Floyd Patterson was born on January 4, 1935 in Waco., North Carolina. His family moved to the Brooklyn, New York neighborhood of Bed-Stuy. He was a thief at a young age, and wound up in reform school, which turned his life around. He returned home afterwards, and excelled in high school in many sports.
Floyd began boxing at age fourteen, and in just three short years,, won a gold medal in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics as a middleweight. He also won the National Amateur and New York Golden Gloves Middleweight Championships. During that time, he was spotted by Cus D’Amato while training at the Gramercy Gym in New York City.
Under D’Amato’s guidance, Floyd turned professional, and moved steadily up the ranks as a light heavyweight. His only loss was to Joey Maxim on June 7, 1954, but rebounded right after. His skills improved with each win against stiffer competition, but his eyes were set on the heavyweight title.
His manager made those plans known as early as 1954, but it became more realistic after Rocky Marciano retired on April 27, 1956. At the time, Patterson was ranked by Ring magazine at number one as a light heavyweight.
Soon after Marciano’s retirement, Floyd was included in a six fight elimination tournament to replace the retired ex champ. He was now a heavyweight, and
Floyd’s days as a light heavyweight were finished for good.
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