Never heard of this guy really until now, as someone posted a Ring Magazine top ten from the mid 30s which had him ranked as the 3rd contender! Really surprised by that, although this era is one in which I'm no historian in. Any comments, thoughts, opinions, anything on this guy?
He is a legend, in Finland that is (although I guess he isn't too well known here today). By far the best Finnish professional boxer to have ever competed. Then again there haven't been too many. His best performance was probably against Buddy Baer when he knocked out the giant with body blows.
This content is protected Not sure if this video will work but it was one of his last fights: http://www.yle.fi/player/player.jsp?name=El%E4v%E4+arkisto%2F00683_1 I think he was ranked number 2 after his win over Buddy Baer.
Barlund ran riot in Europe and got ranked #3 by Ring Magazine. When he stepped up in competition in America he was met with losses to Nathan Mann and Bob Olin. He later got his career back on track and beat some good contenders. He is the only fighter ever to stop Buddy Baer apart from the great man himself.
I was jogging a couple of weeks ago in Helsinki and accidentally found a Barlund statue, I suppose the GB tournament is named after him?
Yes it is, you are absolute right. I think he was at his best Joe Louis 2nd mandatory..:think He is Icon of finnish pro boxing. The Alzheimer's disease catch him in few years before he died. Too many wars he went through... edit. Alot arm chair boxing fans, mainly young finns barely know Bärlund. Someone of them think he was a bum because he had what almost 30 losses in his career.
