Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson

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Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson
Date1965 and 1972
Venue
NYSAC and The Ring
heavyweight titles (first fight) NABF heavyweight title (second fight)
Tale of the tape
Boxer Muhammad Ali Floyd Patterson
Nickname The Greatest The Gentleman of Boxing
Hometown Louisville, Kentucky Waco, North Carolina, US
Pre-fight record 21-0 (17 KO) 43-4 (31 KO)
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 6 ft (183 cm)
Weight 210 lb (95 kg) 196+34 lb (89 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition
NYSAC and The Ring
heavyweight champion
Former two time heavyweight champion
Result
Ali won both fights via TKO

Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson refers to two heavyweight

technical knockouts
. The first fight was stopped in the 12th round; and the second after the 7th round.

Background

Patterson had previously lost his heavyweight title to Sonny Liston in a 1st-round knockout. In a later rematch, Patterson lost again in the 1st round. Liston later lost the title to Ali. Meanwhile, Patterson won bouts against Eddie Machen and George Chuvalo. Patterson was now the number-one challenger for the title held by Ali.

Fights

On November 22, 1965, Patterson fought Ali for the first time. Patterson lost by technical knockout at the end of the 12th round, going into the fight with an optimistic view. Patterson suffered from a ruptured sacroiliac joint in his lower back which greatly reduced his mobility after the first round.[1] Instead of scoring a quick knockout, Ali mocked, humiliated and punished Patterson throughout, before the referee stopped the fight in the 12th round. A New York Times reporter complained that the fight was like watching someone "pulling the wings off a butterfly."[2]

On September 20, 1972, Patterson fought Ali for the second time. At age 37, Patterson was stopped due to a cut eye at the end of the 7th round.[3] The defeat proved to be Patterson's last fight, although there was never an announcement of retirement.

References

  1. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  2. ^ Sports Illustrated, 13 June 2016, pp. 39.
  3. ^ Staff, B. N. (2019-09-20). "On This Day: Muhammad Ali defeats Floyd Patterson again". Boxing News. Retrieved 2024-01-31.