Ingemar Johansson - Later Career and Retirement

Later Career and Retirement

Johansson then returned to Europe, and recaptured the European crown from Dick Richardson by an eight round KO on June 17, 1962. By this time Sonny Liston had captured the heavyweight crown from Patterson, and efforts were underway to match Johansson with Liston. Johansson, however, fought journeyman heavyweight Brian London on April 21, 1963, in a non-title twelve-round match. Johansson won most of the eleven preceding rounds but in round twelve with four seconds remaining in the fight London tagged Johansson with a powerful right hand that knocked him down flat on his back. Johansson arose at the count of four just as the bell rang to end the fight. It is widely believed that Johansson was out cold or on his back but the film of this fight clearly illustrates Ingo was upright but groggy at the sound of the bell. The next day’s Stockholm's newspaper's front page showed a photo of him dizzy climbing the ropes with the headline "Wake up Ingo – You won!" After seeing this he sat down and wrote a letter to the European Boxing Union resigning his title and retiring from boxing.

26 Wins (17 (T)KO's), 2 Losses
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time Record
1963-04-21 Win Brian London Johanneshov Ice Stadium, Stockholm, Sweden PTS 12 3:00 26-2
1962-06-17 Win Dick Richardson Nya ullevi Gothenburg, Sweden KO 8 2:13 25-2
1962-04-15 Win Wim Snoek Kungliga Tennishallen Stockholm, Sweden KO 5 1:15 24-2
1962-02-09 Win Joe Bygraves Mässhallen Sports Hall Gothenburg, Sweden TKO 7 2:08 23-2
1961-03-13 Loss Floyd Patterson Convention Hall Miami Beach, USA KO 6 2:45 22-2 For World Heavyweight Title
1960-06-20 Loss Floyd Patterson Polo Grounds New York, USA KO 5 - 22-1 For World Heavyweight Title
1959-06-26 Win Floyd Patterson Yankee Stadium New York, USA TKO 3 - 22-0 For World Heavyweight Title

Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes

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