1957 boxing remembered: Patterson beats Rademacher by sixth-round KO

Floyd Patterson defeated Pete Rademacher by sixth-round knockout on Aug. 22, 1957, retaining the world heavyweight championship. The fight took place in Seattle, Washington, and remains one of boxing’s most unusual title bouts.

Rademacher entered the contest with a professional record of 0-0-0. He was not an unknown fighter, however. The 28-year-old had won the heavyweight gold medal at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, making him an accomplished amateur despite having no professional fights.

His Olympic victory gave Rademacher the profile needed to seek an immediate championship opportunity. He had also won recognition in the Golden Gloves and the United States Amateur Championships before making the Olympic team. He carried his country’s flag at the closing ceremony in Melbourne and was serving as an Army lieutenant at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Patterson was already an established champion when the bout was arranged. He had won Olympic gold himself in 1952 and captured the world heavyweight title by stopping Archie Moore in the fifth round in 1956. His manager, Cus D’Amato, backed the unusual pairing as he looked for major opportunities for his champion.

The contest was promoted as a meeting between the world champion and an unbeaten fighter whose professional record had not yet begun. Rademacher’s age and amateur background made the jump particularly striking, while Patterson brought the experience of a reigning champion and a recognised title-holder.

The result gave Patterson another successful defence and ended Rademacher’s attempt to win the championship in his first professional appearance. It also placed their Seattle bout among the clearest real-life examples of a heavyweight champion facing a debuting professional.