Editing Floyd Patterson (section)

==== Muhammad Ali ====
{{Main|Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson}}

Patterson was now the number-one challenger for the title held by [[Muhammad Ali]]. On November 22, 1965, in Las Vegas, in yet another attempt to be the first to win the world heavyweight title three times, he went into the fight with an injured [[Sacroiliac joint|sacro{{shy}}iliac joint]] which worsened after the first round and greatly reduced his mobility in a bout in which Ali was clearly dominant.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2006-05-11-floyd-patterson-obit_x.htm |work=USA Today |title=Ex-heavyweight boxer Floyd Patterson, 71, dies |first=Chuck |last=Johnson |date=2006-05-11 |access-date=2010-05-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/11/23/archives/patterson-refuses-to-use-back-spasm-as-alibi-in-game-but-losing.html | title=Patterson Refuses to Use Back Spasm as Alibi in Game but Losing Fight; INJURY IS EVIDENT IN FOURTH ROUND | work=The New York Times | date=23 November 1965 | last1=Decker | first1=Bill }}</ref> Ali called Patterson an "Uncle Tom" for refusing to call him Muhammad Ali (Patterson continued to call him Cassius Clay) and for his outspokenness against black Muslims.<ref>Hauser, Thomas (November 2, 2003) [https://web.archive.org/web/20070316002449/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,1072751,00.html Ali: The Legacy]. ''The Guardian''</ref> Before the match, Patterson had said:

<blockquote>"This fight is a crusade to reclaim the title from the Black Muslims. As a Catholic, I am fighting Clay as a patriotic duty. I am going to return the crown to America."</blockquote>

Ali hit Patterson repeatedly with jabs from the second round until the referee stopped the fight in the 12th round.<ref>Schwartz, Larry [https://www.espn.com/sportscentury/features/00242468.html A Great Champion]. ESPN.com.</ref><ref>[https://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Muhammad_Ali_vs._Floyd_Patterson Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson]. Boxrec</ref> In the post-fight interview, Ali praised Patterson for being able to take punches and said Patterson's age counted against him.