Ingemar Johansson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ingemar Johansson
Ingemar Johansson
Statistics
Nickname(s)	Ingo The Hammer of Thor
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	183 cm
Reach	178 cm
Born	(1932-09-22)22 September 1932 Gothenburg, Sweden
Died	30 January 2009(2009-01-30) (aged 76) Kungsbacka, Sweden
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	28
Wins	26
Wins by KO	17
Losses	2
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing  Sweden Olympic Games Silver 1952 Helsinki Heavyweight

Jens Ingemar "Ingo" Johansson (born September 22, 1932 – died January 30, 2009) was a Swedish professional boxer. He was a heavyweight champion from 1959 to 1960. He was the fifth heavyweight champion who was not from the United States.

Johansson won his world title by beating Floyd Patterson. He knocked Patterson down seven times in the third round. For this amazing win, he received several awards. These included the Hickok Belt and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.

He also held the European heavyweight title two times. He won a silver medal as an amateur boxer at the 1952 Summer Olympics. His powerful right punch was called "thunder and lightning." People also called it "Ingo's bingo" and the "Hammer of Thor." In 2003, The Ring magazine ranked him among the 100 greatest punchers ever.

Ingemar's Boxing Journey

Starting Out as a Boxer

Ingemar Johansson's boxing career began with a challenge. At 19, he was disqualified at the 1952 Summer Olympics. This happened in a fight against Ed Sanders. His silver medal was held back for many years. He finally received it in 1982.

Johansson had earned his spot in the Olympics by winning the Swedish National Championship. He knocked out his opponent in the first round.

After the Olympics, Johansson thought about quitting boxing. But he returned and became a professional boxer. He won his first 21 professional fights. He won the Scandinavian pro title. He also won the European Heavyweight Championship in 1956. He defended his European title against strong boxers like Henry Cooper and Joe Erskine.

Becoming World Heavyweight Champion

Johansson knocks out Floyd Patterson to become world heavyweight champion, 1959

Johansson got his chance at the world heavyweight title in 1958. He knocked out Eddie Machen in the first round. This win earned him a fight against the champion, Floyd Patterson.

Johansson trained in a different way than other boxers. He didn't train very hard. He was often seen out with his girlfriend, Elaine Sloane.

On June 26, 1959, he fought Patterson at Yankee Stadium. Most people thought he would lose. But in the third round, Johansson landed a powerful right punch. Patterson fell down seven times. The referee stopped the fight. Johansson became the new world heavyweight champion!

When he returned to Sweden, 20,000 people cheered for him. He appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated and Life Magazine. Johansson was a very popular champion. He even acted in a movie called All the Young Men.

Rematches with Floyd Patterson

Johansson fought Floyd Patterson again on June 20, 1960. Patterson knocked Johansson out in the fifth round. Patterson became the first boxer to win back the world heavyweight title. Johansson was knocked out cold. Patterson showed concern for him after the fight. He promised Johansson a second rematch.

Their final fight was on March 13, 1961. Johansson was not in his best shape. But the fight was still exciting. Johansson knocked Patterson down twice in the first round. However, Patterson won the fight in the sixth round.

Before this third fight, Johansson sparred with a young Muhammad Ali. Ali was known as Cassius Clay then.

Later Fights and Retirement

Johansson returned to Europe after losing to Patterson. He won the European crown again in 1962. He beat Dick Richardson by knockout.

His last fight was against Brian London in 1963. Johansson won on points. But in the last seconds, London knocked him down. The next day, Swedish newspapers showed a photo of him looking dizzy. After seeing this, Johansson decided to retire from boxing. He was 30 years old.

Life After Boxing

"Ingo the Champ", Peter Linde's bronze statue of Johansson, was unveiled in his home town Gothenburg in 2011, outside the Ullevi stadium where he won a fight in 1958 against Eddie Machen.

Ingemar Johansson and Floyd Patterson became good friends. They visited each other every year.

Johansson made several movies in Sweden. He also promoted boxing events. He owned a fishing boat and a bar called "Ingo's."

Later, he lived in Florida and owned a hotel. He ran in marathons around the world until the mid-1980s. He even completed the Stockholm Marathon.

In the 1990s, Johansson and Patterson often met at boxing events. They signed autographs together. Both later suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

In 2000, Johansson was named Sweden's third-best athlete of the 20th century. In 2002, he was added to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Ingemar Johansson passed away on January 30, 2009, at age 76. He was the oldest living heavyweight champion at that time. He was married three times and had five children.

Ingemar's Legacy

Ingemar Johansson's win over Floyd Patterson was a huge surprise. He was known for his very powerful right hand. He was the first European to become heavyweight champion since 1933. He was also the last non-American to hold the heavyweight title until 1983.

Johansson is also remembered as the boxer Patterson beat to become the first to regain the heavyweight championship. Johansson retired with only two losses in his professional career. He is one of only four heavyweight champions to have beaten every opponent he faced, except for the two times he lost to Patterson.

His first-round knockout of Eddie Machen in 1958 showed how strong his right hand was. Johansson also held the European Heavyweight title twice. He had impressive wins over boxers like Henry Cooper and Dick Richardson.

Professional boxing record

Exhibition boxing record

See also

In Spanish: Ingemar Johansson para niños

• List of heavyweight boxing champions