Floyd Patterson (born January 4, 1935) is a former Heavyweight boxing champion who made history multiple times in the sport of boxing

Born into a poor family in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, Patterson was one of eleven children and experienced an insular and troubled childhood. A persistent truant and petty thief he was sent to the Wiltwyck reform school at aged ten, which he credited with turning his life around. At age fourteen he started to box, trained by Cus D'Amato at his now-legendary Grammercy Gym. Aged just 17, Patterson, won the Gold medal in he 1952 Helsinki Olympics as a Middleweight. Although a natural as a Middleweight, he fought Archie Moore in 1956 for the world Heavyweight championship left vacant by Rocky Marciano. He beat Moore by a knockout in five, and became boxing's youngest world Heavyweight champion in history, at the age of 20. That record would stand for 30 years.

After a series of defenses, Patterson met Ingemar Johansson of Sweden, in the beginning of what many consider one of boxing's most interesting trilogies of fights. Johansson triumphed over Patterson out in 1959, with the referee stopping the fight in the third round after the Swede had knocked Patterson down seven times. Johansson became that country's first world Heavyweight champion, thus becoming a national hero in Sweden immediately. Patterson came back and knocked Johannson out in the fifth round of their rematch, with what many boxing historians have called the best punch ever in boxing, to become the first man ever to recover the world's undisputed Heavyweight title. After the count, Patterson showed his concern for Johnannson by cradling his motionless opponent, and promising him a second rematch. Patterson further endeared himself with the people who had made Johansson their national hero, and when he went on a European exhibition tour after that rematch, he was greeted by Swedish fans, who were eager to shake hands, ask for autographs and take photos with Patterson everywhere he went during his stay there.

A third fight between them was held in 1961, and while Johansson put Patterson on the floor, Patterson retained his title by a knockout in six to win the rubber match. After one more defense, Patterson lost his title by a knockout in the first to Sonny Liston. The two fighters were a marked contrast. In the ring, Liston's size and power proved too much for Patterson's guile and agility. Patterson attempted to become the first boxer ever to win the world's Heavyweight title three times, but Liston once again knocked him out in the first round.

Following these defeats, Patterson went through a depression, often donning sunglasses and hats to disguise himself in public. However, he eventually recovered and began winning fights again, until he became the number one challenger of the man who twice beat Liston, Muhammad Ali. On another attempt to be the first to win the world's Heavyweight title three times, Patterson lost by a knockout in 12 rounds.

In 1967, Ali was stripped of the heavyweight title for refusing military service after being drafted into the United States Army. The World Boxing Association staged an 8-man tournament to determine Ali's successor. Patterson, in a third and final attempt at winning the title a third time, lost a 15 round split decision to Jimmy Ellis in Sweden. He used that new trip to that country to rekindle his love relationship with the citizens of that area.

Patterson went on, but after losing in a rematch to Ali for the North American Boxing Federation heavyweight title by a knockout in seven, he retired for good.

In retirement, he and Johansson became good friends who flew across the Atlantic to visit each other every year, and he became chairman of the New York state Athletic commission, a job that he held until recently. He also became a member of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.

Patterson lives in New Paltz, New York.

He had a record of 55 wins, 8 losses and 1 draw, with 40 wins by knockout. He once said that a champion should conduct himself as one in real life as well as in the ring.