Floyd Patterson, the first two-time heavyweight boxing champion, passed away today at age 71.
Floyd was one of my Dad’s all-time favorite boxers. I remember Dad coming home from work on several occasions, extremely animated, and making a mad dash for the radio. “What’s going on, Dad?” “I’m trying to find the fight”, he’d say. When the in-house radio didn’t cooperate, Dad wasn’t above going back out to the car, to try the receiver in the old Pontiac. His enthusiasm was infectious. If memory serves me correctly, I think I heard the match where Ingemar Johansson KO’ed Patterson for the title, and then when Floyd beat Johansson to reclaim the title a few years later.
My enthusiasm for boxing was doubtless kindled by such shared times with Dad. Today, boxing is a $50.00 per show pay-per-view overhyped spectacular, so I don’t follow it much today. But those memories of Dad are worth much more than $50.00 per match.
RIP, Floyd.
-k-
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One Comment
I agree with you. My dad met your dad many years ago and he and i consider him one of the best of the best. as your dad used to say ” i was knocked down many a time but ALWAYS GOT UP” my condolances even though they ar late.