On this day 4 December 1961 (Exactly 58 years ago today) Floyd Patterson floored Tom McNeely eight times while knocking out the previous unbeaten dead – game challenger in 2:51 of the fourth round of a free – swinging brawl to retain his world heavyweight boxing title.
McNeely also slipped down several times and managed to stagger the champion whose hand just about scrapped the floor in the wild fourth round.
It was obvious that McNeely, a 10 – 1 underdog came to fight. He went out badly battered and beaten man but the brawler who won the cheers of the crowd.
Referee Jersey Walcott, the ex- champion, counted out McNeely as he gamely struggled to get back on his feet after the last knockdown.
The 24-year-old challenger, unbeaten in 23 previous fights, drew an ovation from the fans as he left the ring. For a few fleeting seconds in the fourth round, he had Patterson on queer street but the sleek and fit champion snapped out of it and resumed his attack.
The champion, vowing he would be 100 percent better than in his last title defense in March against Ingemar Johansson, weighed 188 while the challenger checked in at 197.
Lamb Fought Like Tiger
Patterson won easily as expected but McNeely was hardly the sacrificial lamb he was supposed to be. He showed the Maple Leaf Gardens fans why he is known as boxing’s angry young man.
McNeely rushed to attack from the opening bell, shoving of the champion, but Patterson’s left hook dropped him in the middle of the first round. He was up on one knee at 1 but had to take the automatic 8 under the Ontario Commission rules.
In a few seconds McNeely was down again on his green trunks with white shamrock on the side. This time Walcott called it a slip.
Four more times in the third round and three more in the fourth McNeely hit the deck before the end.
Almost Nailed Him
For one perilous moment in the fourth, McNeely almost hit the jackpot. Patterson, tossing caution to winds, walked in swinging and McNeely nailed him as he came waltzing in. Floyd spun, dipped toward the ring floor and almost went down.
Referee Walcott said it was a slip and did not count although some ringsiders thought Patterson’s glove touched the floor.
Back came the 26 – year- old champion firing away savagely, driving home a stunning left hook that brought down McNeely once more.
Again, Walcott got a chance to count eight.
The ex – Michigan state football player hardly was erect before Patterson was after him again, slugging him into the champion’s corner where he sagged down and took another eight – count.
McNeely had one punch left, a long left that landed of target and Patterson finished him off with a left – right combination.
McNeely fell on his back, along the ropes while Walcott again started his count. This time he went all the way to ten with McNeely pawing and struggling to get up for one more try.
Comes Up Battling
If Walcott had wanted he could have stopped the brawl in the third round for Patterson was making a yo – yo of McNeely. But the Irishman continued to press the attack with determination every time he came off the deck and the crowd loved it.
McNeely bounced up at 2 after the first knockdown in the third but Walcott, made him take 8. A Patterson hook dumped McNeely again and he hung one arm over the middle rope, watching Walcott count.
When McNeely came up this time he turned wildman, rushing across the ring with both hands falling but so over – eager that he fell to his knees.
Patterson teed off with another left hook that floored McNeely again for 8 but he popped up groggy and took the count on one knee.
Just before the bell ended the third round, McNeely was down again. Walcott’s count had reached 3 when the bell stopped the fight but it was only the end of the round.
“I do not have killer instinct. I don’t think I need it.” The 26 -year- old New Yorker, relaxing in his dressing room after a ridiculously easy victory, paid tribute to McNeely as “a man with through courage.’
“I have more respect for him more than when I went into the fight.” Patterson said. “Each time I hit him, he kept getting up. He had plenty of fight, a lot courage.”
Although the champion was unstinting in his praise of McNeely, he let no doubt that he knew he had his man in the first round.
“He needs experience, Naturally, I was confident before the fight, but I figured I could take him when I get moving in the first round.”
“That Patterson can really hurt you with his left hand, ” said McNeely in his dressing room.
“Whoever tells you that Floyd Patterson can’t hit, tell him to see me.” McNeely added.
Patterson went down briefly on one knee in the final round and McNeely disagreed with reporters who thought the champion had merely slipped.
“That was no slip.” “I really hit him. “I tried to finish it then but Patterson was too elusive.”
By: George ‘Alan Green’ Mahamah