Floyd Patterson- a lot better than he gets credit for!

[ykdadamaja]

Youngest undisputed HW champion

He came all the way from being a middleweight

First man to regain the HW title

Smallest man to ever win the HW title

Gold medal winner at the 52 Olympics

First Olympic Gold medallist to win a HW world title...

Took on anyone who wanted to fight- Liston, twice. Ali, twice, Johanssen, three times. Archie Moore.

[Bill Paxtom]

YK-Dad-Ajama,

Floyd was a 'good man', and a credit to Boxing and Sports in general.

He was a 'good citizen', very humble, and not a braggart.

But he was but protected by 'Cus D'Amato and the Gang'.

Yes, he was better than he gets credit for.

[Beanflicker]

Floyd was a fantastic fighter, great hand speed, very athletic, and a lethal spring-loaded left hook.

[Master]

Floyd was protected and only criticism led him to take on Liston. Floyd was talented but not a great heavyweight champion.

[Beanflicker]

To what degree was he protected though? Was it any more than any other champ?

[Bill Paxtom]

Henry Cooper

"Floyd hit harder than Cassius. The man could really smack."

[Master]

To what degree was he protected though? Was it any more than any other champ?

Floyd beat Archie Moore for the title and then fought Tommy Jackson, who he had beaten just before he fought Archie, Pete Rademacher (first professional fight against Floyd), undefeated Roy Harris (who), Brian London (domestic English champion) and then lost to Ingo Bingo. Protected.

[SlimTrae]

To what degree was he protected though? Was it any more than any other champ?

King of the world by David Remnick is another book on Ali, but gives a take on Patterson.

The author starts off with he and Ali then age 54, watching the Liston fight, then it backtracks to the previous champ-Patterson and his trainer D'amato.

D'amato- supposedly lived in such fear he slept with a gun under his pillow- and he did all he could to prevent Patterson from meeting Liston. (this is according to the author of this book.)

he stated Patterson dealt with more depression than I could imagine- he quoted Patterson from his final knockdown against Johananson after seeing the actor John Wayne looking at him, like wow you got KTFO! That depressed the beejeebees outta him.

It appears it was only Liston he was protected from, but Liston was the man at that time.