Ingemar Johansson

For the Swedish race walker, see Ingemar Johansson (racewalker).

Ingemar Johansson
Born
Jens Ingemar Johansson

(1932-09-22)22 September 1932
Gothenburg, Sweden
Died30 January 2009(2009-01-30) (aged 76)
Kungsbacka, Sweden
Other names
  • Ingo
  • The Hammer of Thor[2]
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height183 cm (6 ft 0 in) [1]
Reach178 cm (70 in) [1]
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights28
Wins26
Wins by KO17
Losses2
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  Sweden
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1952 Helsinki Heavyweight

Jens Ingemar "Ingo" Johansson[a] (Swedish: [ˈɪ̌ŋː(ɛ)mar ˈjûːanˌsɔn];[3] 22 September 1932 – 30 January 2009) was a Swedish professional boxer who competed from 1952 to 1963. He held the world heavyweight title from 1959 to 1960, and was the fifth heavyweight champion born outside the United States. Johansson won the title by defeating Floyd Patterson via third-round stoppage, after flooring him seven times in that round. For this achievement, Johansson was awarded the Hickok Belt as top professional athlete of the year—the only non-American in its entire 27-year first run—and was named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year and Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.

Johansson also held the European heavyweight title twice, from 1956 to 1958 and from 1962 to 1963. As an amateur he won a silver medal in the heavyweight division at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He affectionately named his right fist "toonder and lightning" for its concussive power (it was also called "Ingo's bingo" and the "Hammer of Thor"), and in 2003 he was ranked at No. 99 on The Ring magazine's list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.[4]

  1. ^ a b "The tale of the tape offers a physical comparison between challenger". 9 March 2016. 03/03/1961-New York: The tale of the tape offers a physical comparison between challenger Ingemar Johansson (left) and heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson (right). They meet for the third time for the heavyweight title in Miami, Florida, on March 13th.
  2. ^ "Ingemar Johansson". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Johansson". Forvo.com.
  4. ^ Hoffer, Richard (9 February 2009) Ingemar Johansson 1932–2009. Sports Illustrated


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