INGEMAR JOHANSSON VS. FLOYD PATTERSON II
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqor7PPpQhc&w=560&h=315]
Date / Location: June 20, 1960 / New York City
Result of first fight: Johansson TKO 3
Result of second fight: Patterson KO 5
Result of third fight: Patterson KO 6
Background: The first of their three fights was unforgettable. The then-champion Patterson went down a comical seven times in the third and final round in June 1959. A reasonable question was: How the hell was Patterson supposed to rebound from that? He did. A year later at the Polo Grounds, the quick, skillful former Olympic middleweight champion absorbed a big punch from Johansson early and then proceeded to break down the big Swede. Finally, after having knocked down Johansson, Patterson landed a left hook from hell that sent his beaten opponent crashing to the canvas. Johansson lay on his back motionless – aside from a twitching left foot – as referee Arthur Mercante counted him out. Thus, Patterson became the first to regain the title.