Poor Floyd Patterson. Everyone loves him but not everyone respects him as a fighter or champion. You rarely here his name tossed about when the topic of all time great heavyweights is brought up. What a shame!
Who is to blame for the heartbreaking oversight? People tend to forget that Patterson thrashed Archie Moore much more impressively then Marciano did the night he became the youngest man ever to win the heavyweight crown. Still when a ” Dream Match ” between Marciano and Patterson is talked about, Floyd is quickly dismissed… Simply put, Rocky had the PUNCH and Floyd did not have the whiskers.
After the Moore victory, Floyd would make ” safe ” defenses against guys like Pete Rademacher, and Tommy ” Hurricane ” Jackson. Floyd then had his chin exposed by Ingemar Johansson. To Floyd’s credit he became the first heavyweight champion to regain the title by halting Ingo not once but twice. Finally Floyd fell to the ham like fists of Charles ” Sonny ” Liston in one round. Sonny repeated the one round trick in their return match.
I feel that the losses to Liston helped to make Floyd a better overall fighter. The ” New ” Patterson took on ALL comers. Fighters that he had ” avoided ” were met and beaten. The new Patterson was raising some eyebrows. Although Floyd fought and lost to a prime time Muhammad Ali in 1965, he had earned that right to another title shot by defeating Eddie Machen and George Chuvalo. Floyd would come right back after his loss to Ali and destroy the respected Henry Cooper of England. He later fought a draw with an up and coming Jerry Quarry.
When Ali was stripped of his title for refusing to be inducted into the Army, the W.B.A. set up an eight-man elimination tourney to determine a new champion. Floyd was among one of the eight selected. Floyd drew Jerry Quarry as his first tourney opponent. This time Jerry won a hotly disputed decision. Quarry went on to upset Thad Spencer and then lose to Jimmy Ellis in the ” championship ” bout.
Floyd had been so impressive against Quarry that he was matched with Ellis for Jimmy’s W.B.A. title. On a cool night in Sweden almost everyone thought that Floyd had done enough to win the verdict and regain the crown. Poor Floyd… The referee and sole voter gave it to Ellis.
Floyd would come back to win nine in a row including a points call over the rugged Oscar Bonavena. This led to another match with the now without the title Muhammad Ali. Floyd fought his heart out but could not overcome the bigger, stronger and faster Ali.
Patterson never fought again.
I am so delighted that you wrote this fine article about Floyd Patterson.
I remember seeing the Quarry fight and he definitely beat Quarry, but that is not important.
One thing to add about Floyd was that he was truly a reluctant champion, that had blinding hand speed for a heavyweight (well, sort of a heavyweight), but never had that killer inside where he wanted to hurt anyone.
Floyd has talked about this, as others had, that Floyd was deeply effected after he nailed Johansson, with that famous left hook and he saw Johansson’s legs quivering while he was unconsciousness on the mat. Floyd was deeply concerned and never got to the same level of intensity that he had, before the Johansson fight.
Floyd and Johansson become good friends with each other for the reminder of their lives.
Something else about Floyd’s chin. When Floyd was knocked down, he always got up, time and time again.
When Floyd fought the “vintage” Ali (before the layoff), Floyd was injured and in terrible pain with his back. Not that he would have beat Ali, but he might have landed a left hook, which would have been interesting, as the left hook was the punch that Ali was most vulnerable of.
Henry Kooper, did knock Ali down with and Bonevena cam very, very close to beating Joe Frazier and gave Ali a lot of problems as well.
Floyd was a great fighter and a better man. He always was very accessible to those who would spot him doing his roadwork, in upstate New York, which he continued to do many years after he retired.
Jon
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