Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson II

Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson II was a professional boxing match contested on September 20, 1972, for the NABF championship. It followed Patterson's victory over Oscar Bonavena in February 1972. The fight lasted for 7 rounds. After the ringside doctor inspected eye between rounds, referee Arthur Mercante stopped Patterson from coming out for the eighth round, giving Ali a RTD (retired) victory.^[1] This was Patterson's last fight of his career.

Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson II

Date	September 20, 1972
Venue	Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Title(s) on the line	NABF heavyweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Muhammad Ali Floyd Patterson Nickname "The Greatest" "The Gentleman of Boxing" Hometown Louisville, Kentucky Waco, North Carolina Purse $250,000 $100,000 Pre-fight record 38–1 (27 KO) 55–7–1 (40 KO) Age 30 years, 8 months 37 years, 8 months Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) Weight 218 lb (99 kg) 188+1⁄2 lb (86 kg) Style Orthodox Orthodox Recognition NABF heavyweight champion Former undisputed heavyweight champion Former 2 time undisputed heavyweight champion
Result
Ali defeats Patterson 7th round corner retirement

Background

After his decision victory over Oscar Bonavena in February 1972, Floyd Patterson signed to face fellow former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden on 28 August. The two had faced off seven years earlier when Ali had dominated Patterson in a performance described as like watching someone "pulling the wings off a butterfly.

Patterson had been set to rematch Ali in 1967 but Ali's ban from boxing ended those hopes. The fight was pushed back to 20 September.^[2]

The fight

For the first two rounds Ali danced around Patterson, controlling the range with the jab, while Patterson found occasional success with a lunging left hook. Ali landed a flush overhand right in the third, while Patterson's hooks forced Ali to keep a tight guard. A series of hooks from Ali in the sixth caused swelling above Patterson's left eye which kept him on the back foot throughout the seventh as the eye swelled shut.

After the ringside doctor inspected eye between rounds, referee Arthur Mercante stopped Patterson from coming out for the eighth giving Ali a RTD (retired) victory.^[1]

Aftermath

This defeat was Patterson's last fight, although he never formally announced his retirement.

Undercard

Confirmed bouts:^[3]

Broadcasting

Country	Broadcaster
Mexico	Telesistema Mexicano
Philippines	ABS-CBN
United Kingdom	ITV[4]
United States	ABC