Seldon thanked Tyson again and again at press conferences for giving him the chance. He shook his hand over and over. The only thing he didn't do was ask him for an autograph. Seldon was supposed to be champion. But then again, that was strictly because of a worthless belt presented to Seldon by the WBA after he beat a washed-up Tony Tucker on April 8th 1995.
Fighters win and fighters lose.
The public embraced him and his fear of Liston after those losses. They understood his fear. They felt it. The only difference is, Patterson fought back in both fights. He may have been throwing spitballs at a battleship both times, but he DID fight back.