12.05.06 – By Per Ake Persson: Floyd Patterson´s death gets big headlines in Swedish media and it´s not just because his career was closely linked to Ingemar Johansson´s. Floyd became in the early sixties “Swedish Floyd” and was extremely popular with his quiet, softspoken ways. His popularity took off in 1960 after beating Johansson and regaining the World heavyweight title.. He toured Sweden later that year and was treated like a royalty. Floyd would return several times in the sixties and beat Eddie Machen in an eliminator in 64 in Stockholm.
He also fought Jimmy Ellis in 68 in Stockholm losing a controversial call. Floyd would return many other times for reunions with Ingemar Johansson and ran the Stockholm Marathon in 83 and 84 with his former opponent, who today sadly also suffers from Alzeheimer´s. The two were always presented over here as the best of friends were never really that close. His brother Raymond, a decent pro in 60´s and 70´s, settled in Sweden in 65 and still resides here.
Hungarian jr light Janos Nagy departed today for Los Angeles and final preparations for his fight against WBO champ Jorge Barrios May 20. Stable mate, supermiddle Joszef Nagy (no relation), will be featured on the undercard.
Norwegian heavy Rune Lillebuen, 11-1, plans to continue boxing and expects to be back, again, during the fall. The 36-year old has had an on- and off career that never really been taking off despite some good wins.
German welter Michel Trabant has (not very surprisingly) vacated the EU title to go after the EBU crown currently held by Frenchman Frederik Klose. Left waiting for a new opponent is the mandatory challenger, Belgian puncher Jackson Osei Bonsu, who predicted this outcome when I spoke with him a few weeks back.
Hungarian jr middle Attila Kovacs have been sparring with WBO champ Sergej Dzindziruk. Kovacs takes on IBO ruler Steve Conway June 3. He is trained by Istvan Levai, who back in the 1980 Olympics beat Sweden´s Anders Eklund.