Kayoed for life...

by Elmo Leonard

In the past two weeks, newspapers around the world carried pictures of Floyd Patterson, the former heavyweight boxing champion who passed away aged 71. Most old people could be deceived into thinking that this picture is another of Floyd Patterson, but it is a photograph of Floyd's brother, Raymond, or Ray Patterson, who was also a heavyweight boxer.

The caption of this picture datelined Berlin, October 6 1965 reads: "Counted out in the fifth round was American heavyweight Ray Patterson (R) in his recent Berlin fight against the former German heavyweight champion Albert Westphal. Westphal put his opponent, brother of former world champion Floyd Patterson, down with a hard right. The American was up at six, but was so groggy that the referee counted on to nine, and then stopped the fight."

Another report coming from Finland, dated, December 7, 1966 says: Patterson (Jnr) kayoed West Indian boxer: "Ray Patterson younger brother of the famous champion Floyd Patterson, knocked out Ireno Werleman of the West Indies in the third round of an eight-round bout at the first Pro-Boxing Gala of the South-Western Finnish city... "Ray (at 88 kilos) hit the West Indian (86.2 kilos) with a left hook and continued with a hard right at the cheek to floor Werleman."

Another report from London, on December 7, 1966 says: "Bill Walker, a top contender for the British Heavyweight boxing title beat American Ray Patterson, younger brother of former world champion Floyd Patterson, here tonight.

"Walker, the "Golden Boy" of British boxing won when the referee stopped the scheduled ten-round fight in the eighth.

"Walker took heavy punishment during the early rounds, but Patterson began to tire in the sixth. Walker launched a savage attack in the seventh round which ended with Patterson losing two of his teeth.

"Walker who had taken a one-second count in the fourth, hammered a now defenceless Patterson into submission after one minute 45 seconds of the eighty round..."

Sri Lankan boxing fans have seen Floyd Patterson in films and Ray Pattersons in photographs. Floyd was very much more skilful than Ray. But, whenever Ray fought (lesser opponents than his brother) the newspapers carried pictures and articles of Patterson Junior. In like vein, Mohammed Ali, arguably the greatest heavyweight boxing champion of the world has a younger brother called Rudolph Clay (Ali was earlier Cassius Clay). Rudolph was also a heavyweight boxer.

Floyd and Ali were often pictured hugging their brothers during training sessions and in public places. Ali, at the beginning of his reign as the heavyweight champion once said that he would step down and make way for his brother Rudolph to take over the title. But, that was just another of Mohammed Ali's publicity stunts to sell tickets for his next fight.

Ali wanted his fans to think that he would retire shortly. So the demand and price for tickets for his next boxing match went up. Rudolph Clay fought lesser opponents than Ray did.