He looked incredible in training and his run to being a champion. His footwork, balance, speed, all incredible. It's strange that he gets a bad rap for the Liston losses. If anything those should boost Listons standing, not degrade Floyd. I don't think it's like Tyson vs Spinks at all. I think Patterson is a class above Spinks.
I can't say anything more than...Thank you Red! Well, yes I can. Childhood memories die hard. I've mentioned this before. After Uncle Ray and my Dad returned from the closed circuit Patterson-Liston 1; Mom said: "don't wake Brad up and tell him how it turned out"! (Dad had me a sports fanatic by age 5-6) He woke me up and told me that my hero had been stopped in the 1st round! I cried myself to sleep that night....
My all time favourite since I was a boy. Clearly remember how badly I took the Ingo, Liston, Ali (back injury) losses, but equally the elation after he knocked Ingo out. Seems he divides either those that appreciate his multiple skills and persona from the detractors who trot out their well worn comments. Olympic gold at 17 and first Olympian to win the heavyweight title. Still the youngest to win the undisputed heavyweight title and first to regain the title. Showed his incredible resolve by rebounding from 3 shattering losses to Ingo and Sonny to remain a top contender 20 years after his Helsinki success. Thank you for the excellent video, had never seen that colour still of him at start.
The fastest hands of any HW in history! To the comments of his staying at LHW? Couldn't have done it! He had grown into a 180 plus fighter before he beat Archie. For the next 15 years or so he was, virtually, always in that 188-192 weight. And packed a wallop that could hurt the 'heavier boys'. And never was face down against anyone! Interesting that, had he got the nod against Quarry in the tourney, he would have beat Spencer (no debate folks) and fought Ellis in Oakland for the tourney Championship in early 68 thereby eliminating the Ellis-Patterson Stockholm fight in Sept. of that year. He's much more deserving of a "3 time champ" meddle than Ali vs. Spinks 2. Had he won the tourney?...who knows? Perhaps a Quarry 3? Leotis? Buster? Smokin Joe? (tho that wouldn't have been a good matchup given his age). All time great, plain and simple! Next thread...what a gifted fighter!!!
Floyd is imo the most underrated boxer in forums, the only time people picks him in fantasy fights is against light heavyweights and even then, people are still overlooking him. He was pretty damn talented, olympic champion at 17, heavyweight champion at 22 years old, regained the title and was a really balanced boxer with speed, Power, head movement, balance and body punching. In his own words he was the fighter that went down most times, but he also was the one that got up more than anyone. He was a gentleman and a credit to the sport and people seems to forget his run when he tried to regain the title. Liston was the Tyson of his time and before the phantom punch and Ali himself, Liston was unbeatable.
Greetings bcr! Actually he was 21 when he dispatched Archie. A question to consider. How many HW champions, or any former champion, can you arguably say were better AFTER losing their title never to regain it? After losing to Ali in Vegas in Nov. 65, he took a hiatus; I didn't know what was going on with Floyd? Had he retired? Then, I picked up the sports page in Sept. 66 and, on page four, there was Cooper, face down in a puddle, with Floyd standing over him!! And who was the first person kneeling next to him making sure he was OK? You guessed it. I miss the old days when every combatant (in any sport) were humble feeling blessed to be in a situation where they could make an impact with a great effort, not all the me, me, me. I'm baaad BS! IMO every athlete now should study Patterson and realize how blessed they are to be able to ply their skills in a game/sport when there are so many others out there doing so much more for all of us in our society for mere peanuts. My somewhat limited $0.02
I remember reading an article about him many years ago, and the one line he came out with that has always stuck in my mind, went something like: "I could get hit hard and often in the ring, and the bruises and lumps heal, I can deal with this no problem, but if someone says something unkind or hurtful about me, be it about my boxing style or personality, it hurts me inside, it gets to me, and I dwell on such comments for ages after" A warm gentle man inside.