Floyd Patterson

Floyd Patterson was an American boxer and 1952 Olympic gold medalist who became the youngest heavyweight champion and the first to regain the title.

Floyd Patterson was born on 4 January 1935 in Waco, North Carolina, and turned professional in 1952 after winning a gold medal at middleweight at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He developed a peekaboo defensive style under legendary trainer Cus D'Amato, who would later mentor Mike Tyson using similar principles. Patterson made history on 30 November 1956, defeating Archie Moore to win the vacant world heavyweight championship at just 21 years and 331 days old, becoming, at the time, the youngest heavyweight champion in history. He lost the title to Ingemar Johansson in 1959, but became the first heavyweight in history to regain the championship, defeating Johansson in a 1960 rematch with a devastating fifth-round knockout. Patterson, nicknamed "The Gentleman of Boxing" for his soft-spoken, humble demeanour outside the ring, lost his title for good to the fearsome Sonny Liston in 1962, suffering a first-round knockout, and was knocked out again in their 1963 rematch. He continued challenging for the title throughout the 1960s, including two unsuccessful attempts against Muhammad Ali. Patterson retired in 1972 with a professional record of 55 wins, eight losses, and one draw, and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He later served as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, remaining a respected figure in the sport until his death on 11 May 2006, at age 71.

Quick, mobile, peek-a-boo defensive style with fast combinations

Pioneer heavyweight who broke age barriers and showed class in defeat

• 1952 Olympic gold medal
• International Boxing Hall of Fame