Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson
{{short description|Boxing competition}}
{{Infobox boxing match
| Fight Name = Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson
| image =
| caption =
| fight date = November 22, 1965
| location = Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
| titles = WBC, NYSAC and The Ring heavyweight titles
| fighter1 = {{flagicon|USA}} Muhammad Ali
| nickname1 = "The Greatest"
| hometown1 = Louisville, Kentucky
| purse1 =
| record1 = 21–0 (17 KO)
| age1 = {{age in years and months |January 17, 1942 |November 22, 1965}}
| height1 = 6 ft 3 in
| weight1 = 210 lb
| style1 = Orthodox
| recognition1 = WBC, NYSAC and The Ring
Heavyweight Champion
| fighter2 = {{flagicon|USA}} Floyd Patterson
| nickname2 = "The Gentleman of Boxing"
| hometown2 = Waco, North Carolina
| purse2 =
| record2 = 43–4 (31 KO)
| age2 = {{age in years and months |January 4, 1935 |November 22, 1965}}
| height2 = 6 ft 0 in
| weight2 = 196+3/4 lb
| style2 = Orthodox
| recognition2 = WBC
No. 1 Ranked Heavyweight
Former two time heavyweight champion
| result = Ali won via 12th round TKO
}}
Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson was a professional boxing match contested on November 22, 1965, for the WBC, NYSAC and The Ring championship.{{cite web |title=Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson |url=https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Muhammad_Ali_vs._Floyd_Patterson |website=boxrec.com |publisher=BoxRec |access-date=6 June 2024}}
Background
Patterson won the world heavyweight title in 1956, and became the first fighter to win it back in 1960 (after losing to Ingemar Johansson in 1959). Patterson lost the title again in a 1962 fight against top contender Sonny Liston in a 1st-round knockout. In a 1963 rematch, Patterson lost again in the 1st round. Liston later lost the title to Muhammad Ali (then still known as Cassius Clay) in 1964. Meanwhile, Patterson went on to win fights against top contenders Eddie Machen and George Chuvalo. Patterson was now the number-one challenger for the title held by Ali.
The fight
On November 22, 1965, Patterson fought Ali for the first time. Patterson lost by technical knockout at the end of the 12th round, going into the fight with an optimistic view. Patterson suffered from a ruptured sacroiliac joint in his lower back which greatly reduced his mobility after the first round, and his corner worked on his back in between rounds to help reduce the pain.{{Cite news |last=Decker |first=Bill |date=1965-11-23 |title=Patterson Refuses to Use Back Spasm as Alibi in Game but Losing Fight; INJURY IS EVIDENT IN FOURTH ROUND |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/11/23/archives/patterson-refuses-to-use-back-spasm-as-alibi-in-game-but-losing.html |access-date=2024-01-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Ali relentlessly jabbed Patterson from the second round until the referee stopped the fight in the 12th round. A New York Times reporter said the fight was like watching someone "pulling the wings off a butterfly."Sports Illustrated, 13 June 2016, pp. 39. In the post-fight interview, Ali praised Patterson for being able to take punches and said Patterson's age counted against him.
Aftermath
=Rematch=
{{Main|Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson II}}
On September 20, 1972, Patterson fought Ali for the second time. At age 37, Patterson was stopped due to a cut eye at the end of the 7th round.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=B. N. |date=2019-09-20 |title=On This Day: Muhammad Ali defeats Floyd Patterson again |url=https://boxingnewsonline.net/on-this-day-muhammad-ali-defeats-floyd-patterson-again/ |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=Boxing News |language=en}} The defeat proved to be Patterson's last fight, although there was never an announcement of retirement.
Undercard
Broadcasting
| class="wikitable" | |
| align=center | Country
! align=center | Broadcaster | |
|---|---|
| {{flag|United Kingdom}} | BBC |
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Sonny Liston II}}
{{s-ttl | title=Muhammad Ali's bouts |years= 22 November 1965}}
{{s-aft | after=vs. George Chuvalo}}
{{s-bef | before=vs. Tod Herring}}
{{s-ttl | title=Floyd Patterson's bouts |years= 22 November 1965}}
{{s-aft | after=vs. Henry Cooper}}
{{s-end}}
{{Muhammad Ali}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ali, Patterson}}
Category:1965 in sports in Nevada
Category:November 1965 sports events in the United States
Category:Boxing matches in the Las Vegas Valley
Category:World Boxing Council heavyweight championship matches
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