The Adopted Son Is Still Seeking His Father’s Fame

The bob-and-weave style remains. So does the surname.

Yet, little else remains of the bond between Floyd Patterson, former two-time heavyweight champion, and the adopted son he took from the streets and trained to become world champion.

Tracy Harris Patterson, an aimless 11-year-old when he first wandered into Floyd’s gym in New Paltz, N.Y., has not spoken with his father in more than two years.

Only briefly have the Pattersons conversed since Tracy, then the former World Boxing Council junior featherweight champion, left Floyd’s camp in 1994 in search of a “new direction” in his career.

Tracy, who will fight little-known Manuel Chavez-Tellez in a 10-round featherweight bout tonight at the Reseda Country Club, has said little about the split.

Floyd, chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, has said even less and did not return phone calls for this story.

“He won’t,” Tracy said. “He won’t call you and he won’t talk about it.”

Tracy, who turns 33 next week, is 59-5-1 with 41 knockouts and intent on regaining world-title status after losing decisions to Arturo Gatti in December 1995 and last February. He is ranked fifth by the International Boxing Federation.