Evening star., 1959-06-27
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW ,, FRANCE, ,1Apn
The 'Toonder and Liqhtninq'
By FRANCIS STANN

NEW YORK. JUNE 27-At the end of the second round,
Floyd Patterson returned to his wearing bemused
expression Gus DAmato his manager and Dan Florio
his chief trainer talked to him. The world champion had
the round by narrow margin and 1t seemed II he
could work on Ingemar Johanssons body.
Two minutes later, the valiant Vikings right hand
flashed like thick white serpent and struck Patterson
squarey between the eyes and the bridge of the
Patterson went down for count and only his marvellous
fighting instinct got him upout his feet helpless and
weaving toward JohanSsons corner Seven times in all,
Patterson fell to the and he might have got up
seven times too if Referee Ruby Goldstein hadn't
stopped it.
So Sweden had its first world champion in history and
q heavyweight ruler at that Ingemar Johansson Stool
underdog, joined only John Sullivan Jim Jeries and
Rocky Marciano as titlehoder who lost fight
the way up. The devastating right hand which he
stubborny refused to unve during five weeks Of training
but which the Swedes vowed toonder and lightning
knocked out Patterson for the first time in his life and
dramatically clinaxed Mayor Robert F. Wagners official
Swedish American Friendship Week in New York City.
1t also going TO make few million dollars to be split
variousy among such people Johansson, Patterson
DAmato the TeePrompTer folks and Bill Rosensohn the
unucky boy promoter who got his first break lthhour
reprieve from disaster.
HOW THE SWEDES MUST have danced in the streets
at approximately 3:45 back in their distant home
and And how they danced and howed in Yankee Stadium
at 1045 o'clock last night Now in Ingos dressing
room-the visiting ball clubs boudor normaly-and it
was such bedlam that the heavyweight champion
had to have police escort to take shower. Then
standing in of the king sized lockers with towel
draped him, the young man who had dethroned
Patterson held court against backdrop Of the Swedish
flag, gold cross against blue field.
"I was not surprised" lingo said quietly in his rapidly
improving English. 1T has happened before"
Did he hurt you, Ingo?" somebody cried. This ques
tion foolish quality Aside from couple of jab to
the mouth and few tentative thruss to the body in the
second round, Patterson scarcely muSsed his foe.
"I was not burt at all" lingo said truthfuly
"Why did you hold back your right hand so long?" he
asked Actually Johansson threw one right in the
first round that bit too high, else he might have
duplicated the oneround knockout of Eddie Machen at
Goteborg Sweden, his home town. last September IA.
This incidentally, the last time lingo threw punch
In real fight
"I was waiting" lingo said patiently, ITO see how Pat
terson would react to right hand"
****
NOW 1T WAS IN PATTERSONs dressing room, where
the pos-fght interview longer delayed First there
physical examination by two doctors, then shower
and change street attire When Floyd finally appeared
he too, sought refuge from the questioning mob in a
dressing cubicle-Mickey Mantles With DAmato stand
ing close BY the 24year-od ex-champion wearing again
his strange hasme softly gave his version OF the oggest
boxing upset in many years
Did you see the punch coming?" interviewer
shouted, referring the first right hand which really
ended the fight
So quietly that DAmato had to repeat it, Patterson
replied, mo- didn't it,"
when you went down, did you know where you were?
mo-" Floyd said softly. II don't remember anything
after that punch"
did you think the referee right in stopping the
nght?"
"I1l answer that one" DAmato interrupted. He
might have survived the round but criticize Gold
STEIN He justified. However, I think Floyd was
coming out Of it,"
Lets hear Floyd answer it," somebody yelled.
"Its natural that think I could have gone on,
Patterson obliged but the referee knew what he was
doing"
Did anybody hit you hard?
The faint smile played the. fighters lips.
Evidently not" he replied.
THERE WAS A CONNECTION when Johansson. with
dozen policemen blocking for him. came to visit Patter-
Both unmarked they smiled at each other and the
Swede asked
How do you feel?"
"All right" Floyd said
Good" lingo commented, and then he was gone tc
Join of the largest personal cheering sections fighter
Continued Page Ala, Col