Ingo Johansson-could he achieve more?

[Pastrano]

Had he not been so fond of partying and dancing? He basically partied his career away after he became the champion. Patterson on the other hand trained even harder than he had for their first fight. I think Ingo would go on to bigger things even had he stayed focused. Just look how he disposed of Eddie Machen-in one round! It was one of the most impressive performances by a European fighter ever. And Henry Cooper, he destroyed him in five rounds. That right of his, you never saw it coming.

He even starred in a movie and made a record after he became world champ. Its obvious that he lost to Patterson because he wasn't as focused or hungry anymore.

[StarshipTrooper]

Its obvious that he lost to Patterson because he wasn't as focused or hungry anymore.

Ingo lost the second Patterson fight because Floyd was on a seek and destroy. Johansson never had a chance in that fight and it didn't matter which version of him showed up.

Poet

Twitch twitch!

[Wild Blue Yonda]

I dont think so, no. He really worked hard for his final showdown with Patterson, varying his arsenal a little and undertaking a rare seriousness for his camp. By his own admission, losing that fight, especially so narrowly, emptied his resolve. He was right to get out when he did, because the only road to a big payday in the coming years was another title shot, and that would have meant not only besting at least two or three top contenders to justify another opportunity, but also a meeting with either Liston or Ali. Johansson didnt have the drive to win those preliminaries, and he certainly didnt have the ability to defeat either Liston or Ali, circa 1963-65.