Greatest Scandanavian fighters

[Robert in NYC]

Who are the top 3 ? They must be born and developed in Scandanavia.

[Seamus]

1.Kid Williams
2.Pete Sanstol
3.Battling Nelson

Please let's keep Ingemar Johansson's name out of this discussion.

[raylawpc]

1.Kid Williams
2.Pete Sanstol
3.Battling Nelson

Please let's keep Ingemar Johansson's name out of this discussion.

Seamus: Williams, Sanstol and Nelson were all born in Scandanavia, but none were developed there and Williams and Nelson never even fought there.

[delisa]

Harry Persson

[raylawpc]

Ingemar Johansson

Then I'd say, in no particular order:
Tom Bogs
Jeorgen Hansen
Jorgen Johansen

[dr_devious]

Mikkel Kessler is already one of the greatest ever Scandanavian fighters

[raylawpc]

Absolutely, if we're considering active fighters. In fact, he's maybe right behind Johansson, if we're ranking them. I was thinking about retired fighters - not sure about what delisa, Seamus or Robert in NYC had in mind.

[Ric]

1.Kid Williams
2.Pete Sanstol
3.Battling Nelson

Please let's keep Ingemar Johansson's name out of this discussion.

Seamus: Williams, Sanstol and Nelson were all born in Scandanavia, but none were developed there and Williams and Nelson never even fought there.

Depends upon what you mean by "developed." Sanstol developed his boxing in Stavanger (starting at about age 14 or so), then in the Olso Athletic Club for years, before he went pro at age 21. He had one pro bout in Oslo before moving on to Berlin and Paris.


Sanstol's seated in the bottom row, middle, with black athletic shirt, with his fellow Oslo Club members, circa 1922. In the same row, nr. 2 from the left, is 15-year-old Haakon Hansen (pro in the US 1927-1932). Also in the front row, far to the right is Otto von Porat.

[raylawpc]

True. I took developed to mean developed as a professional.

[Goodnight, Irene]

1.Kid Williams
2.Pete Sanstol
3.Battling Nelson

Please let's keep Ingemar Johansson's name out of this discussion.

Seamus: Williams, Sanstol and Nelson were all born in Scandanavia, but none were developed there and Williams and Nelson never even fought there.

Depends upon what you mean by "developed." Sanstol developed his boxing in Stavanger (starting at about age 14 or so), then in the Olso Athletic Club for years, before he went pro at age 21. He had one pro bout in Oslo before moving on to Berlin and Paris.


Sanstol's seated in the bottom row, middle, with black athletic shirt, with his fellow Oslo Club members, circa 1922. In the same row, nr. 2 from the left, is 15-year-old Haakon Hansen (pro in the US 1927-1932). Also in the front row, far to the right is Otto von Porat.

What a treasure of a photo

[Ric]

Coincidentally, Sanstol, Hansen and von Porat would live and hang out together in Chicago in the late 1940s (I think it was), until Sanstol moved on to Seattle, then to Southeast Alaska. According to a letter from a Ms. Josefa Hansen Andersen to Sanstol in Feb. 1980--the original of which I possess:

Dear Mr. Sanstol:
It was with pleasure I read your name in "Nordisk Tidende." Many years have passed, but your name is not forgotten.

I remember you from "Den Norske Kafe" in Chicago. (My parents owned this restaurant for many years.) Followed the stories in the papers since then. You traveled extensively and it was always interesting to read of your experiences. The restaurant was frequented by Norwegians in the 20s. Von Porat, Haakon Hansen are some of the names you probably recognize. Von Porat is still active but have heard nothing about Haakon Hansen.

Sending you a letter from the Norw.Am. Historical Assn. They are collecting histories of the Norw.-Am. Since you must have many clippings, and I know you wrote quite a bit, thought you might be interested in preserving these things....

I read that you visit the Seaman's Church in San Pedro. We belong to the Norwegian Church (Minnekirken). I think you had a talk there many years ago. There is only 1 Norwegian speaking church left in Chicago....

Thought you would like to have a few lines from the "Old Town." With Best wishe[s] to you and your wife from one who remembers "those days."

Hilsen
/s/ Josefa Hansen Andersen