Evening star., 1959-06-26
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW By FRANCIS s1AAA
Kitchen Tested

NEW YORK, JUNE 2e.-The champion and his retinue
Gus DAmato, Dan Florio and Buster Watson-stepped
into the elevator of their hotel begin the journey to
Commodore's Century Room for the wegh-n ceremonies
Floyd Patterson looked If he'd just got out Of bed
He did" Florio told a newspaperman riding down
with them. He slept II hours just woke him up half
hour ago."
What will he weigh-lS2P" Florio asked.
The trainer nodded. Just about, I'd say"
mo-" Patterson interrupted I'm heavier. I'll be 1874"
did you notice the rain?" the champion asked.
yeah I don't care how hard it rains-from the
second round on"
This clearly admission that Patterson
anxious for the rumble with Ingemar Johansson and
wanted poSponement. Obviously too, Floyd didn't
expect to finish of the Viking in the first round.
****
WHEN PATTERSON ARRIVED at the Commodore
Ingemar JohanSson the Swedish challenger already
there. Both sat behind screens. Johansson
rounded by part of his renue, including Trainers Nils
Blomberg and Whitley Bimstein, Edwin Ahlquist, his
discoverer and Dr. Costa KarlsSon avowed opponent
of boxing who will work in Ingos and advise him
If he's had enough punishment
In the main part of the ballroom the two WELL -pub-
cized inspirations in the Johansson party much in
evidence IngoS iancee, Birgt Lundgren and brother
Rolls bridetobe Annette Johansson relation
popping eyebaS they postured and walked about the
roonful of men. very pretty pair of lles built Just
about alike nothing eSe Sweden sent two of the
bes-looking pairs of legs to be seen in New York Birg
poured into skirt that made the Marilyn
Monroe look like hoop skirts
An unidentified walked behind the and
nudged past Ingo'S brain truSters.
Are you 1ngemar JohanSson?" he asked.
The Viking nodded
81 have writ of attachment" sapping paper into
the fighters meat hook 1t in connection with the
Eddie Machen suit for breach of contract.
WHILE DOZEN OF THE Commodore's walters
gogged behind the SCREEN talking exctedy in the tongue
they brought from Puerto Rico Patterson and Johansson
kha;-
Athletic Commission doctor seeking privacy. beckoned
JohanSson to the Commodore kitchen for his physical
examination
1t private all right with only the bus boys and
chambermadS and walters and cooks present And while
Ingos pulse and heart checked, Patterson sat Ian
gudly in chair behind his while DAmato
held court.
SO last night at press headquarters couple of
these Swedish newspapermen said to me, You very
calm on the Of the fight Mr. DAmato' And I said,
Yeah, almost as calm Floyd Patterson"
Finally it came time for PattersonS physical, and
then both fighters moved the far of the ballroom
to the platform with the scales Those who
JohanSSon struck by his youthful appearance
though he the father of two by boyhood marriage and
at 26 is two older than Patterson he looks like
college fuback than the undefeated European heavy
weight champion.
MICROPHoNE WAS SET UP on the platform and
first the boy promoter Bill Rosensohn spoke gave
weather report and then Cahi on lend-lease from
West Point to head up the publicity, took for play
by-pay commentary. The old IBC did things on
this scale.
lingo weighed first and Cahill intoned: "Johansson-
1885,. This surprised nobody especially few who knew
that late Wednesday night Bimsen smugged lingo out of
his hotel room to penny scale and it showed him to be
1877 Either the Viking lost pound overnight the scale
wrong
Patterson proved he didn't know what he talking
about in the elevator earlier because he hit
photographers went to work. begging for smiles and they
got more than they bargained for Patterson who msers
his smiles caught DAmatos eye OCCASION both
threw back their heads and laughed heartily.
Cahill, on the mike right the job. WED like
to know, Gus what the laughing is for"
Il can read his mind and he read mine" D'Amato
See WIN, LOSE OR DRAW, Page D-3