Yes, but that was a horribly late stoppage. Probably the worst on film. I can't see how it can be called a 'fluke'. Ingo had a big right hand punch. Why was there a return clause ? I doubt Ingemar Johansson avoided a rematch because he thought he'd been lucky. It's not as if Machen was some sort of amazing fighter. Obviously Johansson's people thought they could beat Machen first time anyway, that's why they brought him over to Sweden. More likely, he turned down a return fight because where's the motivation to fight a guy that you already nearly killed inside 1 round ? It's more like Mike Tyson turning down a rematch with Michael Spinks.
Some guys get caught cold in the first round ,and in returns go the distance and often win , eg Maxim v Sheppard, Dokes v Weaver. Motivation $$$$$$$ If it was an easy rematch, why not take it? I would pick Machen to beat Ingo 4 out of 5 times.
Why not take it ? Because he had a date with the heavyweight championship, then a rematch with Patterson which he lost, and then a third match with Patterson for the title again. You can pick Machen to beat Ingo 99 times out of 100 if you like. Fantasy land stuff. In real life, they fought once and Ingo absolutely destroyed poor Eddie. It was a massacre.
He hit as hard as anyone around at the time, that was my original statement. I don't think many will agree with you that Chris Byrd hit harder than Ingo and Patterson, by the way.
What exactly is your point ? Are you trying to make a case that Johannsson was better than Liston ? You're all over the place.
