Floyd Patterson 1968/1969 ~ "The Boxing Press Wants Floyd To Go Away"

[Bill Paxtom]

Floyd Patterson

January 4, 1968

On his 33rd Birthday,

The Boxing Press was pleading for the former 2-Time Heavyweight Champion
to just 'go away'.

Floyd, with a record of 46-6-1 {35 KO's} still felt that he could make his mark
on the Heavyweight Division.

In his last bout {October 28, 1967}, Floyd had lost a 'controversial' 12-Round
Majority Decision to Jerry Quarry in a WBA Elimination bout.

Ring Magazine still rated Floyd at #7, and felt that the aging former Champion
could still defeat most of the Heavyweights out there, as many were either
inept of over-rated.

Floyd Patterson

I know the Boxing Press wants me to 'go away'. They say I'm a 1950's Heavyweight,
and an 'old school type'.

I don't bring the flash {of Cassius Clay} or the power {of Joe Frazier} that they want
today.

But I feel that I can still handle myself pretty well in the Ring. And even though I'm
33 years-old, there are only a few guys out there that could give me any real trouble
inside the Ring.