Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson
Boxing match From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson was a professional boxing match contested on November 22, 1965, for the WBC, NYSAC and The Ring championship.[1]
Remove ads
Background
Patterson won the world heavyweight title in 1956, and became the first fighter to win it back in 1960 (after losing to Ingemar Johansson in 1959). Patterson lost the title again in a 1962 fight against top contender Sonny Liston in a 1st-round knockout. In a 1963 rematch, Patterson lost again in the 1st round. Liston later lost the title to Muhammad Ali (then still known as Cassius Clay) in 1964. Meanwhile, Patterson went on to win fights against top contenders Eddie Machen and George Chuvalo. Patterson was now the number-one challenger for the title held by Ali.
Remove ads
The fight
Patterson suffered from a ruptured sacroiliac joint in his lower back which greatly reduced his mobility after the first round, and his corner worked on his back in between rounds to help reduce the pain.[2] Ali relentlessly jabbed Patterson from the second round until the referee stopped the fight in the 12th round, giving Ali a TKO victory.
A New York Times reporter described the fight as like watching someone "pulling the wings off a butterfly."[3]
Remove ads
Aftermath
In the post-fight interview, Ali praised Patterson for being able to take punches and said Patterson's age counted against him.
Rematch
On September 20, 1972, Patterson fought Ali for the second time. At age 37, Patterson was stopped due to a cut eye at the end of the 7th round.[4] The defeat proved to be Patterson's last fight, although there was never an announcement of retirement.
Undercard
Confirmed bouts:[5]
Broadcasting
References
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads