one punch guy but as stated before his right hand counter was his big weapon it was said to hurt like a mule and chopped down many fighters over the years. his fast combinations also were hurtful and he is woefully underated here.

PUNCHES - increase his combos and right hands especially the 3 point crosses as this was his money punch reduce down the hooks and uppercuts.

OVERALL RATING - 10. This is a big step up from 7 but ive no doubt its accurate. it was considered he would have given Patterson a life and death struggle for the title and although due to his lack of chin and heart he might not have wore the belt long he could surely have become champion. He was a top contender for ten years and despite bad defeats was so highly skilled that he was still considered a dangerous threat for the title, One of the crying shames of heavyweight history tht he never got a crack at it in his prime.

OTHER RATINGS
to ensure he adds up to a ten here are his other ratings.

Stance - right handed
style - boxer
fouls - seldom
fight outside - 3
cover up - 2
clinching - 69
draw power - 3
chin vs knockdown - 3
chin vs knockout -3
recovery - 3
resistance to cuts -2
killer instinct - 6
agressivness - 6
defense - -2
fast starter -2
fight on ropes -2
punching -42
counterpunching -44
punches landed -61


Mmmm after typing all that out I use the recalculate button once again and he drops to a 9! bloody game!