Lot 371
Johansson, Ingemar - Signed Glove From the June 26, 1959 Heavyweight Championship. Signed boxing glove used by Ingemar Johansson to defeat Floyd Patterson on June 26, 1959, at Yankee Stadium. Johansson's large signature, 3 x 5 in., has faded somewhat through the years but is still legible. The brown leather glove is fully intact, with laces, and bears a label from "G & S SPORTING GOODS, 43 ESSEX ST., N.Y.C." The glove is signed on the inside by Patric Johannson, son of Ingemar, who also signed a notarized letter, guaranteeing that "this glove was given to me by my Father, Ingemar Johannson, who used it to win the 1959 World Heavyweight Championship from Floyd Patterson on June 26, 1959 at Yankee Stadium…." The notarized letter is framed and accompanies the glove. A rare and historically important part of boxing history.
The Swedish Johansson (1932-2009) was the first non-U.S. boxer to win the heavyweight title in 25 years (since Italian Primo Carnero won in 1934) and the 5th non-U.S. boxer to ever win. Johansson was the European champion when he and Patterson met for the heavyweight title. Johansson sent Patterson to the mat seven times before the referee, Ruby Goldstein, stopped the fight 2:03 into the third round. For his win, Johansson won the Hickok Belt as top professional athlete of the year in 1959. He was also named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year and Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year." Patterson won two rematches, one on June 20, 1960 and one on March 13, 1961. These were the only two losses in Johansson's career. Johansson and Patterson remained lifelong friends until both were sadly incapacitated by Alzheimer's disease.
Estimated Value $6,000 - 9,000.
This glove sold for 15,000 Euros in 2007 at Andreas Thies in Nuertingen, Germany.
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