Not much else to say. I think the best tribute is the fact that we're all thinking about how much he offered outside the ring, rather than remember him for his accomplishments inside it. He deserves all the acclaim for achievements in his chosen profession, but he never lost sight of the things that mean a whole lot more in the grand scheme of things.
A great champion, but by all accounts a great man as well. R.I.P. Floyd.
RIP Floyd Patterson
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Slapsie Maxie
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 794
- Joined: 22 Jun 2004, 08:22
Just seemed like a decent guy
For the 'gazelle" punch alone he will be remembered as one of the greats.
I watched the fight with IJ last night and THAT punch was brutal and the sight of the foot still twitching as he lay prone gives testament to how hard FP could hit.
Afterwards, because I wanted cheering up, I watched a few of Holyfield's fights at Cruiser.
Now, what a fight that would have been between these two at that weight
R.I.P
Two time CHAMP!
Slapsie
For the 'gazelle" punch alone he will be remembered as one of the greats.
I watched the fight with IJ last night and THAT punch was brutal and the sight of the foot still twitching as he lay prone gives testament to how hard FP could hit.
Afterwards, because I wanted cheering up, I watched a few of Holyfield's fights at Cruiser.
Now, what a fight that would have been between these two at that weight
R.I.P
Two time CHAMP!
Slapsie
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jamesmcdonnell
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 45231
- Joined: 12 Nov 2003, 06:11
Yes, I've seen his rematch with Ali, and Muhammad was losing that fight clearly before it was stopped. It was a bizzare stoppage too, Patterson wasn't even hurt, he just had some swelling around the eyes, and he was clattering Ali at will in the first 5 rounds. Perhaps Ali would have gone on to win a decision anyway as he was taking over a bit at the time of the stoppage, but I felt sorry for Patterson as there was no real reason to stop the fight.bennie wrote:I grew up reading about Floyd. This guy was special: Olympic champ, twice world heavyweight champ, robbed of a third world heavyweight title against Jimmy Ellis; in his very last fight he gave Ali hell at Madison Square Garden.
People often say Floyd avoided his best challengers as champ but that's bollocks. Cus just wanted no part of Jim Norris and his NBC, which was totally corrupt. Ask yourself this. Liston aside, who would have beaten Floyd? Cleveland Williams? Eddie Machen? They were good fighters, top fighters, but no way would they have beaten Floyd. The champ was too quick, too classy, too spiteful.
You know, Floyd could bang. He knocked Henry Cooper cold at Wembley in the 60's. His hands were a blur.
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ABA Boxing
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 772
- Joined: 16 Sep 2004, 13:37
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WildWaylon
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 3223
- Joined: 02 Nov 2005, 13:35
Your last words about him being a champ both inside and outside of the ring are so true and profound - They sum the man up perfectly and should be on his headstone RIPheadhunter wrote:thats awful news.
i just have this mental picture of a piece of film i saw and it was a press conference with floyd taking questions, he must have had a comfortable victory and someone in the press asked if floyd thought if his opponent wasnt up to much, floyd then spoke some very kind and wise words which ended along the lines of `even if he wasnt the most gifted fighter i wouldnt say anything bad against the guy because its not my style to say anything derogatory about any fighter`.
there followed a generous round of applause from the hard bitten press guys.
not many people can claim to be champions inside and outside the ring.