Former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson passed away yesterday, May 11
at his home in New Paltz, N.Y. after a long bout with Alzheimer’s disease and
prostate cancer. He was 71.

One of 11 children, Patterson took up boxing after a stint at a reform
school boys in Brooklyn. He went on to win a New York Golden Gloves championship
and then the Olympic gold medal in the 165-pound class at Helsinki,
Finland.

Patterson turned pro in 1952 under the management of Cus D’Amato. He fought
as a light heavyweight until becoming a heavyweight in 1956, when he wrested the
heavyweight title from Archie Moore and became the youngest fighter to hold the
honor.

He would lose the title to Ingemar Johansson in 1959–but he’d also regain
it battling Johansson again, making history for a second time by becoming the
first fighter ever to reclaim the heavyweight title.

In 1962, Patterson was bested by Sonny Liston for the belt, but he would
continue to fight professionally for another ten years, including two bouts with
Muhammad Ali in 1965 and 1972, the latter of which was the last fight of
Patterson’s career.

After retiring in 1972, Patterson served twice as chairman of the New York
State Athletic Commission. His overall fighting record was 55-8-1 with 40
knockouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in
1991.

As a tribute, SportsIllustrated.com has reprinted a 1992 feature on Floyd
Patterson by Michael Leahy. Accompanying the article are three images from
Patterson’s appearances on the cover of the publication. Read here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/magazine/05/11/060192patterson/.