Posted on 01/31/2009 9:55:40 AM PST by EveningStar
STOCKHOLM, Sweden Ingemar Johansson, the Swede who stunned the boxing world by knocking out Floyd Patterson to win the heavyweight title in 1959, has died, a longtime friend said Saturday. He was 76.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
In this June 26, 1959, file photo, Floyd Patterson lies on the canvas after taking a knockout blow from Ingemar Johansson, of Sweden, in the third round of their heavyweight title bout in New York's Yankee Stadium, in New York. Johansson, the Swede who stunned the boxing world by knocking out Floyd Patterson to win the world heavyweight title in 1959, has died, a longtime friend said Saturday. He was 76.
Wow - when was the last time you saw a world heavyweight champion dressed in a coat and tie [without 15 or 20 lbs of bling accompanying it]?
RIP.
“Big Inge”
Wow ! Now that’s a “Blast From Past”.....I must say haven’t heard bout him in many a year....May his kin find refuge in their faith....
Interesting that he moved to Florida. Was it the warm weather or the lack of a state income tax and far lower Federal income taxes?
I know he ran a motel there ... but that’s all I know.
Didn’t he get DQ’d in the ‘52 Olympics for purposely trying to lose? At least, that’s what my father told me.
CA....
I read where he operated a hotel in Pompano Beach (which is near Fort Lauderdale).
Same news, different thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175763/posts
Greetings from Göteborg, Sverige, to everyone out there honoring this great champion.
I raise my glass to “Ingo” and American-Swedish friendship!
I think I remember seeing him fight, on the Friday night fights that were sponsored by Gilette. My father was a boxing fan, as well as being half Swedish.
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