Classic Boxing Matches's video: Floyd Patterson vs Ingemar Johansson III 13 3 1961 - World Heavyweight Championship

In anticipation for this weekends big WBC World Heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, I've uploaded a classic World Heavyweight Championship fight from years gone by, the rubber match between Ingemar Johansson and Floyd Patterson, 1961. See below... In 1959 Ingemar Johansson shocked the world when he knocked out Floyd Patterson within 3 Rds to win the World Heavyweight Championship and was awarded the title of Fighter of the Year by Ring Magazine. A year later in the rematch and Floyd Patterson would knock out Johansson in the 5th Rd to win the title back in The Ring Magazines Fight of The Year and made history as the first fighter to ever win back the World Heavyweight title. The rubber match was highly anticipated, both men had proven they could knock the other one down and out but with 1 win a piece, who was actually the better fighter?... And while this was going on, a hungry Sonny Liston was waiting in the wings to challenge whoever came out as Champ. In the lead up to the fight, Ingemar took part in a public sparring session with 3 young fighters, one named Cassius Clay. For 2 rounds Clay danced around and treated Johansson as if HE was the sparring partner with Johansson unable to land a telling blow. Johansson would say afterwards "He's good, this fellow" but Clay would go on to say "I should be fighting for the World Heavyweight title"... Altough Johansson looked out of shape, the rubber match lived up to all the hype. The first round alone was awarded "Round of the Year" by Ring Magazine. Johansson was first to the lead, dropping Patterson with a right cross. Patterson jumped up to his feet as quick as a cat at 3 but the referee continued with the new mandatory 8 count rule (the first time a mandatory 8 count would be used in World Heavyweight title fight). Once fighting resumed Patterson looked recovered but Johansson was on him quick as a flash, stunning Patterson a with a straight right before dropping him with a left hook. Once again, Patterson received an 8 count and by the time fighting resumed he looked recovered. Johansson once again waded in looking to end it but out of nowhere Floyd lashed out with a left right combo that Ingemar took full force to the face and now he went down. The first time in 40 years that both boxers would go down in the same round during a World Heavyweight title fight. Johansson was now on the receiving end of a standing 8 count, Floyd managed to land one more solid punch before the round ended but both men had survived. Both men traded leather back and forward during Rd 2, looking a little sloppy at times and slipping over and although no knockdowns occurred it was just as exciting as the 1st! Round 3 slowed down a bit as both men were more cautious but Patterson had established a strong jab and opened a cut above Johansson's right eye although Johansson was still able to land with some decent counters but the power was starting to go. Both men were now absorbing a lot of punches. In Rd 4 Patterson suffered a cut over his left eye but he was starting to target the body of Johansson (something he had not done in the previous 2 encounters) and it was having a great effect. Both men traded jabs, Ingemar even manged to connect with his famous right hand again that appeared to hurt Patterson but just as quickly as it looked like the tide had turned for the Swede, Patterson fought back with both hands in a flurry that left Johansson overwhelmed and unsure what to do. Rd 5 was the most lacklustre, both men content to jab and tiring, arguably Johansson coming off best but Patterson did land another decent body shot before the end of the round. In Rd 6 Johansson looked tired but Patterson was looking refreshed, it started slowly with jabs again but Johansson managed to land his straight right a couple times and it invigorated him, chasing the Champion around the ring looking for a big punch to end it but Patterson weathered the storm. Both men returned to centre ring and it was clear Johansson was lacking the power in his punches to seriously hurt Patterson now. Patterson leapt in with a left hook to Johansson's forehead and followed it up with a couple rights to the temple that dropped the Swede. Not the best knockdown Patterson would score, but it was effective. Johansson struggled gamely to stand but was unable to beat the count. Johansson claimed he was the victim of a fast count, but replays showed he actually had a long count and plenty of time to rise if he was able to. Patterson had won one of the greatest rubber matches in boxing history and a successful 1st win for his second reign as Champion. Johansson would return to Sweden after the loss and competed for another 2 years going undefeated until his retirement. He won the European Heavyweight title for a second time in 1962 but then called it quits the following year after narrowly avoiding a loss to Brian London for a final record of 26-2.