RIP Floyd Patterson

[mshray]

This happened back last week, but I didn't get to mention it.  Not many pugilism fans on this board I fear, but Patterson was special.  Nearly every obit described him as an 'mild, sweet-tempered, an ascetic' such as the Chron did on Friday.   Won Olympic gold in Helsinki in 1952, by knocking out his opponent in every round, this before Olympic boxing scoring rules virtually eliminated the KO.  He was 17 years old.  Four years later, after Rocky Marciano became the only Heavyweight Champion to retire undefeated, Patterson won the title over the incumbent Lt. Heavyweight champ, Archie Moore (who outweighed him!).  He became the youngest man to win the title, a record which stood until Mike Tyson came along.  After losing the title he also became the first fighter to win it back, in 1960.  Something Ali & Tyson would also go on to do.  Ironically he & Tyson had the same trainer, Cus D'Amato, 20 years apart.

[Gazoo]

This happened back last week, but I didn't get to mention it.  Not many pugilism fans on this board I fear, but Patterson was special.  Nearly every obit described him as an 'mild, sweet-tempered, an ascetic' such as the Chron did on Friday.   Won Olympic gold in Helsinki in 1952, by knocking out his opponent in every round, this before Olympic boxing scoring rules virtually eliminated the KO.  He was 17 years old.  Four years later, after Rocky Marciano became the only Heavyweight Champion to retire undefeated, Patterson won the title over the incumbent Lt. Heavyweight champ, Archie Moore (who outweighed him!).  He became the youngest man to win the title, a record which stood until Mike Tyson came along.  After losing the title he also became the first fighter to win it back, in 1960.  Something Ali & Tyson would also go on t to do.  Ironically he & Tyson had the same trainer, Cus D'Amato, 20 years apart.

Time has a nice obit on him this week.  They noted that one journalist had observed he'd been knocked down more than any other fighter.  His reply: "I got back up more than any of them, too."

[mshray]

This happened back last week, but I didn't get to mention it.  Not many pugilism fans on this board I fear, but Patterson was special.  Nearly every obit described him as an 'mild, sweet-tempered, an ascetic' such as the Chron did on Friday.   Won Olympic gold in Helsinki in 1952, by knocking out his opponent in every round, this before Olympic boxing scoring rules virtually eliminated the KO.  He was 17 years old.  Four years later, after Rocky Marciano became the only Heavyweight Champion to retire undefeated, Patterson won the title over the incumbent Lt. Heavyweight champ, Archie Moore (who outweighed him!).  He became the youngest man to win the title, a record which stood until Mike Tyson came along.  After losing the title he also became the first fighter to win it back, in 1960.  Something Ali & Tyson would also go on to do.  Ironically he & Tyson had the same trainer, Cus D'Amato, 20 years apart.

Time has a nice obit on him this week.  They noted that one journalist had observed he'd been knocked down more than any other fighter.  His reply: "I got back up more than any of them, too."

That's a great line!