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Remembering Swedish Boxing Legend Ingemar Johansson
Former heavyweight champ Ingemar Johannson died in a Swedish nursing home in January 2009 at the age of 76. He'd lived in the nursing home in his hometown of Kungsbacka since the mid 1990's when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia. No official cause of death was given, but Johannson had suffered a serious bout with pneumonia just prior to his death.
Johannson earned worldwide fame and superstar status in his native Sweden when he knocked out Floyd Patterson in 1959. At the time, he was only the 5th heavyweight champion in history to be born outside of the United States. Johannson was a decided underdog heading into the fight, and made his victory even more improbable due to his lax approach to training. He was a fixture at Catskills nightclubs and bars during his training camp, frequently in the company of his comely blond 'secretary' or other attractive women. Patterson, meanwhile, was disciplined and regimented in his preparation for the fight.
His performance against the champ that night in Yankee Stadium shocked the boxing world"after a tentative first two rounds, Johannson floored Patterson with a short right early in the third. The champ never recovered and with no three knockdown rule in effect was knocked down a total of seven times before referee Ruby Goldstein called a halt to the proceedings and awarded the Swede the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.
Patterson would regain the title just under a year later, becoming the first man to ever regain the heavyweight championship. Patterson was on top of Johannson from the opening bell, and eventually knocked his opponent out cold in the fifth round with a devastating left hook. After the fight was stopped Patterson was more concerned with Johannson's well being and cradled his vanquished foe's head while medical staff attended to him.
The two men would fight for a third time nine months later in Miami Beach, Florida. Though Johannson appeared to be out of shape entering the battle, he fought bravely in an exciting slugfest that saw both men taste the canvas at various points in the bout. The first round was particularly epic, with Patterson down twice and Johannson once. Soon after, however, it became apparent that Johannson knew an early assault was his only real chance at victory. The superior conditioning of Patterson took over, and he put his opponent away for good in the 6th round. Johannson would fight four more times , posting victories in Sweden before retiring from the ring in 1963.
Patterson and Johannson remained close lifelong friends and would travel to visit each other every year until the American champion died in 2006. While it is commonplace today for former in-ring adversaries to become close personal friends(eg: Oscar De La Hoya and Shane Mosely, Mickey Ward and Arturo Gatti), it was less common in the 1960s. Johannson remained a big star in Sweden, occasionally appearing in movies and enjoyed good health well into his 60's when old age began to take its toll.
Ingemar Johansson is considered one of Sweden's greatest sports heroes, and was a crucial element in fueling the popularity of boxing in Europe and Scandinavia. He was married and divorced twice, and is survived by five children.
About the Author Ross Everett is a widely published freelance sports writer and highly respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and betting odds portal sites. He lives in Northern Nevada with three Jack Russell Terriers and a kangaroo. He is currently working on an autobiography of former energy secretary Donald Hodell.
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