Obit: Boxer Floyd Patterson (May 2006)

Subject: Obit: Floyd Patterson
From: kendall
Date: 11 May 06 - 06:58 PM

Floyd Patterson, 1935 to 2006. Former heavyweight champion.

He was a nice guy, outside the ring.

Subject: RE: Obit: Floyd Patterson
From: Deckman
Date: 11 May 06 - 07:33 PM

Yes, he certainly was a nice guy. I met him several times and visited his training camp in Issaquah, Washington, when he was preparing to fight my cousin, Pete Rademacher. Pete and Floyd stayed in touch and remained friends over the years. Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Obit: Floyd Patterson
From: Mr Happy
Date: 11 May 06 - 07:41 PM

see here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floyd_Patterson for more about this great man!!

Subject: RE: Obit: Floyd Patterson
From: khandu
Date: 11 May 06 - 07:44 PM

A true pro. Patterson fought Jimmy Ellis in '68 in a tournament to determine the Heavyweight chmap after Ali was stripped of his title.
I watched the fight and watched a rip-off. The fight was harsh and hard. Patterson broke Ellis' nose, knocked him down three times...generally beat him black and blue; but the judges gave it to Ellis. I became disillusioned with boxing that day, and have seen many other fiascos since then.

Since the early 60's, I have held Patterson in high regard and have never changed my opinion.

RIP, Mr. Patterson

k

Subject: RE: Obit: Floyd Patterson
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 May 06 - 07:46 PM

I missed the early part of his career when he was probably at his absolute best, but I remember the two Ingemar Johansen(sp?) fights and the courage it took to come back and regain the title. He was really a natural middleweight or perhaps even a light heavy but at a bit over 180 he wasn't a heavy by any means and yet he got the job done many times. With that classic peek-a-boo style and always coming forward, no one ever doubted the courage of Floyd Patterson.

The other well remembered fight was the one after Muhammed Ali had embraced the Muslim faith and changed his name from Cassius Clay. Patterson had adamantly refused to call him Ali. Truthfully, Ali could have taken out the aging Patterson (I always like that name for some reason(;<)) at anytime but instead he simply punished him for 12 rounds, each lightning jab and smacking hook accompanied by Ali's words, "What's my name? What's my name?" When I saw the clips of that one, it wasn't pretty. I know that later they became friends and Floyd had nothing but admiration for Ali as both a man and a boxer. Ali felt the same towards Floyd.

I'm sure a lot of you probably find boxing a cruel and dirty non-sport, but at it's center somewhere down deep in and amongst all the muck and mire, and not from a Tyson or Liston certainly, but from men like Patterson and Ali there is something to be learned of honor and bravery and courage.

I am proud to have shared some time on this planet with him. Rest well.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: Boxer Floyd Patterson (May 2006)
From: kendall
Date: 11 May 06 - 10:07 PM

Not much interest here.
I used to be a fight fan, but too many robberies and serious injuries.

Subject: RE: Obit: Boxer Floyd Patterson (May 2006)
From: alanabit
Date: 12 May 06 - 01:29 AM

Catspaw: I thought that fight with the "What's my name?" taunts was against Cloy Terrel. I have been wrong before though... alanabit is off to check boxing history...
In any event, farewell to a fine boxer and a fine man. His opponents all spoke well of him. That is not true of everyone.

Subject: RE: Obit: Boxer Floyd Patterson (May 2006)
From: Cluin
Date: 12 May 06 - 02:18 AM

The last straw in pro boxing for me was the Mike Tyson ear-biting incident. If he could do that and still keep boxing, I wasn't interested in watching any more pro fights.

Patterson was just a bit before my time, but I saw a few "Classic fights" featuring him and it made me wish for the good old days of the "sweet science" I just caught the end of. He looked like a true champ and a real sportsman.

I also thought Ken Norton had rotten luck in having Ali in his prime at the same time. Norton always seemed to be overshadowed by Ali, (except that once). He was also champion material.

Subject: RE: Obit: Boxer Floyd Patterson (May 2006)
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 May 06 - 02:46 AM

Thanks for that Alan because actually we're BOTH right. The Terrell fight came later with Ali doing the same as he beat Terrell pretty badly.   

Most of the obits I see mention the Ali fight and I know for a fact that you are also correct about Terrell. Ali was heavier on the "What's my name" against Terrell, but he was heavier on the general mocking of the opponent combined with that :WMN" line in the Patterson. Terrell probably got more notice because of the racial implications but the Patterson fight had its own racial implications as well. Come to think of it, the Ali-Frazier fights were probably the heaviest of the "racial" contests..........

Not to get off on Ali, but he had that tremendous jab that, especially when he was younger, could and did cut the hell out of his opponents.

Floyd Patterson was a class act who continued to grow over the years. Like I said, there is something to be learned there.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Obit: Boxer Floyd Patterson (May 2006)
From: redsnapper
Date: 12 May 06 - 05:21 AM

Not that I'm a boxing fan these days but he was a fine man and a fine boxer. May he R.I.P. I too remember the Ingemar Johanssen fights.

I also remember watching Ali (then Cassius) live on early pay TV being decked by that marvellous Henry Cooper left hook (or was it right? ... onset of senility!).

RS

Subject: RE: Obit: Boxer Floyd Patterson (May 2006)
From: Bobert
Date: 12 May 06 - 08:56 PM

A true American hero...

He was a gentleman in victory and defeat...

We need more Floyd Pattersons and a lot less Mike "I thought you said to go out there an bite" Tysons...

R.I.P., Floyd...

Subject: RE: Obit: Boxer Floyd Patterson (May 2006)
From: gnu
Date: 12 May 06 - 09:16 PM

Floyd was a gentleman. An athelete. A pugilist of the highest calibre. RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Boxer Floyd Patterson (May 2006)
From: kendall
Date: 12 May 06 - 11:21 PM

Ali said Patterson was the most skilled fighter he ever fought. Too bad he was past his prime at the time.

Subject: RE: Obit: Boxer Floyd Patterson (May 2006)
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 13 May 06 - 12:05 AM

I became a boxing fan at age eleven after reading Patterson's autobiography, "Victory Over Myself." It is a moving and candid book. He writes about the self-doubt and fears that plagued him throughout his childhood.

Khandu, i remember, too, watching on TV his match with Jimmy Ellis.He was really robbed by the referee in that one. Ellis's face was a mess by the end of the fight. Howard Cosell was announcing, and was just beside himself with disgust at the decision. On the other hand, many thought that George Chuvalo was robbed when he didn't get the nod over Patterson one or two years earlier. Karma, I guess.

Patterson was a true sportsman and gentleman. Just watch the film of his second match with Ingemar Johanssen. After knocking Johanssen out cold, Patterson is concerned about him and leans over him to see if he's ok. How often do you see that in boxing these days? Today it seems like every match is a hyped-up grudge match.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Obit: Boxer Floyd Patterson (May 2006)
From: kendall
Date: 13 May 06 - 09:07 AM

I never wanted to see one of the fighters hurt, for me it was like a fencing match without swords.

Subject: RE: Obit: Boxer Floyd Patterson (May 2006)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 13 May 06 - 09:24 AM

Very sad. I remember his fights with Ingomar Johanssen well. The First man to reagin the Heavyweight Title. RIP Mr. P.

Subject: RE: Obit: Boxer Floyd Patterson (May 2006)
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 13 May 06 - 10:10 PM

I remember going to the Loews Oriental theatre in Brooklyn to see the closed circuit telecast of Floyd Patterson vs. Roy Harris from Cut& Shoot, Texas. Patterson won by KO in Round 7. I also have on reel to reel tape, the radio broadcast of the 2nd Johansen fight in which Patterson regaines the title. One day I hope that it will bring me some money as a collector's item. My interest in Boxing goes all the way back to the Ezzard Charles Vs. Jersey Joe Walcott days. I have a cousin who is a boxing promoter as well as a radio talk show host in NYC. His name is Aaron Braunstein and the name of his show is "Black Guys WiseGuys & Rabbis".

                                           SOL ZELLER