Joe Baksi vs. Olle Tandberg
Olle Tandberg 209 lbs beat Joe Baksi 214 lbs by MD in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1947-07-06
- Location: Råsunda Fotbollsstadion, Stockholm, Sweden
- Referee: Arthur Koch
- Judge: 196-193
"Confusion was general throughout the heavyweight division today, a condition brought about by the Swedish champion, Olle Tandberg, who upset Joe Baksi and a lot of plans here yesterday by gaining a disputed decision in their 10-round bout. With the possible exception of Tandberg, nobody was more surprised than Baksi when the referee and one judge awarded the decision to the Swede, while the other judge called the fight a draw. Even Swedish sportswriters and hometown fans threw up their hands in amazement. But the question left unanswered was who, if anybody, is going to climb into the ring with joe Louis later this year to challenge him for the heavyweight crown. Tandberg, 208, confessed his surprise at being named the winner, although he handed Baksi a bloody nose and a cut over the right eye. Tandberg, who fought the best fight of his career, was fast and elusive and boxed skillfully. But Baksi, 214, was the master all the way and foreign correspondents at ringside agreed he should have been declared the winner." -Associated Press
- Both fighters had been signed by Lew Burston, the European representative of New York's 20th Century Club, to contingent contracts calling for a shot at Joe Louis in Yankee stadium on September 18th. However, four days after this bout, Tami Mauriello was signed for the title fight on that date.
- Gate - $75,000 (app.)
- Purses: Baksi - $25,000 (app.), Tandberg - $15,000 (app.)
Post-fight comment
- "I think Louis is still too big for me. I should prefer to fight Bruce Woodcock next." -Olle Tandberg