Patterson vs. Bonavena

Love this fight. Bogus knockdown calked against Floyd who was a bit too savvy for Oscar. What a professional Patterson was. I had it close for Floyd. Terrific performance by the aging ex champ.

 

In the Bonavena fight, Floyd brought with him the same grim, unflinching , gritty determination that he displayed vs Chuvalo...and it's been said that Floyd was a better fighter after his first fight with Ali, but I think he turned the corner really after the Liston fights. Floyd clearly had a mission to vindicate himself after the humiliation of those two debacles. I feel that the first Ali fight was more or less an aberration, with Floyd's back injury.
As for the Bonavena fight, again, that single minded purposefulness, and effective mobility, something that he ulilized quite well vs Chuvalo, helped him, along with a spirited effort in outboxing Ringo, earned him a close decision. I must say, in fairness (so I don't always seem so partial to Floyd), Oscar's best days were behind him, IMO, and his performance didn't quite equal his more troublesome efforts vs Ali and especially Frazier. I felt the kd was debatable but somewhat plausible as well....considering those heavy hands of Oscar's. I was impressed at how Patterdspn outhustled and outboxed Oscar.
I thought Floyd also vindicated himself quite well vs Ali in what turned out to be his swan song. It was competitive until that eye injury called it a night for Floyd...and I think FP accomplished his goal of going out on his shield.

 

"Quote from Jowcol"
Green, IMO, intentionally head butted Floyd opening a nasty gash over his eye which Patterson had to deal with the rest of the fight. Then, in the subsequent few rounds, that ***** Green tried to rub his head against it to make it worse.
I still think that injury was what ballooned Floyd's eye and forced the stoppage against Ali two years later. Not that I think Floyd would have beaten Ali but he took Patterson lightly and was losing rounds and Patterson looked primed, at 37, to take their s c r a p deep.

It is entirely possible that Patterson, blew his nose during the fight after taking a punch around the eye. These kind of injuries happen if you do this. A few hours earlier, shortly after the weigh-in, his wife Janet, had chided him for blowing his nose too vigorously. Having done Floyd a small favour, 5 years earlier, I was with him in his suite along with Mickey Allan when this happened.
He had a party after the fight in said suite, but had to go to hospital to have the eye tended to before attending. I was with him in the lift in MSG as he headed for the taxi and will never forget Swedish photographers poking cameras in his face in the confined space.

 

I also had it 5-4-1 Patterson though the Ring covering it had it 6-4 in favor of Oscar. Floyd landed on big left hook along the way that didn't seem to faze Ringo.

 

I wasn't implying that without the back problem that Floyd would have beaten Ali, but it wouldn't have been like that prolonged torture seeion that he was subjected to...he would have acquitted himself better than that.

 

Bonavena had seen better days by then as well.

 

Agreed, the Ring writ on the bout said that "even in Oscar's unofficial victory he didn't remind one of his prime."

 

Quuote from Jowcol - Greetings and blessings crixus!
As an old schooler, it's always exciting to hear from someone who was there at the time!
Floyd was always my favorite fighter being born in 1953 and dad getting me 'into' boxing at an early age.
I didn't even know about the Bonavena fight prior; after Ellis I'd thought he had retired until I saw a picture of him working out on a 'heavy ball' a week before they fought and...I was pumped up all over again!
As someone who was around at the time, didn't Green screw his eye up in that one? As a youngster, it may heal fairly fast but...as an aging warrior, it can lead to a terrible disadvantage.
Thanks for your insight and for responding!

Just to make it clear, Jowcol, all of my comments were about the second Ali fight injury, blowing nose etc in hotel suite. Your comments on the Green fight are spot on. From Dave Anderson's N Y Times report ; The left eye bled badly from the fifth. It had been cut in sparring two weeks previously. A butt from Green softened it and a punch opened it. Green continued to butt and use his glove laces to worsen it. Later the same eye "went " in the Ali fight ; " he closed Patterson's left eye, which looked like a split plum." As to Oscar, a 7-5 favourite. British Boxing News editor, Graham Houston had picked him to win in 8. Here is a quote from his post fight report ; " Everyone knows Bonavena is a tough opponent for anybody, yet Floyd whipped him without room for argument."

 

Hey jowcol, we wuz born in the same yearhappy:cheers

 

Floyd has always been one of my favorites too,...the right Floyd that is...not FMJR,.....just wanted to clear that up.

 

:cheersYou too jowcol...if I had sat down to put the same thoughts in motion, I couldn't have done as well...it's like you encapsulated an era in a short post! Oh yes, I miss those days. With great excitement, I would make sure that I was seated in front of the ol' Magnavox at 5:00 on a given Saturday afternoon to wade past the 30 meter slaloms, the Preakness horse races, the downhill lefthanded lesbian Eskimo blubber slicing tournaments, and all other sports fluff to finally hear Humble Howie Cosell's magnificent droning voice intoning the event of a world championship bout with one or two of the great champions that we were blessed to see on free tv back in the glorious (they really were)70's. On occasion, there would be a double or triple header on Saturday night on ABC....oh man...thanks for reminding me of those times. Always look forward to your threads and posts in this forum (and man, are they so badly needed)....I have the same problem(s) with today's boxing scene, with the "12 round championship fights" and, multiple titlists, divisions, etc.,...just keep gracing us with you input...please.:thumbsup

 

quote from jowcol - The 67-68 elimination tournament?

Yes, I also enjoyed the tournament, wish there more of them. I remember the surprise of Bonavena easily beating and actually being given the decision over Mildenberger as I watched it live on a Saturday night on BBC. Other surprises were Spencer beating Terrell and the ease Quarry beat Thad. A sour note came in when Quarry was awarded the split decision over Patterson.
Interesting to speculate had it gone to Floyd. He would have fought Spencer next, and if he won, Ellis in the final.
Instead he had to wait and face Ellis and referee Harold Valan a year later in Sweden!