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Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson II

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Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson II
DateSeptember 20, 1972
VenueMadison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Title(s) on the lineNABF heavyweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer United States Muhammad Ali United States Floyd Patterson
Nickname "The Greatest" "The Gentleman of Boxing"
Hometown Louisville, Kentucky Waco, North Carolina
Purse $250,000 $100,000
Pre-fight record 38–1 (27 KO) 55–7–1 (40 KO)
Age 30 years, 8 months 37 years, 8 months
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 218 lb (99 kg) 188+12 lb (86 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition NABF heavyweight champion
Former undisputed heavyweight champion
Former 2 time undisputed heavyweight champion
Result
Ali defeats Patterson 7th round corner retirement

Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson II was a professional boxing match contested on September 20, 1972, for the NABF championship.

Background

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After his decision victory over Oscar Bonavena in February 1972, Floyd Patterson signed to face fellow former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden on 28 August. The two had faced off seven years earlier when Ali had dominated Patterson in a performance described as like watching someone "pulling the wings off a butterfly.

Patterson had been set to rematch Ali in 1967 but Ali's ban from boxing ended those hopes. The fight was pushed back to 20 September.[1]

The fight

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For the first two rounds Ali danced around Patterson, controlling the range with the jab, while Patterson found occasional success with a lunging left hook. Ali landed a flush overhand right in the third, while Patterson's hooks forced Ali to keep a tight guard. A series of hooks from Ali in the sixth caused swelling above Patterson's left eye which kept him on the back foot throughout the seventh as the eye swelled shut.

After the ringside doctor inspected eye between rounds, referee Arthur Mercante stopped Patterson from coming out for the eighth giving Ali a RTD (retired) victory.[2]

Aftermath

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This defeat was Patterson's last fight, although he never formally announced his retirement.

Undercard

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Confirmed bouts:[3]

Broadcasting

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Country Broadcaster
 Mexico Telesistema Mexicano
 Philippines ABS-CBN
 United Kingdom ITV[4]
 United States ABC

References

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  1. ^ Levy, Alan Howard (2008). Floyd Patterson: a boxer and a gentleman. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co. pp. 242–244. ISBN 9780786439508. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  2. ^ Staff, B. N. (2019-09-20). "On This Day: Muhammad Ali defeats Floyd Patterson again". Boxing News. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  3. ^ "BoxRec - event".
  4. ^ VINTAGE BOXING™️ (22 October 2023). "Muhammad Ali vs Floyd Patterson 2 (1972) ITV 1080p 60fps". youtube.com. Youtube. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
[edit]
Preceded by Muhammad Ali's bouts
20 September 1972
Succeeded by
Preceded by
vs. Pedro Agosto
Floyd Patterson's bouts
20 September 1972
Retired