Floyd Patterson vs Tom McNeeley-50th anniversary-Dec.4.1961

[Brutu]

This December.4th will mark the 50th anniversary of
this World Heavyweight Championshio fight from Toronto Ontario Canada
Floyd Patterson-Tom McNeeley
(back in the good oulde days when it was still undisputed)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nHYEwbmLXI0

[yancey]

This fight is probably the first fight I can remember happening.

Well, I remember the headlines in my hometown newspaper with the result.

Back in those days, a heavyweight championship fight rated big headlines on the first page of the sports section.

It wasn't long on skill on McNeeley's part, but I reckon the fans got their money's worth.

[Brutu]

It was the first"International" closed-circuit television broadcast double-header.
Floyd Patterson-Tom McNeeley from the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto
and the preliminary was Sonny Liston vs Albert Westphal from Convention Hall in Philadelphia.
It was shown in approx 160 theaters and arenas in USA and Canada,including some Drive-in's.
(and blacked out 100 miles from both cities)
I believe the average ticket price was 5 dollars to see it at a theater.
It was also shown on a Monday Night.
I remember that l up until the mid- 1970's, that some Heavyweight championship fights were shown still on weekdays on closed-cicuit, and even on free tv too.
(what was the last pay-per-view fight you had seen on a week day?)

[Brutu]

here is a link to the preliminary co-feature.
Sonny Liston vs Albert Westpha.l

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg8UJBCwWxw

[yancey]

here is a link to the preliminary co-feature.
Sonny Liston vs Albert Westpha.l

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg8UJBCwWxw

Don't blink.

[Brutu]

Milt Bailey(Liston's cornerman)once said that the hardest punch he had ever
seen Liston land was the one that knocked Albert Westphal out.
( Westphal was only 5 feet seven and a half inches tall).

[yancey]

Milt Bailey(Liston's cornerman)once said that the hardest punch he had ever
seen Liston land was the one that knocked Albert Westphal out.
( Westphal was only 5 feet seven and a half inches tall).

After the fight, Sonny renamed him "Quick Fall".

[Brutu]

It wasn't long on skill on McNeeley's part, but I reckon the fans got their money's worth.

yeah,between the two fights,there were 10 knockdowns in 9 minutes and 49 seconds of ring acion.

[Trouble]

I remember listening to this on the wireless when I was a teen.