Floyd Patterson is dead at the age of 71

jimbraddock · Post by **jimbraddock** » 11 May 2006, 12:30

heard the news when i got on msn it said he died from alsheimers or somethin. but just thought i would let everyone know.

pundit · Post by **pundit** » 11 May 2006, 12:32

jimbraddock wrote:heard the news when i got on msn it said he died from alsheimers or somethin. but just thought i would let everyone know.

:(

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 11 May 2006, 12:57

have written less than kindly on occasion about this all time great sportsman because he put a beating on my childhood hero Archie Moore. But every word I have ever said about him both pro and con has been in fun and high spirited give and take with other "Fans" of this good and honorable fighter.

Yes I was a "Fan" though by my words up to now you may have never known it. He was and forever will be, a part of a golden age of boxing that is likely gone forever. If only a few men of his character and skills were to come up though the ranks it would not take long for a golden age to return.

He brought a unique decency to the sport and I will say that he was truly a "Champion" in every sense of the word. As far as him being a "Champion" he ranks with the very very greatest. I am sincere in what I express here and I am truly saddened at his passing.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 11 May 2006, 13:01

Very sad indeed, Boxing loses another fine warrior.

Rest In Peace Champ.

http://www.sportsartifacts.com/pubsipatjackson.JPG

Seamus · Post by **Seamus** » 11 May 2006, 13:19

REQUIEM IN PACEM

jimglen · Post by **jimglen** » 11 May 2006, 13:33

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/m ... index.html

A fine champion now he enters into the real HOF among lifes legends!
God Bless you Sir, see you at the "Pearly Gates".

Jim.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 11 May 2006, 13:50

EDIT

I think this makes Ingemar Johansson the oldest surviving Heavyweight Title holder.

Time just keeps rolling on.........

BrocktonBlockbuster49 · Post by **BrocktonBlockbuster49** » 11 May 2006, 14:26

today is my brithday may 11 i turn 19. but today my brithday will be a sad one, for one of the nicest, classiest and most skilled champions of all time passed away. YOU DONT MEET CLASSIER FIGHTERS THAN FLOYD PATTERSON! the man was a true champion and gentleman. i love floyd. RIP champ, we will all miss you. floyd patterson, one of the most underated heavyweight champions of all time. my father was ur biggest fan floyd, and it saddenned him when i had to break the news to him today. he broke down, he really loved u floyd. we all do. he told me to tell u he will never forget that left hook u landed on ingemar johannsen that left his foot twitching. he will never forget the way u smiled and went out of ur way to talk to him the few times he met you. I myself have heard nothing but exceptional stories about u as a person and a fighter. I wish i could have met u champ, i wish u a happy and peaceful time in heaven. floyd patterson, u are a icon to every boxer in history. every fighter wants to be a great fighter and a great person combined, u define that role.

ps we will never find another heavyweight with the hand speed of yours floyd!

love the gamble family

-KOKid- · Post by **-KOKid-** » 11 May 2006, 16:00

KOJOE90 wrote:EDIT

I think this makes Ingemar Johansson the oldest surviving Heavyweight Title holder.

Time just keeps rolling on.........

Last I heard Johansson wasn't doing too great himself either.
Floyd Patterson was a great fighter, but an even greater person.

-KOKid-

bill.lockhart · Post by **bill.lockhart** » 11 May 2006, 17:58

Floyd Patterson's death to-day is tough for me to bear. I know I am not alone. He was one of the most popular athletes in all the history of American sport. When he won, we were absolutely exhilharated. When he lost, we felt like we had lost too. He transcended the sport of boxing, because so many people really cared about him. A real gentleman. You will be missed Floyd.

Ambling Alp · Post by **Ambling Alp** » 11 May 2006, 20:59

This was sad to hear. In interviews, Floyd always seemed like such a nice guy. It always struck me how he tried to help Johansson up after he knocked him out.
He was defintely one of the good guys.

Expug · Post by **Expug** » 11 May 2006, 21:47

A good guy . I have always thought that his kayo in the rematch vs Johanssen was one of boxings all-time great comeback victories.He lost so badly against Ingo the first time out but came back to beat him in a way that a fighter with less heart and charachter wouldnt be able to pull off.

HomicideHenry · Post by **HomicideHenry** » 11 May 2006, 22:48

I know I have written some bad things about Patterson in the past, but today I will write some good things about this man, the world's first 2x Heavyweight champion.

1.) Fastest Heavywight champion next to Muhammad Ali
2.) Very great defensive fighter
3.) Getting up off the floor to win*
4.) Improved greatly throughout the years**
5.) Beat a vast array of great fighters
6.) Moved up from Middleweight to Heavyweight

*Though often criticised as having a glass jaw, Patterson despite getting knocked down many times, always found the courage or the strength to get back up to win the fight.

**In my personal opinion, Patterson fought even greater fighters AFTER his championhsip reign, beating many of them with relative ease.

In his 10th pro bout he beat Yvon Durelle, and soon after lost a very controversial decision to Joey Maxim---he then moved to almost immediately to Light Heavyweight and then to Heavyweight.

Despite being 2x Heavyweight champion, in my personal opinion, Patterson was sincerly screwed in his WBA title shot against Jimmy Ellis, in which he would have become the first 3x Heavyweight champion.

Patterson is one of the most under-rated fighters in the history of the ring, and should be given more credit. He is unfairly remembered for his losses to Liston and Ali.

ILikeBeer · Post by **ILikeBeer** » 12 May 2006, 03:00

Just saw this on the news this morning. Sad news. RIP

bollox · Post by **bollox** » 12 May 2006, 23:50

Another good boxing man down. By all accounts Floyd was a hell of a decent human being and he always gave his all in his fights. A champion in the game of boxing and champion in the game of life. Rest easy Floyd

kovit · Post by **kovit** » 13 May 2006, 02:39

Floyd Patterson was a good champion inside and outside the ring everybody will missed you. RIP champ.

hhascup · Post by **hhascup** » 14 May 2006, 10:26

I met Patterson many years ago. I sat next to him at a New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame affair and we spoke over 4 hours. What a nice guy!

I am the President of the Hall of Fame right now, but back then, Mario J. Centi was, and he called on Floyd to present an award to one of the honorees and Patterson turned to me and asked, what do I say. I quickly took him a side and told him and he went up their and did a great job. When he sat down next to me again, he thanked me. I felt so good doing something for one of the nicest guys I have ever met.

My prayers goes out to his family and friends.

Crease · Post by **Crease** » 15 May 2006, 12:09

Floyd Patterson was a champion of uncommon skill and a game for the fight whcih is rarely seen in today's boxers.

Floyd was a true champ, who took on all-comers.

LONG LIVE FLOYD PATTERSON!!!!

RazorKO · Post by **RazorKO** » 16 May 2006, 08:34

Spetacular picture of Cus and his 3 great fighters.

hhascup · Post by **hhascup** » 16 May 2006, 16:10

[/quote]That is quite a touching story. From all I have read about Floyd, he was a class act outside the ring.[/quote]

Yes he was, I was with Howie Albert last night as I drove him to a Ring #8 meeting in New York. Howie worked with Patterson when Patterson was the Comm. of New York. Howie had nothing but good things to say about Floyd.

He sure was a CLASS ACT, inside the ropes as well as outside.

THE DANCING MASTER · Post by **THE DANCING MASTER** » 16 May 2006, 16:22

Very sad news, indeed. A good, descent man in and out of the ring by all accounts. A local sportscaster in my city described him as a peaceful man who loved to fight. One of my most vivid memories of him is rather odd, however. I remember back in 1972 right before his second Ali fight he was on The Dick Cavett Show and kept calling Ali Clay. When Cavett asked him about it Floyd replied that Ali's mother still called him Cassius Clay and for that reason he could as well.

Okay.

Floyd Patterson is dead at the age of 71

Floyd Patterson is dead at the age of 71

Re: Floyd Patterson is dead

Floyd Patterson