IT TAKES years to produce a world heavyweight champion. Even the greats like Ali, Marciano, Tyson and Dempsey had to learn their trade fighting six-rounders in the small halls prior to them crashing the world rankings and going on to greatness.
So, whose idea was it to allow Pete Rademacher to fight for the world heavyweight title in his pro debut?
Well, it was Pete article from 1957, Rademacher, who had recently won Olympic gold at the 1956 Melbourne Games while a serving US Army officer, stated that “I thought my Olympic win would make things easier when it came to obtaining a good civilian post. But no sir! Nobody attached any importance to my Gold Medal. Then I got a brainwave. I would fight for the world’s title”. Pete organised a syndicate to raise the money and the match with Floyd Patterson was made relatively easily.
