Floyd Patterson Dead...

[Gunny Highway]

Floyd Patterson Dead at 71.

Probably one of the most overachieving heavyweight champs ever. He was the youngest champ at 21 until Tyson came along (Cus D'amato trained them both) and the first heavyweight champ to regain the title after losing.

[youtalkfunny]

My Dad: "Floyd Patterson was one of the finest gentlemen who ever held the title. He had a glass jaw, but he was one of the finest gentlemen..."

[andyfox]

He was a good guy. I'm not so sure it was his glass jaw that did him in, or the fact that he just wasn't really big enough. I think he was 5'-11" and fought at about 182. He won his Olympic gold medal, IIRC, as a middleweight. Sonny Liston was just too big for him. Many old-timers liked Patterson because the next two champions were the mob-controlled street fighter Liston and the wild and crazy Muslim Ali.

[youtalkfunny]

[ QUOTE ]
Many old-timers liked Patterson because the next two champions were the mob-controlled street fighter Liston and the wild and crazy Muslim Ali.

[/ QUOTE ]

I suspect that's exactly why my father held him high esteem.

[Toro]

Reading about his death in the papers I learned he was managed by Cus Damato, who of course also managed Tyson.