Ingemar Johansson

Ingemar " Ingo" Johansson ( born September 22, 1932 in Gothenburg, † January 30, 2009 in Kungsbacka ) was a Swedish heavyweight boxing champion. His nick - name was fight or " Thor's Hammer", derived from the origin and impact.

Amateur

1952 took Johansson for Sweden at the Olympic Games in Helsinki and penetrated into the finals. There he met the American Ed Sanders. He started the fight very defensively, hit hardly and was then eventually disqualified in the second round by the referee because of his inactivity. Johansson himself later explained that it was his strategy, the first two rounds strictly defensive boxing and then to surprise the opponent in the third round by aggressiveness. Until 1982, according to other sources in 1983, he was awarded the silver medal.

Professional career

In December 1952 Johansson was professional. In 1956 he was European champion and defended the title twice. In 1958 he defeated Heinz Neuhaus and then won against the undefeated Eddie Make by a first-round knockout, which opened him the chance to fight the heavyweight champion title.

In the battle on 26 June 1959, he defeated the defending champion Floyd Patterson in the third round seven times to the ground before the fight canceled by the referee and Johannson was declared the first and so far only Swedish world champion. Patterson described Johansson later than those of his opponent, who had the greatest impact, put him in this respect even over Sonny Liston. 1959 Johansson was chosen for this fight by the magazine Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. He also received the Sportsman of the Year Award from the Associated Press honored.

In a direct rematch on June 20, 1960, however, he lost the title by knockout in the fifth round back to Patterson, who so became the first heavyweight champion, who was able to win the title again and the eternal rule "They never come back" broke through first. The third meeting on March 13, 1961 Johansson lost prematurely. Johansson 1961 punched a couple of sparring rounds with Cassius Clay, before this World Champion against Sonny Liston was.

As a result, he played four more fights and eventually ended his professional career in 1963. In 2002, he found refuge in the " International Boxing Hall of Fame".