Patterson VS Ellis

I'll probably be in the minority on this, but I don't agree that Patterson was "robbed." He landed the more eye-catching punches and did more visible damage, but he also fought in very selective spurts and saved most of his fighting for the final minute or 30 seconds of each round. I think Ellis edged it based on his more consistent workrate.

 

I agree with this. Floyd gave a good account of himself, fighting past his prime. I had Jimmy winning it though.

 

I have to give it to Ellis too. I would have loved Floyd to win, but in many rounds he "falls asleep" and gives away rounds he could have won with just a few more punches.

Woller

 

Thought Patterson won a close fight.

 

I saw it live (on WWS) and I thought Patterson won. He landed the most damaging, effective punches and I don't think Ellis asserted himself effectively. This was a case where the old "if it's close, favor the champion" took place.

 

There always needs to be three officials scoring a bout. Floyd got screwed.

 

Harold Valan, the referee was the sole official in this bout. It had been rumored that he was seen having breakfast often with Ellis leading up to the bout. This may have been innocent but an official should make it clear that he is completely impartial and not offer up something even remorely partial like that or the famous Roland Dakin 'thumbs up'. I always remember Harold Valan being the sole judge (which was the way it was done in N.J.) in the Ernie Terrell-Chuck Wepner fight. He scored it 7-5 Wepner and there was total outcry of the worst decision on the planet. I still have my old Ring mag that covered the fight and they scored it 9-3 Terrell. In a very round-a-bout way, Harold Valan was responsible for the whole 'Rocky' franchise. Valan scores it for Wepner, Wepner breaks into the world ratings with that giant 'upset', Wepner fights bums to maintain his #10 rating, his only fight against a decent opponent (Randy Neumann) gets stopped in Chuck's favor on a butt-induced cut with Randy ahead on points, Chuck gets the novelty shot at the title, Stallone attends the fight and writes a script - see the way it worked. And btw, I scored Patterson the winner.

 

Patterson bossed him the majority of the fight. I can't see how anyone would score it for Ellis, honestly.

I don't have my scorecard, but I remember Floyd winning by a handful of rounds at least. He whipped him. He landed all the clean, effective punches, marked Ellis' face all up, and had Jimmy neutralized from doing what he wanted to. Floyd was better in the inside and better all around.

 

I thought Floyd clearly won it.

 

Patterson won this fight.

 

50 years ago today...

 

968-09-14 : Floyd Patterson 188½ lbs lost to Jimmy Ellis 198 lbs by PTS in round 15 of 15

• Location: Råsunda Fotbollsstadion, Stockholm, Sweden
• Referee: Harold Valan 6-9

• Promoter: Edwin Ahlqvist
• Announcer: Bengt Grive
• Ring Doctor: Per Stromback
• Round Card Girl: Thelma Thenstrom
• World Boxing Association Heavyweight Title (1st defense by Ellis)

• Ellis was a 2½ to 1 favorite.
• This content is protected
• ABC televised the fight in the United States.
• Introduced in the ring prior to the fight were Harry Persson, Lennart Risberg and Olle Tandberg.
• This was the 109th boxing show and first world title fight for promoter Edwin Ahlqvist.
• Ellis was guaranteed $125,000 or 40 percent of the revenue, whichever was higher. Patterson received 20 percent of the revenue.
• The fight was expected to pull in a total of $400,000.
• According to the Associated Press, there was a crowd of about 30,000.
• The fight was held outdoors on a 50-degree night.
• Ellis suffered a broken nose in the first round, and he was cut over his right eye in the fourth.
• Referee Harold Valan, who was the sole judge, scored nine rounds for Ellis and six rounds for Patterson. He gave Ellis the first, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, twelfth and fifteenth. Patterson was awarded the second, fourth, eighth, tenth, thirteenth and fourteenth. "Ellis landed the most punches," Valan said, "and you have to score for the man who lands the punches."
• The crowd booed the decision and chanted Patterson's name.
• The New York Times scored the fight 7-6-2 for Ellis, and the Associated Press had it 7-4-4 in favor of Patterson. In a poll of eight ringside sportswriters by United Press International, six scored the fight for Patterson and two for Ellis.

 

Had it even after 12, but Floyd took the last 3.