In 1956 Floyd Patterson became the youngest man in boxing history (to that point) to win the World Heavyweight Championship title.
Patterson was on the smallish side for a heavyweight, and as if his size and punching power weren't already limiting enough ("How can this guy be World Champion?"), Patterson had an even worse flaw ... at least so far as fighting for the World Championship is concerned.
Patterson lacked the Killer's Instinct- the willingness to charge forward with urgency and finish off a stunned, back-peddling opponent.
In other words, once Patterson had thrown his hardest punches and had the opponent reeling on the ropes, he couldn't administer the final, fight-finishing coup de grace.
To be sure, Patterson was a good person and the quintessential Nice Guy in real life outside the ring. Trouble was, he was Mr. Nice Guy inside the ring as well, and sometimes it seems like he was reluctant to roll up his sleeves and finish the fight.
Which gave his enemy time to rest, recuperate, regroup and recover ... and come back swinging. And because of his size, Patterson was already fighting at a disadvantage.
Fighting for the World Heavyweight Championship is serious business indeed. Because there can only be one winner in the end.
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Not to pick nits, but Coup de grace is pronounced ku də gras. Not ku de'gra ... which means "to blow fat."
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