Floyd Patterson vs. Esau Ferdinand (2nd meeting)

Floyd Patterson 169 lbs beat Esau Ferdinand 174 lbs by TKO at 2:49 in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1955-03-17
• Location: Auditorium, Oakland, California, USA
• Referee: Ray Flores

"Flashy Floyd Patterson, the man tabbed as the heavyweight champion of the future, was over his first 10 round hurdle today after scoring a 10th round TKO of California light heavyweight champion Esau Ferdinand. Patterson posted his 21st victory in 22 professional fights Thursday night when referee Ray Flores stopped the bloody go at 2:49 of the final round at Oakland Civic Auditorium. Patterson, 174, kept the fight at a merry pace and actually appeared to get stronger in the later rounds, knocking the game Ferdinand from pillar to post from the 5th round on. He had Ferdinand, 169, down for an eight-count in the 7th and knocked him through the ropes with a right-left combination with 2:40 gone in the 10th round. The groggy Ferdinand crawled back into the ring but a merciful referee halted the carnage." -United Press

• Despite having had 22 fights, this was only Patterson's second scheduled 10 rounder. This was due to him being bound to NY boxing rules that forbid fighters under the age of 20 from engaging in bouts of more than eight rounds. Patterson had only recently turned 20 at this time.
• Attendance - 7,000
• Gate - $13,627.50