Ingemar Johansson Dies
The Swedish Heavyweight Champion who stunned the world when he knocked out Floyd Patterson to steal the heavyweight title from the American in 1959 died today as one of the only five non-
Americans who have won the title in it’s long history. He died at a nursing home not far from the house where he was born at the ripe old age of 76. Diagnoses with Alzheimer’s and dementia ten years ago when he was still living in Stockholm. “Ingo”, to the locals as he was known, took out Patterson in the third round of their fight at the famous Yankee Stadium on June 26, 1959 winning himself the Heavyweight title. He managed to knock his opponent seven times before the referee decided the fight has gone as safely as possible and that the Swede has won by Technical knockout. Considered a local hero by the Swedes who mourn the loss of one of their greatest sports heroes.
Patterson exacted revenge when he in turn knocked out Johansson a year later in March 1961, knocking him out in the fifth round. After the rematch, he had another four fights before retiring in 1962 with a long standing record of 26 wins and 2 losses with 17 of those wins as knockouts. The boxing ring has lost one of its most memorable heroes as he is laid to rest in his native Sweden.