Ingemar Johansson Dies

By Jim Dower: Former heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson has reportedly passed away as of 11:55 PM tonight. Johansson, 76, known for his powerful right hand, he shocked the world in June 1959, knocking champion Floyd Patterson down seven times en route to stopping him in the 3rd round to win the world heavyweight title at Yankee Stadium, in Bronx, New York.

Unfortunately, Johansson was never able to successfully defend it, losing the title a year later in a 5th round TKO loss to Paterson in a rematch. In 1961, Johansson would again fight Paterson for the heavyweight title, this time Johansson was stopped in the 6th round. However, he knocked Paterson down twice in the 1st round with big right hands and make the fight interesting for a little while before folding in the 6th.

For all practical purposes, that was the end of Johansson’s career, as he fought only four more times and never for a world heavyweight title again. He did, however, defeat Dick Richardson in an 8th round TKO to win the EBU (European) heavyweight title in June 1962.

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