Remembering Swedish Boxing Legend Ingemar Johansson
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Ingemar Johannson died at a nursing home in his native Kungsbacka, Sweden at the age of 76 early in 2009. No official cause of death was given, but Johansson recently returned to the nursing home after a difficult bout with pneumonia. Johansson had moved to the nursing home on the Swedish coast from Stockholm over ten years ago after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Johannson rocketed to international fame and rock star like superstardom in Sweden by virtue of his 3rd round knockout victory over Floyd Patterson on June 26,’59 to become only the 5th heavyweight champion born outside of the US. Johannson was considered the underdog going into the matchup, and due to the perception that he wasn’t training particularly hard entered the bout a 5/1 underdog. Johansson was frequently seen in Catskill nightspots during his training camp with his attractive young secretary in stark contrast to Patterson’s disciplined regimen in preparation for his title defense.
Despite his devil may care approach to training, he shocked the boxing world on that night in Yankee Stadium. After a lackluster first two rounds, Johannson knocked Patterson to the canvas with a right hand early in the third. Patterson never recovered and was knocked down a total of seven times before the ref waved off the fight and awarded the victory to Johannson.
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’63.
Patterson and Johannson remained lifelong friends, and would travel to visit each other yearly until Patterson’s death in 2006. Johannson made a number of film appearances in Sweden, and spent time in Miami every year. He enjoyed good health well into his 60′s, until a variety of physical ailments took their toll.
Johannson was married and divorced twice, and is survived by five children. Ingemar Johannson enjoyed rock star like status in Sweden during his title reign and remained a widely respected and admired sportsman throughout his life. He’ll be remembered by the international boxing community for the vital role he played in popularizing the sport in Europe and Scandinavia.
Ross Everett is a freelance writer and respected authority on sports betting odds comparison. He writing has appeared on a variety of sports sites including sportsbooks and sportsbook directory sites. He lives in Las Vegas with three Jack Russell Terriers and an emu. He is currently working on an autobiography of former interior secretary James Watt.
