RIP Anders Eklund
RIP Anders Eklund
Former two time European hw champion Anders Eklund passed away yesterday. He was only 52 years old.
Re: RIP Anders Eklund
any word as to cause? May he R.I.P.
Re: RIP Anders Eklund
He suffered a heart attack I believe. Heart problems ran in the family, he actually outlived both his brothers, both dead before the age of 50.BoxBuzz wrote:any word as to cause? May he R.I.P.
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The Great John L
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 4351
- Joined: 26 Jul 2005, 19:37
Re: RIP Anders Eklund
Quite a shock to hear this. I'll always remember his fight against Jimmy Clark, who was a top US amatuer and one that ABC was helping to publicize. Eklund gave Clark a pretty fair beating in that fight, which got quiote a bit of attention becuas it was Clarks final fight before turning pro.
RIP champ.
RIP champ.
Re: RIP Anders Eklund
Anders "Lillen" Eklund was a likable guy, a gentle giant who often faced ridicule in his home country of Sweden. Most people only remember him for the Witherspoon fight but he was a useful fighter with decent skills and a strong right hand. He never did get that big fight, had he beaten Bruno he would have been in line for a title fight but against the likes of Bruno he was out of his depth. Lillen ("tiny") was a carpenter by trade and he once remarked that if you spread his ring earnings over the years he spent fighting it was on par with a carpenters salary.
A true story; Eklund was taken to the Catskills in 1980 and sparred under the supervision of Cus D'Amato. Eklund was put in with a young Carl Williams and he dropped Williams hard with a big right hand. While Williams was crawling back to his corner on his hands and knees, a 13 year old kid was applauding Eklund from ringside. The kid was Mike Tyson.
A true story; Eklund was taken to the Catskills in 1980 and sparred under the supervision of Cus D'Amato. Eklund was put in with a young Carl Williams and he dropped Williams hard with a big right hand. While Williams was crawling back to his corner on his hands and knees, a 13 year old kid was applauding Eklund from ringside. The kid was Mike Tyson.
Re: RIP Anders Eklund
Some kind of heart failure. From what I have read a friend went there to pick up a computer but "Lillen" could not open the door and the friend heard he was lying sick inside so the friend called the police and an ambulance. The police had to break in the door. Lillen could walk himself to the ambulance but had problem breathing. A couple of minutes after he arrived to the hospital his heart stopped. Seems like it is something running in the family. As mentioned his brothers died from heart failure at the ages of 41 and 47 and also his father died from a heart disease.
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Thunder and Lightning
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 177
- Joined: 11 Jul 2006, 10:40
Re: RIP Anders Eklund
That is a nice story considering Eklund never got much praise about anything.A true story; Eklund was taken to the Catskills in 1980 and sparred under the supervision of Cus D'Amato. Eklund was put in with a young Carl Williams and he dropped Williams hard with a big right hand. While Williams was crawling back to his corner on his hands and knees, a 13 year old kid was applauding Eklund from ringside. The kid was Mike Tyson.
He was a deacent fighter you don't become a two time european champion and WBA American champion otherwise, however he never was anywhere near worldclass.
My favorite moment is when he beat Steffen Tangstad for his first EBU title, being a huge underdog he beat Tangstad and gave the press something to think about :)
R.I.P Anders Eklund, you will be missed.
Re: RIP Anders Eklund
Swedish heavyweight boxing champion Anders Eklund dies at the age of 52
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 2 days ago
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Swedish heavyweight champion boxer Anders Eklund has died at the age of 52.
Swedish news agency TT says Eklund died Thursday but gave no cause of death.
A carpenter by training, Eklund took up boxing in the 1970s. After an unsuccessful Olympics in Moscow in 1980 he began a professional career.
Eklund took his first European heavyweight title in 1985 by beating Norway's Steffen Tangstad. A year later he regained the title by defeating Spanish fighter Alfredo Evangelista.
Eklund, known as "Lillen" (Little One) despite standing six foot eight, won 19 of 25 pro fights and 57 of 81 amateur bouts.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 2 days ago
STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Swedish heavyweight champion boxer Anders Eklund has died at the age of 52.
Swedish news agency TT says Eklund died Thursday but gave no cause of death.
A carpenter by training, Eklund took up boxing in the 1970s. After an unsuccessful Olympics in Moscow in 1980 he began a professional career.
Eklund took his first European heavyweight title in 1985 by beating Norway's Steffen Tangstad. A year later he regained the title by defeating Spanish fighter Alfredo Evangelista.
Eklund, known as "Lillen" (Little One) despite standing six foot eight, won 19 of 25 pro fights and 57 of 81 amateur bouts.
Re: RIP Anders Eklund
Eklund var en av de riktigt stora
Publicerad: 3 april 2010, 15.33. Senast ändrad: 3 april 2010, 15.39
Anders Eklund är död. Därmed har på bara ett drygt år två av Sveriges största tungviktsboxare gått ner för den sista gong-gongen. För även om Eklund inte kan jämföras med Ingemar Johansson så är han en av de största svenska tungviktarna.
Anders Eklund var en självskriven gäst när svenska boxningsförbundet fyllde 75 år för 15 år sedan. Efteråt gick Eklund, jag själv och två andra gamla boxare ner på restaurang Prinsen för att ta en öl. Vi lämnade in ytterkläderna till rockvaktmästaren, och sträckte fram våra tiokronorsmynt. Rockvaktmästaren tog emot Eklunds jacka, men vägrade att ta emot tian:
”Jag känner igen dig. Dubbel europamästare; i min garderob behöver du inte betala”.
I det ögonblicket växte den 199 centimeter långe Eklund till en bra bit över två meter.
För Anders Eklund – han gillade själv aldrig att bli kallad ”Lillen” – var inte van vid komplimanger och hyllningar. Ingen boxare någonsin i Sverige, knappast någon idrottsman överhuvudtaget, fick under och efter sin karriär utstå så mycket hån, spott och spe som Eklund fick. Det vilar därför ett inte så litet mått av hyckleri över de hyllningar som svensk kvällspress nu öser över Eklund: en rad av okunniga krönikörer, både döda och ännu levande och aktiva, har under 30 år hämtat billiga poänger och lockat fram fniss hos okunniga läsare genom att driva med Eklund.
Jag orkar inte gå in på allt de sagt och skrivit. Men jag vet vad Anders tyckte om de krönikörerna. Och vad han skulle velat göra med dem.
För i själva verket var ju Eklund en av våra största boxare. När tidningen Boxning nyligen rankade våra största proffs genom tiderna hamnade Eklund på sjunde plats, och räknat enbart på tungviktarna på fjärde plats, efter Ingemar Johansson, Harry Persson och Olle Tandberg.
Det är en bra ranking.
Eklund vann den professionella EM-titeln i tungvikt två gånger och han vann den amerikanska titeln, också det en stor merit. Under en 25 matcher lång karriär 1982–1990 mötte Eklund åtta (!) boxare som hade boxat eller skulle komma att boxa om en stor VM-titel: i ordning Joe Bugner (förlust), Steffen Tangstad (seger om EM-titeln), Frank Bruno (EM-förlust), Glenn McCrory (seger), Jesse Ferguson (seger), Alfredo Evangelista (EM-seger), Francesco Damiani (EM-förlust) och Tim Witherspoon (förlust, VM-kval).
Av svenska proffs kan bara Ingemar Johansson visa upp en lika tuff matchlista.
Anders Eklunds pro-karriär spände över åtta år, 19 segrar (10 på KO), en oavgjord och fem förluster). Förutom EM-fighterna vann han också i mars 1989 den amerikanska tungviktstiteln när han besegrade svåre Phillip Brown (tre förluster på 30 matcher) på poäng, 12 ronder, i Reno i USA.
Efter karriären återgick Anders till jobbet som byggnadssnickare och han utvecklade sitt intresse för countrymusik: Eklund var en hyfsat god både gitarrist och sånga- re.
Som boxare var han mer än hyfsad. Trots allt hån han fick ta emot så var han, i verkligheten, en av de största svenska pugilisterna genom alla tider.
Anders Eklund blev 52 år.
Rough translation for anyone interested: (Don't hold me to it!!)
Anders Eklund is dead. Thus, in just a year, two of Sweden's greatest heavyweight boxers went down to the final gong. Eklund, although not comparable to Ingemar Johansson, is one of the biggest Swedish heavyweights.
Anders Eklund was an obvious choice when visiting Swedish Boxing Federation celebrated 75 years 15 years ago. Afterward, Eklund, myself and two other old boxer [went] down the restaurant . . . to have a beer. We retrieved our coats from the cloakrooms, and held out our tickets. Eklund received his jacket, but the owner refused to accept the payment [this was very rough - its hard to translate]:
"I recognize you. The Double European champion, in my cloakroom, you do not pay ".
At that moment the 199 centimeters tall Eklund grew well over two meters.
For Anders Eklund - he never liked to be called "Tiny" - was not used to compliments and praise. No boxers ever in Sweden, and hardly any athlete at all, suffered as much scorn and ridicule as Eklund received both during and after his career. Therefore, there is not a small measure of hypocrisy from the Swedish evening press tributes that are now pouring over Eklund: a series of ignorant reporters, both dead and still alive and active, have over 30 years made cheap shots and elicited giggles from ignorant readers to make fun of Eklund.
I cannot go into everything they said and wrote. But I know that Anders liked the reporters . . .and what he wanted to do with them.
In fact, Eklund was one of our greatest boxers. When our magazine recently ranked our greatest pro boxers of all time Eklund came in seventh place, and ranked among the heavyweights in fourth place, after Ingemar Johansson, Harry Persson and Olle Tandberg.
It is a good ranking.
Eklund won the European heavyweight title twice and won the U.S. title - a big accomplishment. During a long career of 25 fights from 1982-1990, Eklund met eight boxers who had won or challenged for the major titles: in order Joe Bugner (loss), Steffen Tangberg (win-the European Championship), Frank Bruno (EM-loss), Glenn McCrory (victory), Jesse Ferguson (win), Alfredo Evangelista (European Championship win), Francesco Damiani (EM-loss) and Tim Witherspoon (loss of world contender status).
Of Swedish professionals, only Ingemar Johansson had an equally tough list of opponents.
Anders Eklund's pro-career stretched over eight years, 19 wins (10 by KO), one draw and five losses. In addition to EM-fighter, he also won in March 1989 the American heavyweight title when he defeated Phillip Brown (30-3) on pts in 12 rounds in Reno, USA.
After his career, Anders returned to work as a carpenter and he developed his interest in country music: Eklund was a pretty good guitarist and singer.
As a boxer, he was more than decent. Despite all the scorn he received, he was, in fact, one of the biggest Swedish fighters of all time.
Anders Eklund was 52 years.
Those of you who are fluent - don't hold me to this!!
Publicerad: 3 april 2010, 15.33. Senast ändrad: 3 april 2010, 15.39
Anders Eklund är död. Därmed har på bara ett drygt år två av Sveriges största tungviktsboxare gått ner för den sista gong-gongen. För även om Eklund inte kan jämföras med Ingemar Johansson så är han en av de största svenska tungviktarna.
Anders Eklund var en självskriven gäst när svenska boxningsförbundet fyllde 75 år för 15 år sedan. Efteråt gick Eklund, jag själv och två andra gamla boxare ner på restaurang Prinsen för att ta en öl. Vi lämnade in ytterkläderna till rockvaktmästaren, och sträckte fram våra tiokronorsmynt. Rockvaktmästaren tog emot Eklunds jacka, men vägrade att ta emot tian:
”Jag känner igen dig. Dubbel europamästare; i min garderob behöver du inte betala”.
I det ögonblicket växte den 199 centimeter långe Eklund till en bra bit över två meter.
För Anders Eklund – han gillade själv aldrig att bli kallad ”Lillen” – var inte van vid komplimanger och hyllningar. Ingen boxare någonsin i Sverige, knappast någon idrottsman överhuvudtaget, fick under och efter sin karriär utstå så mycket hån, spott och spe som Eklund fick. Det vilar därför ett inte så litet mått av hyckleri över de hyllningar som svensk kvällspress nu öser över Eklund: en rad av okunniga krönikörer, både döda och ännu levande och aktiva, har under 30 år hämtat billiga poänger och lockat fram fniss hos okunniga läsare genom att driva med Eklund.
Jag orkar inte gå in på allt de sagt och skrivit. Men jag vet vad Anders tyckte om de krönikörerna. Och vad han skulle velat göra med dem.
För i själva verket var ju Eklund en av våra största boxare. När tidningen Boxning nyligen rankade våra största proffs genom tiderna hamnade Eklund på sjunde plats, och räknat enbart på tungviktarna på fjärde plats, efter Ingemar Johansson, Harry Persson och Olle Tandberg.
Det är en bra ranking.
Eklund vann den professionella EM-titeln i tungvikt två gånger och han vann den amerikanska titeln, också det en stor merit. Under en 25 matcher lång karriär 1982–1990 mötte Eklund åtta (!) boxare som hade boxat eller skulle komma att boxa om en stor VM-titel: i ordning Joe Bugner (förlust), Steffen Tangstad (seger om EM-titeln), Frank Bruno (EM-förlust), Glenn McCrory (seger), Jesse Ferguson (seger), Alfredo Evangelista (EM-seger), Francesco Damiani (EM-förlust) och Tim Witherspoon (förlust, VM-kval).
Av svenska proffs kan bara Ingemar Johansson visa upp en lika tuff matchlista.
Anders Eklunds pro-karriär spände över åtta år, 19 segrar (10 på KO), en oavgjord och fem förluster). Förutom EM-fighterna vann han också i mars 1989 den amerikanska tungviktstiteln när han besegrade svåre Phillip Brown (tre förluster på 30 matcher) på poäng, 12 ronder, i Reno i USA.
Efter karriären återgick Anders till jobbet som byggnadssnickare och han utvecklade sitt intresse för countrymusik: Eklund var en hyfsat god både gitarrist och sånga- re.
Som boxare var han mer än hyfsad. Trots allt hån han fick ta emot så var han, i verkligheten, en av de största svenska pugilisterna genom alla tider.
Anders Eklund blev 52 år.
Rough translation for anyone interested: (Don't hold me to it!!)
Anders Eklund is dead. Thus, in just a year, two of Sweden's greatest heavyweight boxers went down to the final gong. Eklund, although not comparable to Ingemar Johansson, is one of the biggest Swedish heavyweights.
Anders Eklund was an obvious choice when visiting Swedish Boxing Federation celebrated 75 years 15 years ago. Afterward, Eklund, myself and two other old boxer [went] down the restaurant . . . to have a beer. We retrieved our coats from the cloakrooms, and held out our tickets. Eklund received his jacket, but the owner refused to accept the payment [this was very rough - its hard to translate]:
"I recognize you. The Double European champion, in my cloakroom, you do not pay ".
At that moment the 199 centimeters tall Eklund grew well over two meters.
For Anders Eklund - he never liked to be called "Tiny" - was not used to compliments and praise. No boxers ever in Sweden, and hardly any athlete at all, suffered as much scorn and ridicule as Eklund received both during and after his career. Therefore, there is not a small measure of hypocrisy from the Swedish evening press tributes that are now pouring over Eklund: a series of ignorant reporters, both dead and still alive and active, have over 30 years made cheap shots and elicited giggles from ignorant readers to make fun of Eklund.
I cannot go into everything they said and wrote. But I know that Anders liked the reporters . . .and what he wanted to do with them.
In fact, Eklund was one of our greatest boxers. When our magazine recently ranked our greatest pro boxers of all time Eklund came in seventh place, and ranked among the heavyweights in fourth place, after Ingemar Johansson, Harry Persson and Olle Tandberg.
It is a good ranking.
Eklund won the European heavyweight title twice and won the U.S. title - a big accomplishment. During a long career of 25 fights from 1982-1990, Eklund met eight boxers who had won or challenged for the major titles: in order Joe Bugner (loss), Steffen Tangberg (win-the European Championship), Frank Bruno (EM-loss), Glenn McCrory (victory), Jesse Ferguson (win), Alfredo Evangelista (European Championship win), Francesco Damiani (EM-loss) and Tim Witherspoon (loss of world contender status).
Of Swedish professionals, only Ingemar Johansson had an equally tough list of opponents.
Anders Eklund's pro-career stretched over eight years, 19 wins (10 by KO), one draw and five losses. In addition to EM-fighter, he also won in March 1989 the American heavyweight title when he defeated Phillip Brown (30-3) on pts in 12 rounds in Reno, USA.
After his career, Anders returned to work as a carpenter and he developed his interest in country music: Eklund was a pretty good guitarist and singer.
As a boxer, he was more than decent. Despite all the scorn he received, he was, in fact, one of the biggest Swedish fighters of all time.
Anders Eklund was 52 years.
Those of you who are fluent - don't hold me to this!!
Last edited by raylawpc on 05 Apr 2010, 15:57, edited 2 times in total.
Re: RIP Anders Eklund
From the Guardian (UK):
Anders Eklund, 1957-2010
The careers of the big boys, more than in any other division, can thrive or perish in a single punch. But some guys don't take the hint.
Anders Eklund, who died in Sweden yesterday aged 52, was well acquainted with the vagaries of his calling. He first fought in the UK in 1983, knocking out the Birmingham-based Dubliner Paddy Finn in a round. It was Paddy's first loss and he would retire the following year after being stopped by Horace Notice.
Eklund returned to England and was knocked out himself in a round, by the rising scouser Noel Quarless. Quarless (who had been knocked out in a round by Finn in 1982) soldiered on with mixed success.
But the 6ft 8in Eklund kept plugging away. Joe Bugner beat him on points and Frank Bruno knocked him out in four rounds, but he wouldn't go away. He beat Glenn McCrory and Jesse Ferguson before Francesco Damiani knocked him out in six and Tim Witherspoon put him away in round one.
Lillen, "The Little One", at least went out with a win, beating Garing Lane on points over six rounds in a place called Aars in Denmark in 1990.
Anders Eklund, 1957-2010
The careers of the big boys, more than in any other division, can thrive or perish in a single punch. But some guys don't take the hint.
Anders Eklund, who died in Sweden yesterday aged 52, was well acquainted with the vagaries of his calling. He first fought in the UK in 1983, knocking out the Birmingham-based Dubliner Paddy Finn in a round. It was Paddy's first loss and he would retire the following year after being stopped by Horace Notice.
Eklund returned to England and was knocked out himself in a round, by the rising scouser Noel Quarless. Quarless (who had been knocked out in a round by Finn in 1982) soldiered on with mixed success.
But the 6ft 8in Eklund kept plugging away. Joe Bugner beat him on points and Frank Bruno knocked him out in four rounds, but he wouldn't go away. He beat Glenn McCrory and Jesse Ferguson before Francesco Damiani knocked him out in six and Tim Witherspoon put him away in round one.
Lillen, "The Little One", at least went out with a win, beating Garing Lane on points over six rounds in a place called Aars in Denmark in 1990.
Re: RIP Anders Eklund
Anders Eklund also suffered from diabetes.Emil wrote:Some kind of heart failure. From what I have read a friend went there to pick up a computer but "Lillen" could not open the door and the friend heard he was lying sick inside so the friend called the police and an ambulance. The police had to break in the door. Lillen could walk himself to the ambulance but had problem breathing. A couple of minutes after he arrived to the hospital his heart stopped. Seems like it is something running in the family. As mentioned his brothers died from heart failure at the ages of 41 and 47 and also his father died from a heart disease.