Where can we rate Ingemar Johansson?

What basis is there for rating Ingo's right hand ,"perhaps the best in the history of the sport ? " He dropped a glass jawed champion several times, and had to hit Machen with everything including the kitchen sink before stopping him.

Ingo creeps into the Rings 100 greatest punchers at 99, about right.

 

What else did he have?

If his right hand wasn't good, then how exactly did he get anywhere?

 

I didn't say it wasnt good,I'm saying you are wildly overating it
He had a pawing jab that was used as a range finder.

What did he achieve for you to rate him so highly as a puncher?
He flat out ducked an agreed return with Machen ,by passed:
Hunter
Valdes
Pastrano
Folley
Baker
Satterfield
Jackson
Moore
Carter
Miteff
McMurtry
Harris
Cleroux
He has a decent ko over Cooper and that's it!

A better right hand than:
Baer
Louis
Lewis
Marciano
Langford
Sullivan
Dempsey
Godfrey
Shavers
Foreman
Lyle
Tyson
Bruno
??????

 

Coetzee is who he reminded me of too! He might be able to upset a few fighters if he puts the right hand on them

 

Rahman and a McCall had better resumes and knocking out Lewis is a whole lot better than knocking out Patterson.

 

but....he had the Hammer of Thor in his possession!

The man certainly enjoyed his short time as HW champ. I've heard he was all over those
Swedish girls instead of training for Patterson II.

 

Ingo is no where NEAR top 30. Insane. As a lineal HW champ very near the bottom.

 

Ingemar will always be remember for his thrilling trilogy with Patterson. Belongs
up there with Ali vs Frazier , Zale vs Graziano, Andries vs Harding . Rate him
between 40 to 50.

 

His last fight with Brian London, he ends up winning by decision with the bell saving Ingo with him flat on his back.

But in the early 60's as Heavyweight Challenger & Hvywt Champion, with a super good-looking Swedish GF tagging along wherever he goes as piping material, then he cares little where his final Hvywt rank is. Go Ingo !

 

Don't forget the strawberry shortcake.

 

God he's fun to watch though! Nothing like those guys who are all punch and no chin.
For what it's worth, the Swedes named him #2 all time national sportsman of the 20th century. After one B. Borg

 

Two very good wins with blow outs over Machen and Patterson.
Solid win over Cooper.
Not much else.

Short career.

I think he usually gets rated fairly.

 

Just happened to pick up one of my old Ring magazines and found a fight writeup suggesting that only crooked officiating spared Ingo from suffering a one-round tko loss to journeyman Wim Snoek. Was this a well-known controversy? Did it have any effect on his career (or legacy)?

 

Well, who can blame him? I mean, you couldn't exactly call him a handsome guy but when you suddenly become the heavyweight champion of the world....