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He has become an afterthought in the storied history of the heavyweight division. A streaking comet across the fistic scene nearly a half century ago he crept up on the heavyweight division, capturing the European Crown by halting Franco Cavicchi in 13 rounds. Thereafter he gained gradual prominence, stopping a young Henry Cooper, defeating Americans Archie McBride and Joe Erskine as well as dominating the thin class of European Heavyweights. [details]
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Ingemar Johannsen was the first Corrie Sanders. He was a charismatic big puncher, but very little more. But that right hand was enough to get him by with all of his faults. He was more of a playboy, a guy who boxed but had his priorities elsewhere. Most theorize that he was a better race car driver than boxer. But he did win the heavyweight title with a dominant KO of Floyd Patterson, and did engage in the 3rd greatest heavyweight trilogy of all time. His biggest fault was his ability to be intimidate when things weren't going his way, as well as his chin. In the 1960 Olympics, he was disqualified in the Gold Medal round for running away and refusing to engage in the fight. But all 3 of his fights with Patterson belong in a boxing time capsule. They were very fun to watch.
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