Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
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elmersalsa
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Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
On this date, November 22, 1965 at the Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, the flamboyant but not popular great Heavyweight Champion of the World, Muhammad Ali stopped former two-time Heavyweight Champion of the World Floyd Patterson in 12 almost one-sided rounds.
Ali at 23 years of age, knocked out earlier in the year in May the former champion Sonny Liston in the first round in a controversial fashion in Lewiston, ME. A lot of people that attended the fight, didn't buy that it was a legitimate knockout. The knockout was so controversial that former heavyweight champion Jersey Joe Walcott never again jumped in to the canvas as a referee for any other fight. Walcott, according to some, was incompetent, and that was it for his career as a referee.
Then, Patterson at 30 years of age, wanted to become champion for the third time by challenging the young and brash champ.
With a respectable record of 43-4, with 33 knockouts, Patterson had more experience than the young champion. But, he was totally physical disadvantaged in height (6'3" for Ali to 6'0" for Patterson), reach (80" for Ali to 71" for Patterson) and of course, weight (210lbs for Ali to 196lbs for Patterson).
Ali stopped Liston twice, Patterson's conqueror for the crown. Liston beat Patterson twice in one round. What now are the chances for Patterson to reclaim the title against this young, brash and fast champion?
From the beginning of the fight, it was a mismatch. Ali was too big, too fast and too strong for Patterson. It was a fight that one can feel sorry for Patterson, in which he declared to bring the crown back to America due to the circumstances of the times in which Ali changed from his original name Cassius Clay to convert to a non-popular religious nation called The Nation of Islam (NOI), led by Elijah Muhammad and former late Malcolm X that was assassinated earlier in the year 1965.
Ali replied, "The title is in America!" And he called his opponent "The Rabbit", just like he called Liston "The Big Ugly Bear".
A lot of people didn't like Ali's antics. And since the days of the great heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, Ali defied America, not for only racial reasons, but for also political, economical, ethical and social topics.
But, Patterson couldn't escape from the beating. In rounds 10th and 11th, Patterson a beaten fighter, wanted to continue. Even though he had back pain spasms. What a display of courage!
The referee saw enough. Patterson didn't know where the punches were coming from. Ali really whupped him ...Bad! Patterson couldn't deliver in bringing the title back to America and his dream of making history as being champion for the third time was vanished.
The winner by technical knockout in round 12, and still the Heavyweight Champion of the World! Muhammad Ali!
Ali at 23 years of age, knocked out earlier in the year in May the former champion Sonny Liston in the first round in a controversial fashion in Lewiston, ME. A lot of people that attended the fight, didn't buy that it was a legitimate knockout. The knockout was so controversial that former heavyweight champion Jersey Joe Walcott never again jumped in to the canvas as a referee for any other fight. Walcott, according to some, was incompetent, and that was it for his career as a referee.
Then, Patterson at 30 years of age, wanted to become champion for the third time by challenging the young and brash champ.
With a respectable record of 43-4, with 33 knockouts, Patterson had more experience than the young champion. But, he was totally physical disadvantaged in height (6'3" for Ali to 6'0" for Patterson), reach (80" for Ali to 71" for Patterson) and of course, weight (210lbs for Ali to 196lbs for Patterson).
Ali stopped Liston twice, Patterson's conqueror for the crown. Liston beat Patterson twice in one round. What now are the chances for Patterson to reclaim the title against this young, brash and fast champion?
From the beginning of the fight, it was a mismatch. Ali was too big, too fast and too strong for Patterson. It was a fight that one can feel sorry for Patterson, in which he declared to bring the crown back to America due to the circumstances of the times in which Ali changed from his original name Cassius Clay to convert to a non-popular religious nation called The Nation of Islam (NOI), led by Elijah Muhammad and former late Malcolm X that was assassinated earlier in the year 1965.
Ali replied, "The title is in America!" And he called his opponent "The Rabbit", just like he called Liston "The Big Ugly Bear".
A lot of people didn't like Ali's antics. And since the days of the great heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, Ali defied America, not for only racial reasons, but for also political, economical, ethical and social topics.
But, Patterson couldn't escape from the beating. In rounds 10th and 11th, Patterson a beaten fighter, wanted to continue. Even though he had back pain spasms. What a display of courage!
The referee saw enough. Patterson didn't know where the punches were coming from. Ali really whupped him ...Bad! Patterson couldn't deliver in bringing the title back to America and his dream of making history as being champion for the third time was vanished.
The winner by technical knockout in round 12, and still the Heavyweight Champion of the World! Muhammad Ali!
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elmersalsa
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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
Ali, at only 23 years of age, improves his record to 22-0, with 18 knockouts. He already beaten 3 hall of fame boxers so far by 1965: Sonny Liston (twice), Archie Moore and Floyd Patterson.
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Ambling Alp II
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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
Ali had also beat a way past it Archie Moore who is in the HOF.
He did not "defy America".
Ali's hand speed was unbelievable.
He did not "defy America".
Ali's hand speed was unbelievable.
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elmersalsa
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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
Yes he did. He defied America. He even called the white men devilsAmbling Alp II wrote: ↑23 Nov 2025, 18:26 Ali had also beat a way past it Archie Moore who is in the HOF.
He did not "defy America".
Ali's hand speed was unbelievable.
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Ambling Alp II
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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
Obviously, he wasn't happy with a lot of things that were going at the time. He loved his country though.
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elmersalsa
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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
I got to give credit to Floyd Patterson. With a broken back, he was still tough and taking punishment. He wasn't going to go down. But it was too much. He had a lot of heart that night with Muhammad Ali.
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Ambling Alp II
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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
Patterson did not have a broken back. He did go down once. He did show a lot of heart. Ali was just way too good.
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elmersalsa
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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
Why Floyd Patterson's seconds were trying to heal his back between rounds? Patterson was in pain. It is right there on the tape. I guess we saw a different fight.Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑26 Nov 2025, 23:49 Patterson did not have a broken back. He did go down once. He did show a lot of heart. Ali was just way too good.
But, I applaud Patterson for his grit and determination. He never quit. Even though, he had back pain.
Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
A sare back does not equal a broken back.elmersalsa wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025, 13:42Why Floyd Patterson's seconds were trying to heal his back between rounds? Patterson was in pain. It is right there on the tape. I guess we saw a different fight.Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑26 Nov 2025, 23:49 Patterson did not have a broken back. He did go down once. He did show a lot of heart. Ali was just way too good.
But, I applaud Patterson for his grit and determination. He never quit. Even though, he had back pain.
WTF.
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elmersalsa
- Heavyweight

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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
Something was wrong with him, right?p4p1 wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025, 20:52A sare back does not equal a broken back.elmersalsa wrote: ↑27 Nov 2025, 13:42Why Floyd Patterson's seconds were trying to heal his back between rounds? Patterson was in pain. It is right there on the tape. I guess we saw a different fight.Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑26 Nov 2025, 23:49 Patterson did not have a broken back. He did go down once. He did show a lot of heart. Ali was just way too good.
But, I applaud Patterson for his grit and determination. He never quit. Even though, he had back pain.
WTF.
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Ambling Alp II
- Super Middleweight
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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
He hurt his back. He did not have broken back. That is a huge difference.
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elmersalsa
- Heavyweight

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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
Well, something was wrong with him. Right? Broken back or back pain, that's what I meant.Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025, 14:13 He hurt his back. He did not have broken back. That is a huge difference.
So, there was not a possibility that his back was broken?
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BroughtonRulesRefuge
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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
elmersalsa wrote: ↑22 Nov 2025, 10:52 On this date, November 22, 1965 at the Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV, the flamboyant but not popular great Heavyweight Champion of the World, Muhammad Ali stopped former two-time Heavyweight Champion of the World Floyd Patterson in 12 almost one-sided rounds.
Ali at 23 years of age, knocked out earlier in the year in May the former champion Sonny Liston in the first round in a controversial fashion in Lewiston, ME. A lot of people that attended the fight, didn't buy that it was a legitimate knockout. The knockout was so controversial that former heavyweight champion Jersey Joe Walcott never again jumped in to the canvas as a referee for any other fight. Walcott, according to some, was incompetent, and that was it for his career as a referee.
Then, Patterson at 30 years of age, wanted to become champion for the third time by challenging the young and brash champ.
With a respectable record of 43-4, with 33 knockouts, Patterson had more experience than the young champion. But, he was totally physical disadvantaged in height (6'3" for Ali to 6'0" for Patterson), reach (80" for Ali to 71" for Patterson) and of course, weight (210lbs for Ali to 196lbs for Patterson).
Ali stopped Liston twice, Patterson's conqueror for the crown. Liston beat Patterson twice in one round. What now are the chances for Patterson to reclaim the title against this young, brash and fast champion?
From the beginning of the fight, it was a mismatch. Ali was too big, too fast and too strong for Patterson. It was a fight that one can feel sorry for Patterson, in which he declared to bring the crown back to America due to the circumstances of the times in which Ali changed from his original name Cassius Clay to convert to a non-popular religious nation called The Nation of Islam (NOI), led by Elijah Muhammad and former late Malcolm X that was assassinated earlier in the year 1965.
Ali replied, "The title is in America!" And he called his opponent "The Rabbit", just like he called Liston "The Big Ugly Bear".
A lot of people didn't like Ali's antics. And since the days of the great heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, Ali defied America, not for only racial reasons, but for also political, economical, ethical and social topics.
But, Patterson couldn't escape from the beating. In rounds 10th and 11th, Patterson a beaten fighter, wanted to continue. Even though he had back pain spasms. What a display of courage!
The referee saw enough. Patterson didn't know where the punches were coming from. Ali really whupped him ...Bad! Patterson couldn't deliver in bringing the title back to America and his dream of making history as being champion for the third time was vanished.
The winner by technical knockout in round 12, and still the Heavyweight Champion of the World! Muhammad Ali!
- Now Elmo, there you go again. The fight was a joke with Floyd's trainer having to crack his back to put him out for a beating.
I could've beat that Floyd from 15 years old and beyond just like I could've done to the wasted Ali that tubby Lar fought.
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Ambling Alp II
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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
He injured his back during the fight and he was in pain. He would have lost easily anyway.elmersalsa wrote: ↑29 Nov 2025, 13:31Well, something was wrong with him. Right? Broken back or back pain, that's what I meant.Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025, 14:13 He hurt his back. He did not have broken back. That is a huge difference.
So, there was not a possibility that his back was broken?
No, it is not a possibility that he broke his back. He was examined after the fight.
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elmersalsa
- Heavyweight

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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
The point was, something was wrong physically with him during the fight. That is a fact.Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑30 Nov 2025, 16:02He injured his back during the fight and he was in pain. He would have lost easily anyway.elmersalsa wrote: ↑29 Nov 2025, 13:31Well, something was wrong with him. Right? Broken back or back pain, that's what I meant.Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025, 14:13 He hurt his back. He did not have broken back. That is a huge difference.
So, there was not a possibility that his back was broken?
No, it is not a possibility that he broke his back. He was examined after the fight.
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Ambling Alp II
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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
Yes, there was something physically wrong with him during the fight.
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elmersalsa
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Re: Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson (I): 60 Years Ago.
Thank you.Ambling Alp II wrote: ↑02 Dec 2025, 18:27 Yes, there was something physically wrong with him during the fight.