Ingemar Johansson viciously KOs Eddie Machen 1st round, 1958

I think he beats him nine out of ten but sure as hell didn't step up that night ...

 

We need more refs like this. Gave Eddie every opportunity to fight his way back into contention. Still, a bit premature stoppage IMO but I like his intentions.

 

Props for being the first time in the recorded history of written language to get ‘viciously’ in the same title as Ingemar Johansson’s name.

 

I think Johansson gets pretty underated imo. Sure he may not have the boxing skills as say Ali. but he had perhaps one of the best right hands of all time, and that carried him to being champ. Not sure of this Machen beating Johansson 9 times out of ten ete. Machen can still hurt you if he lands that right. Yeah he did lose to Patterson in fights 2 and 3, but people kind of forget he did have Patterson down in fight 3.

 

He actually moved very well on his feet, very light and agile. And his jab was educated. He probably knew he wasn't the most durable so everything was directed to set up his right hand.

 

Not arguing for this ref being good, but take a look at Ingo vs. Patterson I and you’ll see a beatdown that was much more senseless than would be allowed today.

It was a different time. @Seamus jokes (I think), but in those days you let ‘em fight if they were still standing and not often was that judgment questioned … it was the standard.

 

The only person in that ring who deserved a beating that bad was the ref.

 

Ironically the homicidal referee is the same guy who, five years later, said that he would have immediately stopped Johansson's fight with Brian London if the bell hadn't rung.

 

Rademacher and Harris had Patterson down.

 

Never reckoned Goldstein as a ref either,He allowed Ingo to punch Floyd in the back of the head.Then there is the Griffith v Paret fight .

 

Pretty sure Floyd was knocked down more than any heavyweight champ ever, at least 18-20 times.

 

Perfect ref! They certainly don't make referees like that anymore.

 

Kidding of course.

 

Ingo-Patterson 1 featured you-know-who as the ref as well.

 

I think from the era you can find similar beatdowns that were allowed to go on far past what would happen today.