Patterson, Floyd (1935– )

US boxer. The first person to regain the world heavyweight title, he was champion from 1956 to 1959 and from 1960 to 1962. He was a brilliant boxer, though at 82 kg/13 stone he was too light to match the heavier fighters.

Career highlights

Professional record (1952–72) fights: 64; wins: 55 (40 inside the distance); draws: 1; defeats: 8

Olympic Games gold middleweight 1952

World heavyweight champion 1956–59, 1960–62

Outstanding as an amateur, he turned professional after winning the middleweight gold medal at the 1952 Olympics. Moving up to heavyweight via light-heavyweight, in 1956 he defeated Archie Moore to become at 21 years 10 months the youngest world heavyweight champion ever until Mike Tyson won the World Boxing Council (WBC) version of the title in 1987 at the age of 20. Patterson defended the title successfully four times before being beaten by Sweden's Ingemar Johansson in November 1959. Seven months later, however, he knocked out Johansson in a rematch to become the first fighter to regain the world heavyweight title. He finally lost the championship to Sonny Liston in a one-round fight in 1962. Unsuccessful in three further attempts at the world title, he retired in 1972.