1954-11-19 Floyd Patterson vs. Jimmy Slade (1st.meeting)

In a later interview, soundtrack to "Floyd Patterson fights I" on Youtube, a rather sad Floyd tells how this fight ended his "very,very close" friendship with Slade. They belonged to the same gym, Floyd had a car which Jimmy often borrowed. The day after the fight, Floyd called Jimmy, but Jimmy would not talk to him. (It was Jimmy's mother who took the call.)Slade never returned Patterson's calls.

"After 19 year old Floyd Patterson dropped Jimmy Slade, the 3rd ranked light heavyweight, 5 times in eight rounds enroute to a unanimous decision Friday night, Slade's purse was held up by Bob Christenberry, chairman of the NYSAC. Christenberry called for a hearing Monday morning to ask Slade to explain his poor performance. Whether Slade was worn out from his battle with 211 lb. Bob Baker two weeks ago in Philadelphia, or whether he simply found Patterson's punching too powerful, only he knows. Slade was down twice in the 1st round. He was dropped for nine in the 2nd, and took another nine count in the 3rd. The 5th knockdown came in the 8th. Some ringsiders thought he got hit with a right hand. Others thought he didn't get hit but simply dropped, trying to last the route." -Associated Press

• On November 22, NYSAC chairman Bob Christenberry released Slade's purse of $5,800 (including $4,000 of TV monies) after Slade convinced him at his hearing that it was simply a matter of him never recovering after the first knockdown.
• Attendance - 3,325
• Gate - $9,160

Post fight comments

• "With Slade's ability and rating, I was surprised at his performance. He did not fall from a punch the last time down. I don't need anybody to tell me something that didn't happen." -NYSAC chairman Bob Christenberry, after the fight.

• "I thought he'd be tougher. I was surprised I was able to hit him so easy." -Floyd Patterson