Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson II

Muhammad Ali vs. Floyd Patterson II was a professional boxing match contested on September 20, 1972, for the NABF championship.

Background
After his decision victory over Oscar Bonavena in February 1972, Floyd Patterson signed to face fellow former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden on 28 August. The two had faced off seven years earlier when Ali had dominated Patterson in a performance described as like watching someone "pulling the wings off a butterfly.

Patterson had been set to rematch Ali in 1967 but Ali's ban from boxing ended those hopes. The fight was pushed back to 20 September.

The fight
For the first two rounds Ali danced around Patterson, controlling the range with the jab, while Patterson found occasional success with a lunging left hook. Ali landed a flush overhand right in the third, while Patterson's hooks forced Ali to keep a tight guard. A series of hooks from Ali in the sixth caused swelling above Patterson's left eye which kept him on the back foot throughout the seventh as the eye swelled shut.

After the ringside doctor inspected eye between rounds, referee Arthur Mercante stopped Patterson from coming out for the eighth giving Ali a RTD (retired) victory.

Aftermath
This defeat was Patterson's last fight, although he never formally announced his retirement.

Undercard
Confirmed bouts: