Ingemar Johansson Tribute

Swedish Legend Ingemar Johansson died five minutes to Midnight January 30 2009 following a two week long struggle in the last phase of Alzheimers illness. The former Heavyweight Champion of The World died aged 76 years old.

He was regarded as Scandinavia’s greatest fighter, ever and held the undisputed World Heavyweight Championship 1959-1960; he also held The European Heavyweight Crown 1956-1959 and again from 1962-1963.

Ingemar won the World title via a third round KO over reigning Champion Floyd Patterson at the Yankee Stadium on June 26 1959. “Ingo”, as he was affectionately called, entered that bout a clear cut underdog but one minute into the third round he landed a picture perfect right hand through the guard of Patterson and flattened the Champion. Referee Ruby Goldstein allowed Patterson to continue although barely beating the count and six more knockdowns followed before Goldstein stopped the bout. “The Hammer of Thor” – Johanssons vaunted right hand – had spoken!

The Swede lost the title back to Patterson on June 20th 1960 and they met again in a rubber bout March 13 1961, with both men hitting the canvas in round one before Patterson managed to ko Ingo in the sixth round.

Johansson was a Swedish National hero already in his amateur days, Swedish Champion 1950-51-52, winner of the USA Golden Gloves vs Europe competition in Chicago 1951, knocking out Ernest Fann and winning four bouts up to the finals in The Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland 1952 before losing to American Ed Sanders on a disqualification, thus having to settle for a silver medal.

He beat European Champion Franco Cavicchi in 1956 on a 13th round KO and defended that title against Henry Cooper (KO 5) and Joe Erskine (TKO 13) before qualifying for the World crown against No 1 challenger Eddie Machen in front of 53.614 spectators in Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, winning in 2.16 minutes of round one. He recovered the Euro crown by knocking out Dick Richardson in round eight.

All in all he fought 71 bouts as an Amateur, winning 61. He won 26 out of 28 as a professional, only losing twice to Patterson.

Johansson lived an amazing life saving his millions, later venturing into business. He had a restaurant and a fleet of fishing boats. For a while he owned a motel in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. He owned homes in Sweden, Switzerland, Spain and an island outside Gothenburg, which he later gave to his children. The last five years of his life he lived in a private home for the elderly south of Gothenburg, which is where he died, surrounded by family members.

January 31, 2009