Ingemar Johansson is dead

The one-punch Swede dies at the age of 76

 

R.I.P Ingemar Johansson

 

76 is a great innings.

RIP.

 

R.I.P Johansson

 

Along with Lennox Lewis and Rocky Marciano he is the only heavyweight champ who holds a vicroty over everybody he ever faced

 

rip

 

The Playboy

If you guys do your research you will find that, Ingo was berated by the American press when he brought his then fiancee into training camp at Grossinger's to train for the first Floyd Patterson fight.

The joke was that most of his exercises were horizontal in camp.

He swam, golfed, and danced and drank ice cream sodas until past midnight with his girl, but when fight night came, he delivered a shocking upset.

He was King of the boxing world for a year, and made a war movie here as well during his reign as he was a real international superstar.

After the two losses to Patterson, he fought Brian London and barely escaped as he was knocked out at the final bell, but had won every prior round, and knew it was time to walk away for good with a victory.

He became a multi millionaire in retirement by owning several shipping companies, and is one of the few athletes you seldom heard a bad word about.

He became close friends with Patterson in retirement as well, and Floyd would venture to Sweden every so often where the pair would engage in charity events, such as an arm wrestling competition between the pair.

The "Hammer of Thor" and "Ingo's Bingo" are now silent.

 

I knew that was a pretty big upset at the time, but never heard about that. ::

 

Wonder if his Foot is Twitching...


REED:hammert:

 

dsimon writes:

Karl... Wonderful Eulogy, wonderful. :bears: Reminds me of the relationship between Louis and Schmelling, Swedes always go from the ring to the silver screen huh? (thinking of out favorite tor)...

RIP Ingo.

 

?

 

dsimpn writes:

Ok my favorite Johansen story: Some years back there was a marathon run for charity and you had all these marathon types running it... and here is this fat swede who suddently appears in shorts with a gut... the announcer follows behind and all.... Coem to find out he is running in the race

Johansen finished the race that day and he had to be in his late 50's at the youngest and he had to be the oldest contenstant. What willpower.

They don't make em that tough anymore I say!!!! opcorn:

 

Don't let the door hit you in the ass. Somewhere in heaven, Floyd Patterson is falling down a bunch of times...

 

It's a Reference to the 2nd Patterson-Johaanson Bout...Patterson Knocked Ingo COLD & as he Lay there Looking DEAD on the Canvas, his Foot TWITCHED Back & Forth...



REED:hammert:

 

I can't wait 'till Simon Brown's death to read your comments about it.

 

REED'll Probably B the Last to Know as Brown will Keep REED @ ARMs LENGTH...



REED:mj:

 

::

 

dsimon writes:

Ok now that the solemnity is out if the way lets turn this into a New Orleans funeral shall we? ::

The man was the best Swedish heavyweight I can think of...........
::
And here is a shout out to all the other Swedish heavies following in his footsteps.::

 

His status in Sweden was very high. In fact in a poll gathered in 2000 Ingo was voted as the 3rd best Swedish athlete ever behind only Björn Borg and Ingemar Stenmark. He is among the weakest undisputed heavyweight titleholders ever but considering how few Europans have achieved the status at all (Schemling, Carnera and Lennox) he didn't do bad.

Ingo is one of the best Scandinavian fighters ever too, behind only Battling Nelson and perhaps Mikkel Kessler.

 

Didn't Sweden ban boxing?

 

I trhink Denmark should be sacked from Scandinavia.

 

They did indeed. It was banned for like 40 years. Now it is allowed again, but only six-round fights and with amateur gloves, which is pretty interesting considering UFC and K1 are legal and very popular in Sweden.

Of course even though boxing has been banned, Swedish fighters have competed all the time, just not in Sweden.

 

I think former Yugoslavia should belong to Africa

 

::

 

dsimon writes:

Agreed. Schmeling was a lot better than he gets credit for and Lewis rocks so good company there.

Yeah the division was shit I mean Patterson was a great guy bit yeah he was not the most imposing title holder::.

Swedes have the intelligence to realize that even though MMA looks a lot more spectacular and bloody it is less dangerous than boxing.

I love Scandinavian common sense, I wish I could migrate over there.

 

dsimon writes:

I love your country also Gatti... when I think of cheap women and vodka binges and grand poo pahs on tin thones I fondly recall. ::::

 

Ingemaronce once said said that mike tyson would've ko'd ali easily if he fought in that era.

 

Johansson had to overcome a shaky start in the Swedish fans' eyes due to his being disqualified in the 1952 Olympic final match for "running away" from his opponent.

Johannson was scorned and mocked (one Swedish newspaper headline read INGEMAR, FOR SHAME) due to that result. Johansson had the reputation of a coward after that and during the beginning of his pro career, but was able to rebound back from it by KOing undefeated and highly ranked Eddie Machen in the first round and then Patterson for the Heavyweight title.

Johansson went from Olympic disgrace and laughing stock to one of his country's most beloved sports heroes...now that's a positive boxing story. :bears:

 

This is all correct. Johansson's fights with Machen and later against Dick Richardson (European Championship) filled stadiums. After the Olympics Ingo was named "Springemar" by the newspapers (Springa= to run in Swedish)

 

Yes, I nearly forgot about Ingemar's Olympic debacle. It's nice to see somebody in boxing learn from their mistakes as it's a pretty rare occurrence.

:bears: