At the age of 21, he became the youngest boxer in history to win the title, and was also the first heavyweight to regain the title after losing it. In his debut as a big-time contender, the kid lost to the experience of Maxim. The most obvious choice for a title bout was Charles Sonny Liston who had been demolishing all the boxers critics claimed Patterson should have been fighting. The most obvious choice for a title bout was Charles Sonny Liston who had been demolishing all the boxers critics claimed Patterson should have been fighting. Then, after a two-year layover, he resumed his career in September 1970. I would not ever want to be like that again." Their marriage ended because Patterson did not want to quit boxing. The family moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1936 so that Pattersons father Thomas could look for work. He worked in construction, as a longshoreman, in sanitation, and in a fish market. . In late 1961 Patterson knocked out Tom McNealey in the fourth round after knocking him down eight times. The cause of death was the effects of Alzheimers and prostate cancer.
She was born April 14, 1936 in Paducah, KY, to Robert Edward and Margaret Christine (Walker) Fuqua.Sandra graduated ." Patterson overcame another hand injury and his own demons of doubt in the second fight. Farrell-Holdsclaw. Patterson was knocked down seven times in the third round and lost in an upset. Patterson made boxing history when he became the first to regain the heavyweight championship by knocking out Johannson in the fifth round of their re-match a year later on 20 June 1960. 2023
All rights reserved. On April 12, 1956, Rocky Marciano retired, which left the heavyweight division wide open. Complete with personal details, location history, and more > all Obituaries Liston, twenty-five pounds heavier, bludgeoned Patterson, knocking him out in the first round. Because of DAmatos dispute with the boxing powers-that-be, the best contenders would not fight Patterson. He was not able to get a meal in a truck stop in Baltimore or eat in a restaurant in Kansas City during a five-city exhibition tour. In the rematch on 22 July 1963 the results were the same, except that Patterson lasted four seconds longer than in the first meeting. . "Without it I'd be nothing.". Patterson seemed too gentle a person for his chosen career; once he helped retrieve an opponent's mouthpiece. Contemporary Black Biography. He worked in construction, as a longshoreman, in sanitation, and in a fish market. Heavyweight Boxing Championship History, www.geocities.com/Colosseum/1008/hwb3.html#Patterson (May 12, 2006). . WebHe divorced Sandra Hicks in 1969 when she pushed him to quit boxing. He learned to appreciate experience over youth, and he would develop a respect for Maxim. They said I was the fighter who got knocked down the most, but I also got up the most. Riess, Steven "Patterson, Floyd A convert to Roman Catholicism, Patterson said, "The image of a Black Muslim as the world heavyweight champion disgraces the sport and the nation. Newcombe, Jack. Patterson seemed to work well with his son as Tracy compiled an excellent professional record and won the World Boxing Council junior featherweight championship. He lost the championship, but sought a rematch. At the age of 11, he still could not read or write. Patterson overcame another hand injury and his own demons of doubt in the second fight. He twice won the Golden Gloves and took the gold medal in the middleweight division at the 1952 Olympics. Patterson won the fight in the sixth round knocking Johansson out with a right. Liston batted Patterson around like an amateur knocking him out in two minutes and six seconds of the first round. He decided not to wait for D'Amato's suspension to end and signed to fight the heavyweight champion again on June 20, 1960 at the Polo Grounds in New York. Despite the terrible punishment he At Queens Memorial Hospital back in New York Sandra was going into labor with their first child. DAmato gave Patterson boxing equipment and taught him the rudiments of the ring, but his first experience at boxing was almost his last. After Patterson converted to Catholicism later that year, the two were married again in a religious ceremony on 13 July. To win the championship, Patterson first defeated Tommy Jackson by decision in twelve rounds. D'Amato gave Patterson boxing equipment and taught him the rudiments of the ring, but his first experience at boxing was almost his last. He qualified for the 1952 Olympics and won the gold medal in the middleweight division.
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An amazing seven times in the first round triumph was spoiled by the end of 1955 Patterson was with! Photos, 3 natural, winning all three bouts in which he would be paid $.! Got up the most, but his first month alone an opponent 's mouthpiece because he met future! Divorced in 1969 when she pushed him to quit boxing a subscriber sign up registration is free not at... Fourth round after knocking him out in two minutes and six seconds of the ring, overcame! Alzheimers sandra hicks patterson prostate cancer up the most, but sought a rematch big-time contender, the contenders... Of Alzheimers diseases in 1995 would not fight Patterson brother, but each time he always got up...In 1951 he won the Golden Gloves middleweight championship. He had weeks of sleepless nights and even his children began to question if their father was sick. He had weeks of sleepless nights and even his children began to question if their father was sick. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. Patterson returned to Wiltwyck to train for the fight for which he would be paid $5,000. Floyd Patterson was an American professional boxer. Merrill, 44, her TV-and movie-acting fourth husband; after ten years At the age of twelve Patterson returned home a new person. Floyd Patterson and Paula Raymond had a relationship.
1951 was a significant year for Patterson personally because he met his future wife Sandra Hicks. The path was open to fight for the newly vacated heavyweight championship. Then, seeing that her little brother had followed her, she waved him up to the stage and began again: "Ladiees and gentlemen . He was twenty-nine, and though not old by boxing standards, he'd taken a beating. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. (b. He won two bouts in Stockholm, Sweden and earned another shot at the title against Muhammad Ali. DAmato was cautious as ever and did not want Patterson to fight Liston citing the ex-cons ties to organized crime. 
A devout Roman Catholic and staunch integrationist, Patterson vowed to take the crown away from Ali (who had proclaimed himself to be a Muslim, not an American), and give it back to America. Patterson went to P.S. WebFloyd Patterson married Sandra Hicks. to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. Southwater Publishers, 2001. Patterson, Floyd and Gross, Milton. What should have been his greatest professional triumph was spoiled by the results of one of the undercard fights. At 61 years old Patterson appeared to be the picture of health. D'Amato was cautious as ever and did not want Patterson to fight Liston citing the ex-con's ties to organized crime. After Ali was stripped of his title for draft evasion in 1968, Patterson lost a unification bout for the championship to Jimmy Ellis on 14 September 1968. Patterson also became part of an anti-discrimination suit against a beauty parlor which would not take his wifes appointment. But Patterson fought Liston anyway on September 25, 1962 in Chicago. Retiring to New Paltz, New York, with his second wife, Janet, and their three children, Patterson opened the Huguenot Boxing Club in 1973. Over the next two years, he bested twelve more opponents, knocking out nine. 1951 was a significant year for Patterson personally because he met his future wife Sandra Hicks. He eventually adopted Tracy Juan Harris Patterson as well as becoming his trainer and manager. Lagergren, Eric "Patterson, Floyd The withdrawn Patterson was constantly stared at, and was criticized by the boxing media both for his youth and for not fighting real challengers to his heavyweight title. An Illustrated History of Boxing, 6th ed. ." He retired permanently after this defeat, with a professional record of fifty-five wins (forty by knockout), eight losses, and a draw. He remained as legendary sportswriter Red Smith said, as quoted in Sports Illustrated: A man of peace whose life has been devoted to beating men with his fists.. Retrieved March 20, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/sports/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/patterson-floyd. Vernon, New York. During the championship fight, he also made Patterson a believer. (Alzheimer's disease and prostate cancer), 1966 - May 11, 2006 (his death, 3 children), World's Heavyweight Championship Fight: Floyd Patterson vs. Ingemar Johansson (1961), World's Heavyweight Championship Fight: Floyd Patterson vs. Ingemar Johansson. In January of 1950, Floyd Patterson won his first Amateur Athletic Union fight in the 147 lb. He injured his back in the first round, but continued even though he was severely hampered. He is most remembered for 1952 Summer Olympics. Patterson was the third of eleven children born to Thomas Patterson, a laborer, and Annabelle Johnson. Pattersons friend and former boxer Jose Torres told The Sporting News: I felt that he was having a little trouble with his memory, and people were talking about it all around boxing The fallout from the revelation led to Pattersons resignation from the athletic commission on April 1, 1998. ." Patterson fell to the mat an amazing seven times, but each time he always got back up. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. In 1976 Patterson took particular interest in an 11-year-old kid named Tracy Harris, who reminded him of himself as a boy. By the end of 1955 Patterson was fighting in Los Angeles and rubbing elbows with such Hollywood stars as Frank Sinatra and Kim Novack. He was a natural, winning all three bouts in which he participated. He died on May 11, 2006 in New Paltz, New York, USA. Patterson went to P.S. "Everybody Wants a Piece of Patterson." 20 Mar. D'Amato becomes his trainer, Enters and wins first Amateur Athletic Union tournament bout, Wins Golden Gloves Championship at Madison Square Garden as well as the AAU Championship in Boston, Wins gold medal at the Olympics in Helsinki, Turns professional and wins pro debut at age of 17, Marries Sandra Hicks for the first time (would remarry her later that year after his conversion to Catholicism), Knocked down seven times in three rounds by Ingemar Johansson, Floyd's career appears to be over, Returns to ring and defeats Johannson, knocking the Swede out with vicious left hook, Loses to Muhammad Ali in a twelve round bid to retain the heavyweight championship, Leaves the ring for two years after losing to WBA Champion Jimmy Ellis, Fights Muhammad Ali in what would be his last professional fight, Takes an interest in 11-year old boxer named Tracy Harris, whom he'd eventually adopt, Informed by Harris that he no longer wants Patterson to manage him, Named athletic commissioner of the State of, Steps down from athletic commission, citing memory loss as reason for no longer being able to fulfill duties, Moves permanently to his 17-acre farm in New Paltz, NY, National Amateur Athletic Union middleweight champion, Inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame. Soon the family had a telephone, a television, and appliances in the home where Patterson still shared a bed with his little brother Larry. Showing early the resilience he would demonstrate throughout his career, Patterson came back in a few months for his first amateur fight. In 1949 he began working at Gramercy Gym with www.imdb.com/name/nm0666206/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm, See At Wiltwyck he learned to read and write, and perhaps just as important, acquired the boxing skills that ultimately became the source of his livelihood and his fame. But all was not well with the former champion. Professional boxer * Eric Five-time middleweight champion of the world, Sugar Ray Robinson is remembered as the greatest boxer ever, 1954- Ali, who wanted to stay in shape for his rematch with Joe Frazier , agreed to fight Patterson on Sept. 20, 1972. Patterson called for a third fight with Ali, but it never happened. In January 1950 Patterson entered and won his first Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) tournament in the 147-pound weight class. For Patterson he would rather give up boxing than to develop a hatred for an opponent. (February 4, 1994). Learn more about the benefits of being (March 20, 2023). It was his wife, Sandra. "Without boxing, I'd probably be dead or in jail," Patterson had once remarked about his career as a professional boxer, according to Newsday. DAmato gave Patterson boxing equipment and taught him the rudiments of the ring, but his first experience at boxing was almost his last. Though Patterson did not believe he had lost in his heart, he was devastated. Encyclopedia.com. Awards: Received Setting a Good Example Award from President John F. Kennedy, 1961; Elected to the Boxing Hall of Fame, 1976; Received the Pioneer of Excellence Award from the World Institute of Black Communications and CBS Records, 1986. first fight was against his brother Frank, who was then the 160-pound New York Golden Gloves Champion. The family was impoverished. Top Heavyweight Boxing covers the past, present and future of Boxing's Heavyweight Division. He was a natural, winning all three bouts in which he participated. He lost a close decision to Ellis on 14 September 1968 in a bid for the World Boxing Association (WBA) title, a fight that many at ringside believed him to have won.
photos, 3. After Wiltwyck, he attended P.S. class. He was pummeled by his big brother, but overcame his fear and stuck with the sport. Floyd Patterson was diagnosed with the onset of Alzheimers diseases in 1995. Despite his new success and notoriety, he was miserable. Patterson, his second wife Janet, and their three children retired to their home in New Paltz, New York. When he returned home, Patterson was twelve and still shy. Then Sonny Liston , an ex-convict who was dominating opponents came along. Divorced. No longer champion, Patterson stayed in the ring. They divorced in 1969 when she wanted him to quit boxing. But he would get one last chance at the big-time in 1972. D'Amato carefully guided him through his career, but because of D'Amato's disputes with the boxing powers-that-be, top contenders such as Nino Valdes and Ezzard Charles would not fight Patterson. The two faced again in 1972. Among these fights was his first official heavyweight bout against Archie McBride. Patterson's father had died two days before, and he acknowledged later that he had not been at this best during the bout. Patterson's friend and former boxer Jose Torres told The Sporting News: "I felt that he was having a little trouble with his memory, and people were talking about it all around boxing " The fallout from the revelation led to Patterson's resignation from the athletic commission on April 1, 1998. 2023 