Steffen Tangstad
Name: Steffen Tangstad
Hometown: Toensberg, Norway
Birthplace: Toensberg, Norway
Died: 2024-06-26 (Age:65)
Height: 188cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record
Steffen Tangstad was a six-time Norwegian National Amateur Heavyweight Champion (1975-1980). He had an amateur record of 61-9.
Tangstad turned professional in Norway on October 1, 1980, fighting a four-round draw against Benji Smith. The following year, Norway banned professional boxing. Tangstad said that move was aimed at him. The amateur boxing establishment "did not like that I became a professional," he said. Turning professional "meant I could not compete in future Olympic Games for Norway."
From March 1981 to October 1983, Tangstad fought 16 bouts in the Chicago area, winning 15 (12 by knockout) and fighting an eight-round draw against James (Buster) Douglas.
Tangstad defeated Lucien Rodriguez by a 12-round unanimous decision in Denmark to win the European Boxing Union Heavyweight Championship on November 9, 1984.
On March 9, 1985, Tangstad lost the European Boxing Union Heavyweight Championship to Anders Eklund by a fourth-round TKO. It was his first professional defeat.
Tangstad won the vacant European Boxing Union Heavyweight Championship with a 12-round split decision win against John Westgarth in Denmark on April 18, 1986.
Tangstad fought Michael Spinks for the International Boxing Federation and Lineal World Heavyweight Championship in Las Vegas on September 6, 1986. Tangstad lost by a fourth-round TKO and never fought again.
- During 2018 Tangstad was diagnosed with polyneuropatia, a disease of the nerve system, not related to boxing according to his doctor in hometown Tonsberg. A leg was amputated in February 2019.