Floyd Patterson vs. Oscar Bonavena
Floyd Patterson 192 lbs beat Oscar Bonavena 206 lbs by UD in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1972-02-11
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
- Referee: Johnny LoBianco 5-4
- Judge: Tony Castellano 6-4
- Judge: Bill Recht 7-2
"Floyd Patterson, 191 3/4, said he was elated with victory but disappointed at his performance, after a two-fisted rally in the final two rounds earned him a unanimous 10 round decision over brawling Oscar Bonavena at MSG. The bout was marked by few sharp exchanges and neither fighter appeared in trouble, although Bonavena, 206, decked Patterson in the 4th round with a left hook to the top of the head. Bonavena bulled Patterson in the 8th, landing a couple of shots to the face of his tiring opponent. But Patterson appeared fresh at the start of the 9th, landing a body barrage and then scoring with a sharp left hook to the head and a flurry to the body in the 10th and countering a hard Bonavena left with a right to the jaw." -Associated Press
Unofficial scorecards
- AP - 6-4 Bonavena
- Ring Magazine - 6-4 Bonavena
- Ringside poll of nine reporters - 5 scored for Bonavena, 4 scored for Patterson
- Attendance - 17,958
- Gate - $232,510
- Purses: Patterson - $85,000, Bonavena - $70,000
- This bout was originally scheduled to take place on November 19, 1971. However, Bonavena sustained a broken left index finger in his October 4th bout with Al "Blue" Lewis and was medically forbidden to do any boxing for 45 days. Thus, postponing the bout.
- Bonavena broke the third metacarpal on his left hand during this bout. This was the third time breaking his left hand in just over a year.
Post fight comments
- "I think I won. I did everything I was supposed to. Patterson got the decision because he finished on his feet. I knocked down Frazier twice and still lost. You can't win." -Oscar Bonavena
- "I've been down before, more than any other man who held the championship. I consider it a compliment that I keep getting up." -Floyd Patterson