Early 60's Heavyweights ~ "Thugs, Glass-Jaws, Frail, Flops, Clowns and Buffoons"

[Bill Paxtom]

1960 thru 1965

An Era of > 'Thugs, Glass-Jaws, Frail, Flops, Clowns and Buffoons'

As of January 1, 1960

Ingemar Johansson

The {Age; 27 years, 3 months} Heavyweight Champion from Sweden, with a record
of 22-0-0 {14 KO's}.

Fresh off winning the Heavyweight Championship over Floyd Patterson on June 20, 1959 -
'INGO' voted as 'The Sportsman of the Year' for 1959 by Sports Illustrated.

Though 'INGO' had a hard right-hand, he was still a glorified amateur who did not possess
'World Class' class skills. 'INGO' was somewhat slow and ponderous, and he brought along a
mechanical-style.

He was 'predictable' with his attack, and he lacked any decent footwork. His left-jab was nothing
more than a measuring-stick, and his defense was 'fair' at best. At times he looked clumsy
and cumbersome, but he could deliver that right-hand hammer with precision.
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After defeating Floyd Patterson {June 20, 1959} ~ Ingemar only fought '6' more times in his
career before retiring in late-1963, going 4-2-0 {3 KO's}.

In re-matches with Floyd Patterson on June 20, 1960 and March 13, 1961, 'INGO' was flattened 'twice'.

After those KO losses, there was talk of Ingemar suffering brain damage.
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June 1961 >
'INGO' had asked for a 4th-bout with Floyd, but the Boxing Public was not interested in another
Patterson - Johansson bout.

August 1961 >
'INGO' was offered $250,000 to fight #1 Contender - Sonny Liston in Philadelphia, set for
September, but the Swede turned it down and asked for another bout with Champion - Floyd Patterson.

Ingemar returned in early-1962

'INGO" scored '2' Knockout wins, but was not overly impressive in those wins. And he was 'floored'
in his 2nd-bout.

Ingemar did win the European Heavyweight Championship on June 17, 1962 - and was impressive
in 'knocking out' Dick Richardson.

'INGO did make 'one' successful title defense {10-Months later} on April 21, 1963 - against
Brian London, but 'INGO' was nearly stopped in the 12th and final round.
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August 1963 >
Ingemar had a proposed match with then Heavyweight Champion - Sonny Liston for September 1963 in Philadelphia at the the Municipal Stadium, where there would be an expected Gross Gate of $8,000,000
and with each fighter to receive a $1,500,000 fight purse guarantee.

But the bout was stalled, as 'INGO' had lingering Tax problems with the United States.

September 1963 >
A proposed bout was talked bout between 'INGO' and #1 Challenger - Cassius Clay for October 1963
in Europe, but the bout never got any traction as contract negotiations stalled.

November 1963 >
There was also talk of possibly getting Sonny Liston to fight 'INGO' in 1964, and in Sweden. The
contracts called for Sonny to get $2,000,000 and for 'INGO" to get $1,500,000.

But Sonny signed to defend against Cassius Clay instead.

November 1963 >
'INGO' {Age; 31 years, 2 months} announced that he would retire.

February 1964 >
After watching the Sonny Liston - Cassius Clay bout on February 24, 1964 - Ingemar contemplated a return to the Ring.

May 1964 >
There were discussions of 'INGO' fighting Floyd Patterson a 4th-time, but the contracts were never signed.

July 1964 >
'INGO' stated that he would fight the winner of the July 5, 1964 bout between Floyd Patterson
and Eddie Machen.

September 1964 >
'INGO' announced that he was coming back. Ingemar planned on taking a tune-up bout in
November 1964, and stated that he would then fight the winner of the November 17, 1964
Championship Bout between Cassius Clay - Sonny Liston in their rematch.

Once the Clay - Liston Championship bout was cancelled and postponed to May 1965, 'INGO'
put his comeback on hold.

March 1965>
'INGO' made some rumblings about fighting European Heavyweight Champion - Karl Mildenberger
in Germany.

September 1965>
"INGO" stated that he was definitely coming back, and would partake in a 3-Month Training
Program. Ingemar stated that he would fight the winner of the upcoming November 22, 1965
Championship Bout between Cassius Clay - Floyd Patterson.

April 1966 >
In 1966, Ingemar was instrumental in helping former Champion - Sonny Liston in his comeback return, and co-promoted several of Sonny's bouts in Sweden.

October 1966 >
Out of the Ring for 3+ Years, Ingemar at {Age; 34 years, 6 months}, stated that he would return for
'1-bout' only, and with then Champion - Cassius Clay. But the bout was 'squashed' do to Cassius Clay's legal battles.

February 1967 >
'Ingo' announced that he was trying to put together a Championship Bout between Cassius Clay and
Sonny Liston for May 1967 and in Sweden.

[beenKOed]

He turned out to be crude, but the man pulled off a big upset with the thunder in that right hand.
I was stunned and unhappy about the fight at the time and couldn't wait for the rematch, a year later I was an Airman (USAF) when Johansson lay on the canvas with that twitching foot.
Looking back, I think most of us would have been more than happy to pull off that upset. He was the man for awhile!!

[Bill Paxtom]

Been KO'ed,

'CRUDE'

Would be the perfect analysis 'word' for Ingemar Johansson.

'INGO' never really progressed as a fighter. To put it simply, he was a pure puncher.

And 'INGO' could deliver that hard right-hand with surgeon-like precision.

Though he did score KO 'upsets' over Eddie Machen and Floyd Patterson, 'INGO'
lost the 'true' heart after losing to Floyd the 2nd-time {March 13, 1961}.

A bout with Sonny Liston would have been interesting early, though 'INGO' would
have probably lost by a 'bad' Knockout.

A 4th-Bout with Floyd Patterson would have been another knockdown fest, but
INGO' with his right-hand would have been in the fight for as long as it went.

Giving Eddie Machen a rematch {even as late as mid-1964} would have been a
proper sportsman-like decision. That bout would have been interesting as well.

In September 1966 {'INGO' at Age; 34} in a bout with Cassius Clay, would most
likely have given it a go for 6 or 7 Rounds, but he would have been eventually
stopped and TKO'd by Round 11.