[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 20, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H4314]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2200
             IN CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF FLOYD PATTERSON

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to follow 
Mr. Hinchey in the Record because my remarks are about Floyd Patterson 
as well.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Marchant). Without objection, the 
gentlewoman from Ohio is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues for 
allowing me to proceed at this time.
  I rise today as well in honor of one of the greatest boxers of all 
times. Unfortunately, at the time of his death, we were engaged in so 
many different activities that we were unable to obtain a Special Order 
or hour Special Order to celebrate Floyd Patterson's life.
  Those that know me know that I am one of the greatest boxing fans. It 
is always a great opportunity for me to have a chance to turn on a 
boxing match any chance I have the opportunity.
  Most recently, in fact week before last, one of the young boxers said 
that he wanted to be able to do what Floyd Patterson had not been able 
to do, and he came into the ring and was able to win that boxing match. 
I think he did it in celebration of the great life of Floyd Patterson.
  Floyd Patterson once said, ``They said I was the fighter who got 
knocked down the most, but I also got up the most.'' I am pleased to 
stand here on the floor today to celebrate his life.
  As you have already heard, he was born in Waco, North Carolina; 
raised in Brooklyn, New York; and rose from humble beginnings to become 
the first two-time heavyweight champion of the world.
  You know that he is 1 of 11 children. I will not repeat that.
  He represented the United States in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, 
Finland, bringing home the gold in the middleweight division.
  He turned pro in 1952 under the management of Cus D'Amato, and all of 
us know what a famous trainer Cus D'Amato was at the legendary Gramercy 
Gym. D'Amato in the 1980s would develop another heavyweight champion by 
the name of Mike Tyson.
  At just 21, Patterson became the youngest man to ever win the 
heavyweight championship with a fifth-round knockout of Archie Moore in 
1956. In 1959, Patterson would suffer an embarrassing loss to Ingemar 
Johansson at Yankee Stadium that cost him the heavyweight title. 
However, Patterson would make a triumphant comeback and beat Johansson 
and become the first man to regain the heavyweight title.
  Though he was known as a shy and quiet man, he had what critics call 
a ``big man's punch,'' and in one match he knocked down his opponent 11 
times. He had a unique style of holding his gloves high in front of his 
face and leaping in with hooks.
  Floyd Patterson, as a boxer, was considered a small heavyweight; 
however, he competed against some of the giants of the boxing word. He 
went up against some of the best in boxing world, including Sonny 
Liston and Muhammad Ali.
  He would lose his title to Sonny Liston in a first-round knockout. 
Following his loss to Liston, Patterson fought for 10 years, getting 
three more shots at the title, but never regaining it.
  He fought Muhammad Ali in 1965. Despite taking a devastating beating 
from Ali, he lasted until the 12th round. Ali, who was angry because 
Patterson called him by his given name Cassius Clay, taunted and toyed 
with Patterson during the fight, peppering him with jabs and right 
hands while asking him, what is my name, what is my name?
  Patterson and Ali would later reconcile when Patterson approached Ali 
in a restaurant and said, hello, Muhammad Ali. They would remain 
friends, and ironically, Patterson's last fight would be against 
Muhammad Ali in 1972.
  Overall, Patterson finished with a record of 55 wins 8 losses and 1 
draw, with 40 knockouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing 
Hall of Fame in 1991.
  Following his retirement, he remained close to the sport, serving 
twice as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, and he 
resigned from this post in 1998.
  Patterson passed away on May 11 in his home in New Paltz, New York, 
at the age of 71, and as my other colleagues say, we join today in 
celebrating the great life of Floyd Patterson. A lot of us choose 
different roads to stardom and opportunity, but think of this, a man 
who was 1 of 11 children, who went from a man no one knew to a man who 
everyone in the world knew.
  So I thank you for joining me today in celebrating the life of Floyd 
Patterson.

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