Yes, he has been knighted. I'm trying to get Frankie knighted but the Queen isn't currently responding to emails.Rick Farris wrote:Bennie . . . Is it not, "Sir" Henry Cooper?
-Rick
Welcome Aboard Geoffscartissue wrote:Welcome aboard, Geoff.kikibalt wrote:Geoffrey...Welcome to the thread, feel free to jump in here with comments or photos anytime you want.geoffreysadao wrote:I've been a boxing fan for a long time. I toyed around with boxing a little bit, being taught at the New Oakland Boxing Club at 12st and Harrison. Also, I went to Newman's Gym and the Berkeley PAL. I had some great teachers/trainers like Dick Foster, Charley Smith and Jimmy Simmons. Dick and Jimmy are probably deceased now. I last saw Charley in Nov. of 2002 at a boxing show in Vallejo.
I live in Sacramento now, and I used to go to the Capitol Boxing Gym on Stockton Blvd. I remember guys like Ernie Guevara, Joe Guevara, and John Maes Brown.
Most recently, I went to La Dinamita Boxing Gym in North Highlands, which is owned by Rogelio Castaneda Sr. His son, Rogelio Jr., has had a good pro career.
I've had so many favorite fighters in the past. Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Young, Yaqui Lopez, Fidel Fraijo, Jesse Burnett, Andy Ganigan are some that come to mind. I still follow the game pretty closely today, and I watch old fights on You Tube. My wife is a distant cousin to Bobby Chacon. We had the opportunity to meet him at a boxing event in Sacramento last August. My wife has been able to talk to Bobby and his girlfriend over the phone. What a great thing!
I work as a social worker and practice Nichiren Buddhism, something that I've been familiar with since 1981. We chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.
I look forward to correspondence with the West Coast boxing community.
Sincerely,
Geoffrey Prenter
Scartissue
Hey Rog, do you play a musical instrument too? I look at the last two posts here and its a beautiful painting of Ingemar Johansson and then another one of your stories so well written, like a composer sitting at a piano, I read your stories and I'm taken there. I can't do either nor can I play a musical instrument, there seems to be an unbalanced level of talent in some people & you seem to have more than your share. I am glad you are here on this thread, I look forward to seeing your pictures and reading your stories even if you and I are on the opposite ends of the talent scale. Now I'm hoping to hear some of your music?dagosd2000 wrote:GETTING READY
"Naw ,I don't follow football."
I was working the gloves on Bennie. He was about to spar 3 rounds. He looked sharp . Training camp was winding down. Everything was coming together. I was making conversation with him as I was lacing up the big gloves.
"Didn't you ever play sports in school?",I asked him.
"Rog,I didn't go to school too long. I had to work in the morning loading the milk trucks at the dairy. I always arrived late to school. I was so far behind that I just went out and got a job."
"The reason I asked is that the Super Bowl is coming up."
"Who's playing?"
Bennie wasn't trying to be sarcastic. He didn't know. The other sports made no difference to him.
"The Colts and the Cowboys."
I finished up working the gloves on him. He would shadow box for fifteen minutes and then spar with "Surdo". Bennie's fight was with a good south paw. "Surdo" would give Bennie a good look.
Bennie liked to shadow box with the gloves on. He wanted to move his hands all the time with what he was going to wear in the ring. This fight was going to be his chance to give him the shot he'd been working so hard for. Ernie,his trainer, walked in from the lockers. The towels were hung around his neck. He was carrying his old brown leather bag.
"Got a bottle of water?",Ernie asked me.
"It's full."
"You didn't put ice water in it?"
"You always ask me that?"
Ernie laughed.
"I'm just checking. I know I can count on you to set up everything the way I want."
A few minutes before Bennie finished up moving around the ring,"Surdo" walked to the apron. He was sweating. There were three or four towels wrapped over his head.
"Ok Bennie,"shouted."You know what I want. Show me the right hand lead."
"Surdo" circled to his right. Ayala,Saturday, would know what Bennie had in store for him. He'd circle right to take the steam out of the right hand. Both boys knew what they were doing in there. They'd been schooled right. It would be a lesson in boxing.
After the 3 rounds of work ,I started to towel off Bennie. I gave him a swig of water.
"You look good," I said.
"I'll have to be more than good to win Saturday."
The fight was sold out. It was going to be on Cable TV. That's the way the big fights were being shown then. It was all new. There'd be all the stars and athletes in attendance. There'd be some big time fighters in the seats. This was their venue. All the others would be wishing. They'd know who the showcase athletes were that night. The boxers in the ring. There's nothing like a big fight.
After wiping down Bennie,I started to take off his gloves.
"Rog,who did you say was playing in the Super Bowl?"
Bruce 'ol palBobbin & Weavin wrote:Hey Rog, do you play a musical instrument too? I look at the last two posts here and its a beautiful painting of Ingemar Johansson and then another one of your stories so well written, like a composer sitting at a piano, I read your stories and I'm taken there. I can't do either nor can I play a musical instrument, there seems to be an unbalanced level of talent in some people & you seem to have more than your share. I am glad you are here on this thread, I look forward to seeing your pictures and reading your stories even if you and I are on the opposite ends of the talent scale. Now I'm hoping to hear some of your music?dagosd2000 wrote:GETTING READY
"Naw ,I don't follow football."
I was working the gloves on Bennie. He was about to spar 3 rounds. He looked sharp . Training camp was winding down. Everything was coming together. I was making conversation with him as I was lacing up the big gloves.
"Didn't you ever play sports in school?",I asked him.
"Rog,I didn't go to school too long. I had to work in the morning loading the milk trucks at the dairy. I always arrived late to school. I was so far behind that I just went out and got a job."
"The reason I asked is that the Super Bowl is coming up."
"Who's playing?"
Bennie wasn't trying to be sarcastic. He didn't know. The other sports made no difference to him.
"The Colts and the Cowboys."
I finished up working the gloves on him. He would shadow box for fifteen minutes and then spar with "Surdo". Bennie's fight was with a good south paw. "Surdo" would give Bennie a good look.
Bennie liked to shadow box with the gloves on. He wanted to move his hands all the time with what he was going to wear in the ring. This fight was going to be his chance to give him the shot he'd been working so hard for. Ernie,his trainer, walked in from the lockers. The towels were hung around his neck. He was carrying his old brown leather bag.
"Got a bottle of water?",Ernie asked me.
"It's full."
"You didn't put ice water in it?"
"You always ask me that?"
Ernie laughed.
"I'm just checking. I know I can count on you to set up everything the way I want."
A few minutes before Bennie finished up moving around the ring,"Surdo" walked to the apron. He was sweating. There were three or four towels wrapped over his head.
"Ok Bennie,"shouted."You know what I want. Show me the right hand lead."
"Surdo" circled to his right. Ayala,Saturday, would know what Bennie had in store for him. He'd circle right to take the steam out of the right hand. Both boys knew what they were doing in there. They'd been schooled right. It would be a lesson in boxing.
After the 3 rounds of work ,I started to towel off Bennie. I gave him a swig of water.
"You look good," I said.
"I'll have to be more than good to win Saturday."
The fight was sold out. It was going to be on Cable TV. That's the way the big fights were being shown then. It was all new. There'd be all the stars and athletes in attendance. There'd be some big time fighters in the seats. This was their venue. All the others would be wishing. They'd know who the showcase athletes were that night. The boxers in the ring. There's nothing like a big fight.
After wiping down Bennie,I started to take off his gloves.
"Rog,who did you say was playing in the Super Bowl?"
Bruce
Geoffery . . . Welcome to the thread! Several of us here know Bobby very well. Speaking of Buddhism, former female champ Lucia Rijker has been practicing for years and I know she chants every day. We have a great group here, loo forward to getting to know you.geoffreysadao wrote:I've been a boxing fan for a long time. I toyed around with boxing a little bit, being taught at the New Oakland Boxing Club at 12st and Harrison. Also, I went to Newman's Gym and the Berkeley PAL. I had some great teachers/trainers like Dick Foster, Charley Smith and Jimmy Simmons. Dick and Jimmy are probably deceased now. I last saw Charley in Nov. of 2002 at a boxing show in Vallejo.
I live in Sacramento now, and I used to go to the Capitol Boxing Gym on Stockton Blvd. I remember guys like Ernie Guevara, Joe Guevara, and John Maes Brown.
Most recently, I went to La Dinamita Boxing Gym in North Highlands, which is owned by Rogelio Castaneda Sr. His son, Rogelio Jr., has had a good pro career.
I've had so many favorite fighters in the past. Earnie Shavers, Jimmy Young, Yaqui Lopez, Fidel Fraijo, Jesse Burnett, Andy Ganigan are some that come to mind. I still follow the game pretty closely today, and I watch old fights on You Tube. My wife is a distant cousin to Bobby Chacon. We had the opportunity to meet him at a boxing event in Sacramento last August. My wife has been able to talk to Bobby and his girlfriend over the phone. What a great thing!
I work as a social worker and practice Nichiren Buddhism, something that I've been familiar with since 1981. We chant Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.
I look forward to correspondence with the West Coast boxing community.
Sincerely,
Geoffrey Prenter
kikibalt wrote:Don Fraser's boxing record....
Alias Spokane Peach
Birth Name Donald Cameron Fraser
Country USA
Global Id 47885
Birthplace Glasgow, Scotland
Division Lightweight
Career Record © http://www.boxrec.com
Date Opponent Location Result
1936-06-25 Eddie Ivory Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1933-07-20 Johnny Spencer Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1933-06-20 Henry Woods Seattle, USA L PTS 6
1933-05-19 Jimmy Hefferman Aberdeen, USA W PTS 6
1933-05-18 Joey Coffman Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1933-04-27 Leonard Bennett Tacoma, USA W DQ 4
1933-04-11 Stanley Krannenberg Portland, USA W PTS 6
1933-03-28 Young Peter Jackson Los Angeles, USA L KO 2
1933-03-14 Johnny Martinez Seattle, USA D PTS 6
1933-02-21 George Goodrich Seattle, USA W PTS 6
1933-02-16 Leonard Bennett Tacoma, USA L KO 4
1933-02-02 Babe Anderson Tacoma, USA W PTS 8
1933-01-26 Babe Anderson Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1932-12-01 Johnny Simpson Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1932-11-17 Al Trulmans Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1932-10-11 Tony Portillo Portland, USA W PTS 6
1932-09-27 Kenny LaSalle Los Angeles, USA W PTS 4
1932-09-20 Young Peter Jackson Los Angeles, USA W PTS 4
1932-09-13 Tony O'Dell Klamath Falls, USA W PTS 6
1932-09-08 Ray Morgan Tacoma, USA W TKO 4
1932-08-10 Tiger Lee Paige Dishman, USA D PTS 6
1932-08-02 Al Trulmans Portland, USA W PTS 6
1932-07-14 Sammy Santos Dishman, USA D PTS 6
1932-06-23 Tod Morgan Spokane, USA W SD 6
1932-06-09 Sammy Santos Dishman, USA W PTS 6
1932-05-25 Paul Negri Seattle, USA W PTS 6
1932-05-13 Tiger Lee Paige Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1932-05-09 Johnny Spencer Portland, USA W PTS 6
1932-04-14 Goldie Hess Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1932-04-06 Leo Hernandez Seattle, USA W PTS 6
1932-03-23 Leonard Bennett Seattle, USA D PTS 8
1932-03-09 Leonard Bennett Seattle, USA W PTS 6
1932-02-16 Sammy Santos Portland, USA W PTS 6
1932-02-02 Johnny Hansen Portland, USA W PTS 6
1932-01-21 Tod Morgan Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1931-12-30 Frankie Paragon Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1931-12-02 Battling Dozier Seattle, USA L PTS 6
1931-11-19 Mickey Dolan Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1931-11-18 Leonard Bennett Seattle, USA W PTS 6
1931-11-05 Sammy Gallop Tacoma, USA W KO 3
1931-09-07 Johnny Casebeer Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1931-09-02 Mickey McCafferty Seattle, USA W PTS 6
1931-08-26 Joe Ruiz Seattle, USA D PTS 6
1931-08-19 Paul Negri Seattle, USA D PTS 6
1931-08-13 Sailor Fay Kosky Dishman, USA D PTS 6
1931-07-30 Freddie Steele Dishman, USA L PTS 6
1931-07-09 Tony Portillo Dishman, USA W PTS 6
1931-06-30 Al Gracio Dishman, USA W PTS 6
1931-06-19 Nels Ferguson Dishman, USA W PTS 6
1931-05-28 John Freeman Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1931-04-29 Teddy Palacios Seattle, USA D PTS 6
1931-04-17 Jimmy Britt Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1931-03-19 Lee Roberts Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1931-03-06 Ted Gesch Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1931-02-26 Jimmy Britt Tacoma, USA L PTS 6
1931-02-05 Leslie (Wildcat) Carter Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1931-01-22 Tony Portillo Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1930-12-15 Tony Portillo Wenatchee, USA D PTS 6
1930-12-10 Billy Wells Yakima, USA W PTS 6
1930-09-30 Tony Portillo Seattle, USA D PTS 6
1930-09-11 Leslie (Wildcat) Carter Seattle, USA W PTS 8
1930-08-28 Tony Portillo Seattle, USA D PTS 6
1930-08-21 Al Gracio Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1930-07-23 Tod Morgan Spokane, USA L PTS 6
1930-07-04 Hector McDonald Vancouver, Canada L PTS 10
1930-06-26 Joey Coffman Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1930-06-24 Leslie (Wildcat) Carter Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1930-06-13 Tommy Fielding Seattle, USA D PTS 6
1930-05-13 Tommy Fielding Portland, USA W PTS 6
1930-04-07 Doc Snell Spokane, USA D PTS 6
1930-03-12 Leslie (Wildcat) Carter Seattle, USA L PTS 6
1930-02-18 Jack Kentworth Lewiston, USA W TKO 8
1930-02-06 Tommy Fielding Seattle, USA W PTS 6
1930-01-29 Leslie (Wildcat) Carter Bellingham, USA D PTS 6
1929-09-28 George Sollis Boise, USA W TKO 5
1929-09-04 Johnny Casebeer Alan, USA W PTS 8
1929-06-19 Oakland Jimmy Duffy Oakland, USA L PTS 10
1929-06-12 Ray McQuillan Bellingham, USA D PTS 6
1929-05-03 Frankie Repoz Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1929-03-07 Leslie (Wildcat) Carter Tacoma, USA L PTS 6
1929-01-18 Ray McQuillan Spokane, USA L PTS 6
1929-01-01 Joe Sieloff Seattle, USA W PTS 6
1928-12-12 Frankie Repoz Bellingham, USA D PTS 6
1928-12-07 Young Harry Wills Spokane, USA W UD 6
1928-10-17 Hugh Fraser Kimberley, Canada W PTS 6
1928-10-12 Al Gracio Spokane, USA L PTS 6
1928-09-14 Joe Sieloff Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1928-07-04 Doc Snell Yakima, USA L PTS 6
1928-06-08 Jackie Fields Hollywood, USA L KO 3
1928-05-18 Dick Hoppe Hollywood, USA L PTS 10
1928-05-04 Jackie Fields Hollywood, USA L KO 1
1928-03-15 Doc Snell Tacoma, USA L PTS 6
1928-03-01 Young Harry Wills Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1928-02-23 Young Harry Wills Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1928-02-17 Jimmy Cottrell Dishman, USA L PTS 6
1928-01-27 Young Jack Thompson San Francisco, USA L KO 3
1928-01-19 Dode Bercot Tacoma, USA D PTS 6
1928-01-12 Dode Bercot Tacoma, USA W DQ 2
1928-01-02 Freddie Mack Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1927-12-09 Harold Reese Walla Walla, USA W PTS 6
1927-12-02 Tommy Cello San Francisco, USA L PTS 10
1927-10-07 Freddie Mack Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1927-09-07 Benny Dotson Coeur d'Alene, USA W PTS 12
1927-07-29 Weldon 'Tuffy' Wing Dishman, USA W TKO 6
1927-06-21 Jack Silver Alan, USA W PTS 12
1927-05-24 Arizona Joe Rivers Alan, USA W PTS 10
1927-05-06 Johnny Motjel Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1927-04-15 Johnny Jordan Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1927-04-08 Chubby Van Hooser Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1927-03-18 Johnny Jordan Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1927-03-15 Joe Marcus Portland, USA L PTS 10
1927-03-04 Jimmy Sacco Spokane, USA D PTS 6
1927-02-08 Joe Marcus Portland, USA L PTS 10
1927-01-18 Kewpie Riley Portland, USA W PTS 6
1927-01-14 Jimmy Lundy Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1926-12-17 Tommy Mack Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1926-11-30 Eddie Lacey Spokane, USA W KO 2
1926-11-12 Franklin Cheslock Spokane, USA W PTS 6
1926-11-02 Eddie Flynn Seattle, USA W PTS 6
1926-09-28 Johnny Trambitas Coeur d'Alene, USA W PTS 10
1926-09-06 Johnny Jordan Alan, USA D PTS 10
1926-08-19 Johnny Goggin Lewiston, USA W KO 3
1926-07-22 Johnny Carlson Alan, USA W KO 7
1926-06-19 Johnny Goggin Wallace, USA W TKO 6
1926-05-27 Johnny Goggin Wallace, USA D PTS 6
1926-04-20 Frankie Britt Coeur d'Alene, USA L PTS 12
1926-03-02 Joe Marcus Coeur d'Alene, USA W PTS 12
1926-02-12 Lou Paluso Portland, USA L PTS 10
1925-12-21 Johnny Duarte Portland, USA W KO 2
1925-11-30 Joe Powell Portland, USA W PTS 6
1925-11-25 Al Gracio Coeur d'Alene, USA L KO 12
1925-11-11 Young George Dixon Walla Walla, USA W PTS 6
1925-10-28 Al Gracio Coeur d'Alene, USA NC NC 5
1925-10-01 Min Minnich Tacoma, USA W PTS 6
1925-09-07 Mike DePinto Alan, USA W PTS 10
1925-08-20 George Sollis Alan, USA W PTS 10
1925-07-30 Jimmy Rivers Alan, USA W KO 2
1925-07-02 Babe Cyclone Folmer Alan, USA W PTS 6
1925-06-02 Jimmy Evans Alan, USA W TKO 5
Record to Date
Won 92 (KOs 12) Lost 26 Drawn 20 Total 139
Damn, I'm dying laughing here!kikibalt wrote:Ernie DeFrance was a trainer working out of the Seaside Gym, Long Beach, Ca.
Rick and I knew Ernie real good back in the day.
Ernie DeFrance
Country USA
Global Id 203394
Division Lightweight
Career Record © http://www.boxrec.com
Date Opponent Location Result
1949-08-12 Baby Face Mathis San Diego, USA L KO 3
1949-06-17 Baby Aguila Hollywood, USA W KO 1
1949-06-03 Ron Cannon Hollywood, USA L PTS 6
1949-05-27 Ricardo Palacios Hollywood, USA L PTS 4
1949-05-13 Tello Cruz Hollywood, USA L TKO 2
1949-04-29 Tello Cruz Hollywood, USA L PTS 4
1949-04-22 Bobby Terrance Hollywood, USA L PTS 4
1949-04-14 Chuey Padilla Hollywood, USA W KO 1
1949-04-08 Baby Aguila Hollywood, USA W KO 1
1949-03-02 Nelson Levering Wichita, USA L KO 2
1949-02-16 Nelson Levering Wichita, USA L PTS 6
1949-01-12 Frankie Rivera Wichita, USA L PTS 6
1948-12-08 Bud Love Wichita, USA D PTS 6
1948-10-20 Edmund Carr Wichita, USA L PTS 6
1948-09-29 Louis Crumes Wichita, USA L PTS 6
1948-09-10 Herman Mills Omaha, USA W PTS 6
1948-07-05 Louis Crumes Topeka, USA L PTS 4
1948-06-22 Cy Lewis Topeka, USA W KO 1
1948-06-03 Ron Cannon Minneapolis, USA L PTS 6
1948-05-05 Edmund Carr Wichita, USA W PTS 5
1948-04-30 Russ Moore Topeka, USA L PTS 6
1948-04-14 Pat O'Leary Kansas City, USA W KO 2
1948-03-29 Pat Murphy Omaha, USA D PTS 6
1948-03-22 Solly Sanchez Minneapolis, USA W KO 2
1948-03-15 Victor Creelman Omaha, USA W TKO 3
1948-03-03 Jack Wilson Topeka, USA W KO 2
1948-03-01 Russ Moore Omaha, USA W PTS 6
1948-02-16 Victor Creelman Omaha, USA W KO 5
1948-01-27 Tiger Ted Weems Chicago, USA L PTS 4
1948-01-21 Frankie Rivera Topeka, USA L PTS 4
1947-12-10 Frankie Rivera Wichita, USA L PTS 6
1947-12-03 Freddie White Topeka, USA W KO 2
1947-10-08 Bud Love Wichita, USA L PTS 5
1947-09-30 Bud Love Kansas City, USA L KO 1
1947-06-12 Shifty Gardner Kansas City, USA W KO 2
1947-05-11 Lewis Williams Kansas City, USA L KO 3
1947-04-30 Tommy Graham Wichita, USA W KO 2
1947-04-22 Lewis Williams Kansas City, USA W PTS 5
1947-03-25 Lewis Williams Kansas City, USA L PTS 4
1947-01-23 Do Durant Minneapolis, USA W KO 3
1946-12-30 Russ Moore Kansas City, USA W KO 1
1946-12-30 Spider Webb Kansas City, USA W TKO 1
1946-12-20 Russ Moore Kansas City, USA W KO 2
1946-12-16 Jackie Dickers Saint Louis, USA L PTS 6
1946-12-03 Russ Moore Kansas City, USA W TKO 2
1946-11-27 Francisco Dozal Wichita, USA W PTS 4
1946-11-06 Joe Flores Wichita, USA W PTS 4
1946-10-16 Baby Torres Wichita, USA W KO 2
1946-10-01 Cecil Reece Oklahoma City, USA W PTS 4
1946-09-25 Ruben Salazar Wichita, USA L PTS 4
1946-06-18 Bobby Jarvis Kansas City, USA D PTS 4
1946-05-29 Tex Suddarth Wichita, USA W KO 2
1946-05-27 Paul Martinez Omaha, USA W PTS 4
Record to Date
Won 27 (KOs 19) Lost 23 Drawn 3 Total 53
Jeffries old Cafe was exactly one block over from where the Main St. Gym once stood. Fireman Jim Flynn had a place right around the corner, I believe on 3rd St.(?) In fact, the back of the "original" Main St. Gym (across the street from the one we trained at) was right across the back alley from Jeffries Cafe.kikibalt wrote:
James J. Jeffries...1949
Great painting, Roger. Rest in Peace, Champ.dagosd2000 wrote:
Ingemar Johansson
I agree that Frank should be Knighted. Currently, Frank is the "Prince of Pugilism" here in Los Angeles, so he has the credentials, in my opinion.bennie wrote:Yes, he has been knighted. I'm trying to get Frankie knighted but the Queen isn't currently responding to emails.Rick Farris wrote:Bennie . . . Is it not, "Sir" Henry Cooper?
-Rick
Truly sad, sad news.kikibalt wrote:Johansson knocked out Patterson, Associated Press
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Ingemar Johansson, the Swede who stunned the boxing world by knocking out Floyd Patterson to win the heavyweight title in 1959, has died, a longtime friend said Saturday. Johansson was 76.
Johansson died at a nursing home in Kungsbacka on the Swedish west coast, said Stig Caldeborn, a close friend who sparred with Johansson when they were in their teens.
Floyd Patterson lies on the canvas after taking a knockout blow from Ingemar Johansson in the third round of their heavyweight title bout in New York's Yankee Stadium in 1959. Caldeborn said he didn't know the cause of death but told The Associated Press that Johansson had recently returned to the nursing home after being hospitalized with pneumonia.
Johansson's daughter, Maria Gregner, told Swedish news agency TT that the former champion died just before midnight Friday.
Johansson was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia more than 10 years ago, when he lived in Stockholm. He spent the rest of his life in Kungsbacka, only a few miles from the house where he grew up.
Johansson knocked out Patterson in the third round at Yankee Stadium on June 26, 1959, to win the heavyweight title. He floored the American seven times in the third round before referee Ruby Goldstein stopped the fight 2:03 into it.
Back home, hundreds of thousands of Swedes listened to the live radio broadcast at 3 a.m. as Johansson became only the fifth heavyweight champion born outside the United States. His feat earned him The Associated Press' Male Athlete of the Year in 1959, only the second Swede to win the award.
Patterson avenged the upset loss a year later in the rematch in New York, knocking Johansson out in the fifth round. In March 1961, the Swede floored Patterson twice in Miami before being knocked out in the sixth round of the rubber match.
Johansson had four more fights -- all wins, one of them a knockout of England's Dick Richardson for the European title in 1962 -- before retiring the following year.
Johansson was married and divorced twice, and is also survived by five children. Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
If I get knighted, do I get my own castles?bennie wrote:Yes, he has been knighted. I'm trying to get Frankie knighted but the Queen isn't currently responding to emails.Rick Farris wrote:Bennie . . . Is it not, "Sir" Henry Cooper?
-Rick
Great painting, that's Robinson.dagosd2000 wrote:
Sugar Ray Robinson
I think today, you get a ceremony, a title, and maybe some kind of plaque or trophy. Kinda like being inducted into the WBHOF?kikibalt wrote:If I get knighted, do I get my own castles?bennie wrote:Yes, he has been knighted. I'm trying to get Frankie knighted but the Queen isn't currently responding to emails.Rick Farris wrote:Bennie . . . Is it not, "Sir" Henry Cooper?
-Rick
Sir Frankie....
