I have read that Ingo retired on his physician's recommendation after tests showed he had suffered neurological damage. I agree with an earlier post that he was never the same after the 2nd Patterson fight.
Can't even say that really. He called Liston out, it didn't happen for reasons out of his hands. He took some more fights with European challengers to stay busy, got unexpectedly knocked out cold for a full minute against a lesser opponent than called it a career a week or so after said fight. Its clear immediately after the London incidient he didn't want to step in the ring again period, still too little too late, considering how he ended up.
Johansson actually didn't get KO'd, he was knocked down and got up before the count of 10. Enough to convince him to quit though. He only started suffering from Alzheimer's into his 60's, which can happen to anyone. If he did not quit, he would have fought Liston in 1963. Johansson's retirement left Liston without options for a challenger which led to inactivity on his part. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1074400/index.htm
He was dropped with 4 seconds left in the round and was said to be completely incoherent despite reaching his feet with the ropes after going down flat on his back. "Wake up Ingo, you won!" "The 12 round bout, billed as another step in Ingemar Johansson's march to a return shot at the heavyweight title, ended with Johansson staggering to his feet, his eyes glassy and his arms hanging at his side." At any rate, surely we can agree this does not translate into a Liston duck. He clearly wanted the Liston fight and was confident he could win, he only quit the sport after getting knocked goofy by London and clealry realizing he was "done" at the elite level.
johannson was done at elite level after the patterson fights. Patterson most likely prevented Johannson from becoming a truly great fighter - and because floyd did this his wins over ingo are not seen as being quite so special as they might deserve to be. floyd beat an unbeaten champion by KO.
I do think that there are circumstances under which Johansen would have fought Liston. There is nothing about his career that suggests that he was afraid to take on dangerous challengers, and we should not infer that he was afraid of Liston based on the fight not taking place. There is no obvious "duck zone", as we shall henceforth call it!
I dont like the word "duck" I have been confused with being a hater and a troll for trying to defend fighters being accused of ducking. sometimes fights just dont happen even if they should. There is usually so much politics or money or business that can get in the way to prevent a fight from happening that unless a fighter goes on record and says point blank he wont fight someone its hard to accuse any fighter of ducking. With hindsight putting a fight considered "a natural on the back burner for a later date could be called a duck but it is difficult to prove. In most cases fighters fight and managers duck.
Liston was too darn powerful for him. That said, Ingo had a really nice consistent busy jab, with a better ability to move and keep at range than many realize. He had that nice outside range just at the end of the punch style, with the consistent jab until the quick and powerful right landed and did the damage. It is possible that he could prove a bit more tricky and dangerous for Liston than some might realize at first glance. Liston was vulnerable to the right and Ingo had a killer right hand that he set up beautifully off his jab. But odds are that Liston's strength and power would catch up with him at some point and take Ingo out.
Ingo would have if he beat Floyd again. Floyd spoiled it in 2nd fight. I read in TRUE boxing mag Ingo Vs.Sonny was in works after !st Floyd fight of course never happened. Ingo wasnt same after 2nd Floyd go round!