Post by timmy84 on May 23, 2006 14:58:55 GMT -5
Ex-Heavyweight Champion Floyd Patterson Dies At 71
Floyd Patterson, the first two-time heavyweight champion of the world, recently died at his home in New Paltz, NY at the age of 71. He had Alzheimer's disease for about eight years and prostate cancer, his nephew Sherman Patterson said.
At 6-feet-tall, Patterson will be remembered as the small heavyweight with a heart of a giant. The popular champion weighed only 182 pounds when he beat Archie Moore for the heavyweight title in 1956. He was 21 and became the youngest man to win the title with the fifth-round knockout.
Patterson, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991, won over fans because he had a big man's punch and a spirit to match. He could punch with the best heavyweights knocking one opponent down 11 times in a fight. He maximized his fast hands and reflexes to make up for his often-shorter height.
In 1959, Patterson lost the title to Ingemar Johansson when the referee stoppd the bout in the third round. However, he became the first heavyweight champion to regain the title when he knocked out Johansson in the fifth round in their second bout in 1960.
Patterson and Johansson met in a third title fight the following year, and after he was knocked down twice, Patterson came back and knocked out Johansson in the sixth round.
Born in Waco, NC, Patterson emerged from a troubled childhood in Brooklyn to win the New York Golden Gloves middleweight title in 1951. A year later he won the Olympic gold medal and turned professional shortly after. "If it wasn't for boxing, I would probably be behind bars or dead", Patterson said in a 1998 interview.
Patterson amassed a 20-year career record of 55-8-1 with 40 knockouts. After he retired in 1972, Patterson remained close to the sport. He served twice as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission; he resigned for good in April 1998.
Patterson is survived by his wife, Jane; their two daughters, Jennifer Patterson and Janine Patterson; and son, Tracy Harris Patterson. He is also survived by two sons and two daughters from a previous marriage, Floyd, Eric, Seneca and Trina; three brothers Sherman, Raymond and Alvin; two sisters, Deanna and Carolyn; and eight grandchildren.
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RIP, Floyd. :angelwings:
Floyd Patterson, the first two-time heavyweight champion of the world, recently died at his home in New Paltz, NY at the age of 71. He had Alzheimer's disease for about eight years and prostate cancer, his nephew Sherman Patterson said.
At 6-feet-tall, Patterson will be remembered as the small heavyweight with a heart of a giant. The popular champion weighed only 182 pounds when he beat Archie Moore for the heavyweight title in 1956. He was 21 and became the youngest man to win the title with the fifth-round knockout.
Patterson, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991, won over fans because he had a big man's punch and a spirit to match. He could punch with the best heavyweights knocking one opponent down 11 times in a fight. He maximized his fast hands and reflexes to make up for his often-shorter height.
In 1959, Patterson lost the title to Ingemar Johansson when the referee stoppd the bout in the third round. However, he became the first heavyweight champion to regain the title when he knocked out Johansson in the fifth round in their second bout in 1960.
Patterson and Johansson met in a third title fight the following year, and after he was knocked down twice, Patterson came back and knocked out Johansson in the sixth round.
Born in Waco, NC, Patterson emerged from a troubled childhood in Brooklyn to win the New York Golden Gloves middleweight title in 1951. A year later he won the Olympic gold medal and turned professional shortly after. "If it wasn't for boxing, I would probably be behind bars or dead", Patterson said in a 1998 interview.
Patterson amassed a 20-year career record of 55-8-1 with 40 knockouts. After he retired in 1972, Patterson remained close to the sport. He served twice as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission; he resigned for good in April 1998.
Patterson is survived by his wife, Jane; their two daughters, Jennifer Patterson and Janine Patterson; and son, Tracy Harris Patterson. He is also survived by two sons and two daughters from a previous marriage, Floyd, Eric, Seneca and Trina; three brothers Sherman, Raymond and Alvin; two sisters, Deanna and Carolyn; and eight grandchildren.
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RIP, Floyd. :angelwings:
