VICTORY OVER MYSELF

The litle strikes of the of the subject, for if ever a man had to achieve victory over himself it was Floyd Patterson world heavyweight boxing champion. This reads as stranger than story of a lonely, frightened, mixed up colored boy nor write, much less reason, who was ashamed of himself, his raggedness, his who tried to hide from his family and the After successive bouts with the police, Patterson was sent to a kind of the age of twelve, and there with some kindly direction, he began to find himself. He learned to read and write and acquire self respect. His tribute to these and teachers at Wiltwyck and 614 is very moving. Milt Gross has done a fine job with these early years; if should be useful to other teachers and psychiatrists and welfare workers, dealing with problem children. From this point on the story loses momentum, dragging a bit in recounting the years after Patterson gained recognition and an Olymple title, while he goes through his schedule of preliminary bouts. The interest up again when he suffers defeat by Maxim, knuckles under and has again to win ""victory over himself"", before he can prepare for his fight with Moore after Rocky Marclano's retirement. Then again discouragement and defeat by Johansson, which left him moody, his . Throughout is the thread of his tender love story, rooted in the when he first knew and loved the girl he married, the greatest single influence in his life. Fight fans will love this, but the Cinderella story is unfailingly popular and this should win wider marked among those who like biography.