Pete Rademacher had a gold medal and a lot of confidence, perhaps too much confidence.
Rademacher, who died at 91 Thursday at the Ohio Veterans Home outside Cleveland, is best known for having the gumption to fight heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson in his very first professional fight on Aug. 22, 1957 at Sick’s Stadium in Seattle.
And it was entirely his creation. The former college football lineman at Washington State talked a group of wealthy businessman into putting up the $250,000 purse that convinced the champion to accept a fight that most observers thought was ludicrous.
The 10-1 underdog shocked everyone by knocking Patterson down in the second round but then things unraveled, as the bold, but overmatched challenger went down seven times and was counted out at 2:57 of Round 6.
Rademacher survived longer than almost everyone had predicted, earning him universal admiration. Referee Tommy Loughran, a Hall of Famer, said afterward that Rademacher had “the heart of a lion.”
And, heck, it was a hell of an experience for him. No other man before or since has challenged for the heavyweight championship in his maiden bout.
“I’ll never have another thrill like I had tonight if I live to be a hundred,” he said afterward.
For his part, Patterson couldn’t have been more gracious. “He has all the qualifications of a future great fighter,” the champion said.
Alas, it didn’t work out that way for Rademacher.
The native of Tieton, Washington won the heavyweight gold medal at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, knocking out Russian Lev Mukhim in the final match, but was stopped by Patterson and never really accomplished much as a pro.
He had a few notable victories – George Chuvalo and Bobo Olson being among those he defeated – but he lost to Zora Folley, Brian London, Doug Jones and Archie Moore and never again fought for the heavyweight title.
The Olson fight, in April 1962, was his last.
Rademacher would spend most of his life with his wife of 57 years, Margaret, in Medina, Ohio, near Cleveland. They had three daughters, Susan, Helen and Margo.
A family member told the Medina Gazette that Rademacher had dementia for years and that his brain will be donated for medical research.
The old fighter reportedly took great pride in his gold medal, which he regularly brought to events and shared with admirers. And he always had that special night in Seattle.