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Ingemar Johansson: When the Giant Slept
In 1959 Sweden’s Ingemar Johansson knocked out champion Floyd Patterson to become the world heavyweight boxing champion. The boxing world was flabbergasted—not only had a European won, but he had done so in New York City. Moreover, this was the same man who seven years before had been branded a coward and denied a silver medal at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland. In the Helsinki semifinals Johansson faced American Ed Sanders. During the first two rounds the Swede kept his distance and barely threw a punch. The referee dramatically intervened and disqualified Johansson, accusing him of not trying. ...(100 of 244 words)