Evening star., 1961-02-21
WIN, LOSE OR
DRAW 3, FRANCIS s7Auu
Patterson: Dignified Champion

MIAMI BEACH, FEB 21-The first time Floyd Pat
terson the heavyweight boxing crown 1t without
distinction He the pawn Of devious, bombastic,
suspicious manager named Gus DAmato, who never
allowed him to fight anybody Of note Some critics felt
he was the worst titleholder since Primo Camera
Now Floyd has become the only man ever to regain
the heavyweight championship. But he has more too
He rules now with mind Of his Allah be praised,
DAmato'S voice Is subdued And Patterson, once con-
sldered retarded kid, carries quiet dignity that no
other principal involved in the March Is rubber match
here has achieved.
Ingemar Johansson. who dethroned Patterson and
then knocked out by him, remains his old luxury
loving independent SELF The Swede S fresh off denying
that he was doped before the second fight The Kefauver
pcked up their ears after the dope" story and lingo
ran scared.
But his American trainer Whitley Bimstein instgated
the dope angle and the Viking went along with him.
Three accredited sports writer's listened to the Bmsen
Johansson tale lingo can't make his denial CT can't help
1t II the newspaper writers want to play around with this
thng stand up The best he do admit that 1t was
. publicity gag and dangerous one
ONLY PATTERSON has conducted himself with any
dignity so far. The promoters. who call themselves Fea
ture Sports, Inc, are feuding. DAmato, although his
wings have been clipped by the boy who became man,
Is no help.
d, The third fight between the Carolina-born Negro
from Greater New York and the Vivacous Viking even
has resulted in breach between Miami and Miami Beach
I'VE spent IS months building interest in JohanSson-
Patterson for Miami" Miami official says "Our deal
IL BOWL,
Miami Beach took it away from There it'll be held
indoors with a seating capacity Of 10000"
This could be the last promotion by Feature Sports
Inc especially Patterson wins DAmato doesn't talk to
Bill Fugazy. HE makes wish Jim Norris back "
ssys this bitter who fought Norris and his IBC He
will speak to Uncle Humbert Jack) Fugazy the old fight
promoter who the original piece Of
for FSI
To calm the troubled waters Humbert sent here,
but he vanished Roy Cohn the young Fugazy partner
who will be remembered the petuant associate Of the
late Senator Joe Mccarthy is written off here as cry
baby. "He adds nothing but tears, says the veteran
sports oracle, Jimmy Burns OF the Miami Herald
THIS IS NOVICE promotion Twenty-four hours
after the wire services carried the that Floyd and
lingo would meet for the third time (his back in
December formal press conference was held to make the
official announcement.
I'VE had to travel II miles from downtown Miami to
hear at the Tropical Park track what everybody
already knew" Miamian said 'They hold press con-
ferences everywhere but at Miami Beach and Miami to
release news that's already been in the papers"
Patterson'S camp" here Is viewed in askance by the
fight crowd Floyd throwback to the old fighter who
chopped wood far from the rest of the world His spartan
tastes well known To ready himself for title farce
involving Brian London he slept in the basement OF an
Indianapolis auditorium and ate food that cooked
hot plate.
London probably the time patsy, lived up pretty
good For the first Johansson fight Floyd trained at
defunct Joint called Ehsans New Jersey, where the
cockroaches regned supreme. For the return match,
Floyd virtually hid away at abandoned night club IN
Newtown Conn., which long since had given up the battle
against the weeds
HIS CAMP" HERE is at the Deauvle Hotel. In the
Napoleon Room the management quickly threw up ring.
heavy bag and tiny speed bag. But Patterson isn't
living at the hotel He fits from pad to another.
Segregation.
Originally Patterson rented house in Homestead,
80 miles from Miami 1t in white district. The
Chamber of Commerce okayed It, but neighbors objected
Floyd Cancelled.
He has checked in and out of many hotels here
that he's of mo address" When he announced that he
wanted house for his encourage large but not too large
See WIN, LOSE OR DRAW Page HIS