Floyd Patterson

Floyd Patterson (born January 4, 1935) is a former Heavyweight boxing champion who made history multiple times in the sport of boxing

After a series of defenses, Patterson met Ingemar Johansson of Sweden, in the beginning of what many consider one of boxing's most interesting trilogies of fights. Johansson triumphed over Patterson out in 1959, with the referee stopping the fight in the third round after the Swede had knocked Patterson down seven times. Johansson became that country's first world Heavyweight champion, thus becoming a national hero in Sweden immediately. Patterson came back and knocked Johannson out in the fifth round of their rematch, with what many boxing historians have called the best punch ever in boxing, to become the first man ever to recover the world's undisputed Heavyweight title. After the count, Patterson showed his concern for Johnannson by cradling his motionless opponent, and promising him a second rematch. Patterson further endeared himself with the people who had made Johansson their national hero, and when he went on a European exhibition tour after that rematch, he was greeted by Swedish fans, who were eager to shake hands, ask for autographs and take photos with Patterson everywhere he went during his stay there.

A third fight between them was held in 1961, and while Johansson put Patterson on the floor, Patterson retained his title by a knockout in six to win the rubber match. After one more defense, Patterson lost his title by a knockout in the first to Sonny Liston. The two fighters were a marked contrast. In the ring, Liston's size and power proved too much for Patterson's guile and agility. Outside the ring, Patterson was an articulate campaigner for civil rights who, D'Amato felt, lacked the clinical killer instinct of a natural champion. Liston, however, seemed to relish his reputation as a street brawler. Patterson attempted to become the first boxer ever to win the world's Heavyweight title three times, but Liston once again knocked him out in the first round.

Following these defeats, Patterson went through a depression, often using sunglasses and hats to go out in public and go unnoticed, but he recovered and began winning fights again, until he became the number one challenger of the man who twice beat Liston, Muhammad Ali. On another attempt to be the first to win the world's Heavyweight title three times, Patterson lost by a knockout in 12 rounds.

In 1967, Ali was stripped of the heavyweight title for refusing military service after being drafted into the United States Army. The World Boxing Association staged an 8-man tournament to determine Ali's successor. Patterson, in a third and final attempt at winning the title a third time, lost a 15 round split decision to Jimmy Ellis in Sweden. He used that new trip to that country to rekindle his love relationship with the citizens of that area.

Patterson went on, but after losing in a rematch to Ali for the North American Boxing Federation heavyweight title by a knockout in seven, he retired for good.

In retirement, he and Johansson became good friends who flew across the Atlantic to visit each other every year, and he became chairman of the New York state Athletic commission, a job that he held until recently. He also became a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.

He had a record of 55 win, 8 losses and 1 draw, with 40 wins by knockout. Although Patterson has often been called one of the least able men to ever hold a boxing title, it should be noted he was a fine gentleman outside of the ring. He once said that a champion should conduct himself as one in real life as well as in the ring.

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