Monday, Dec. 25, 2006
Floyd Patterson
Two-time heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson was almost too nice a man to be in a sport that at times can be brutal. Sensitive to a fault, he donned a disguise to hide his shame after being knocked out by Sonny Liston in defense of his crown and cared enough to pick up fallen opponents and help them back to their corners. Once I asked him if he knew he had been knocked down more times than any other boxer in history. He mildly answered, "Yes, but I got up more times than anyone." A gentle man and a gentleman, Floyd Patterson ennobled the sport of boxing.
Sugar is a boxing historian and co-author of Patterson's book Basic Boxing Skills