Floyd Patterson was born on January 4, 1935 in Waco, North Carolina. His family later moved to Brooklyn, New York, an entirely different world from the country world of the south. After a troubled youth of petty theft and minor crimes, Floyd found boxing at age 14. Just three years later, he won the gold medal as a middleweight in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki.
Patterson turned professional on September 12, 1952 vs. Eddie Godbold, and won via 4th round TKO. He then won three more bouts to finish the year. Floyd also won all five of his fights in 1953, all as a light-heavyweight. He lost his first fight against ex-champ Joey Maxim on June 7, 1954, by an 8 round unanimous decision. Patterson rebounded with five straight victories to close 1954 strong, still as a light-heavyweight.
Cus D’Amato managed Floyd’s career, and knew that Rocky Marciano was getting older, and hinting of retirement. Patterson reeled off nine wins in 1955, but started campaigning as a heavyweight as 1956 began. Marciano did in fact announce his retirement on April 27, 1956, leaving the title vacant. D’Amato’s plan worked when Floyd was matched with Archie Moore on November 30, 1956 at Chicago Stadium in Chicago. Patterson didn’t didn’t disappoint by knocking Moore out in five, and becoming the new Heavyweight Champion of the world.
Floyd made his first title defense eight months later at the Polo Grounds in New York on July 29, 1957. Patterson stopped Tommy Jackson in the tenth, while tipping the scales at only 184 lbs. I laugh when I look at his size, but at the time, that is what a smallish heavyweight competed at.
Just three weeks later, Floyd fought Pete Rademacher on August 22 at Sicks Stadium in Seattle, Washington. The ridiculous thing is, it was Rademacher’s professional debut! That crap would never fly today, and it was because Cus D’Amato was protecting his fighter. He wanted Patterson to have as many safe fights as possible, without risking the title. Personally, looking back on boxing history, it’s as obvious as a black cat in the snow. Floyd was a good boxer, but far from belonging in any category that included great ones.
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