Heavyweight (>81 kilograms), Men

Pete Rademacher missed the 1952 Olympics when a broken hand forced his retirement at the US trials. Four years later in Melbourne he made amends with an impressive display of punching which give them three successive knockout victories on the way to the Olympic title. His rival for the gold was another big puncher, Lev Mukhin of the Soviet Union. Mukhin, whilst possessing strength and power as was seen in his victories on the way to the final, had a weak chin and had been floored in two of three preliminary bouts. Rademacher bulldozed his way to victory and scored a succession of knockdowns before the referee eventually stopped the fight.

Rademacher duly elected to become a professional and, astonishingly, was granted a challenge to world heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson as his first pro bout. Rademacher was unsurprisingly outclassed and knocked out by Patterson although he did score a knockdown of his own during the fight. He fought on, usually against top quality opponents, until 1962, and won 15 of his 23 fights. He later became a successful businessman.