Nov. 30, 1964 - It is gratitude to boxing, not greed for money, said Floyd Patterson yesterday, that keeps him in there punching.
“I have money, I am comfortable,” said the 29-year‐old former heavyweight champion at the ceremonial signing for his Madison Square Garden bout with George Chuvalo.
“Because of the last two defeats by Sonny Liston, I owe boxing something, more than I can pay back. If I am victorious against Chuvalo, then maybe I’ll get a chance to fight Cassius Clay [now known as Muhammad Ali]. And then maybe Sonny Liston.”
A little bulkier through the chest and shoulders of his gray hounds‐tooth jacket than last remembered, Patterson spoke softly, smoothly, and almost by rote in answer to a question people have asked since he was knocked out in the first round of his return match with Liston on July 22, 1963.
Patterson is scheduled to fight Charlie Powell in San Juan, P.R., Dec. 12. If he is victorious, as he is expected to be, he will meet Chuvalo on Jan. 29 or Feb. 1. The date is uncertain because the Garden is negotiating with closed circuit television concerning a possible theater showing of the fight.
For that reason, also, all the terms of the Chuvalo‐Patterson fight were not announced. It was announced, however, that Patterson had been guaranteed $50,000 and Chuvalo, the Canadian champion, $30,000. Ringside seats will sell for $20 each.
Chuvalo, a 27-year‐old boxer from Toronto, became a contender on the strength of a right‐hand punch that decked Doug Jones in the 11th round at the Garden last month. Chuvalo has a nine‐year record of 29 victories, 8 losses and 2 draws. He weighs about 210 pounds, and because of his wild and threshing motion, Muhammad Ali has called Chuvalo the “washerwoman.”
Patterson, however, called Chuvalo “durable,” and said: “It is a privilege to fight him. With all his ability and punching power he will give the public their money’s worth.”
Chuvalo was just as complimentary to Floyd, albeit not so eloquent. They need each other now — Chuvalo for a shot at a big money fight, Patterson for a heavyweight stepping‐stone to Ali. Talk of a Patterson‐Ali fight began long before the champion’s hernia operation canceled the Liston fight.
“Next, I want the rabbit. Floyd Patterson the rabbit,” said Ali in training, several times.
With Ali out of action and Cleveland Williams recuperating from a gunshot wound in his stomach, the only top heavyweight contender around beside Liston is Ernie Terrell, a 6-6 Chicago fighter.
Chuvalo said today he would be happy to meet Terrell if he defeated Patterson. Such talk is not considered binding in boxing.
“I know I’ll knock out Patterson,” said Chuvalo, “and I know he can’t knock me out. I’ll fight anybody. Just jingle the money.”
Chuvalo was asked about a press release that once claimed he was a “Canadian lumberjack.”
“I was never a lumberjack,” said George, “but I think I know where they got that. Once, while I was training for a fight, I went out and chopped down some trees. It seems the trees were on crown property. I was arrested.”
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