Until 2007, boxing was banned in Sweden for nearly 40 years.
It is hard to believe Sweden ever put the gloves down given the feverish degree of support former Heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson received throughout the mid-twentieth century.
The country lifted its ban in 2007, but it still did not allow 12-round title fights. That was until last year, when a young Swede named Erik Skoglund (25-0, 11 KO) defended his IBF Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight title on Swedish soil.
Skoglund, 25 and ranked by all four major sanctioning bodies, fights in front of a partisan crowd again on December 9 opposite of Timy Shala (21-1-1, 8 KO) at the Rosvalla Arena in his hometown of Nyköping.
Round By Round Boxing caught up with Skoglund and he explained just how much boxing and the legendary Johansson means to Sweden.
“Johansson is the biggest name of Swedish boxing by far. When he fought at Ullevi in Gothenburg, everyone who had a chance was there. Not just fight fans,” said Skoglund.
In 1958, 55,000 spectators packed into the Nya Ullevi stadium to watch Johansson battle the oft-avoided American Eddie Machen—with apparently 50,000 more huddled outside the arena in support.
When countless more rushed the streets of Sweden at three in the morning after Johansson decked Hall of Famer Floyd Patterson seven times for the Heavyweight crown a year later, it becomes that much more inconceivable the Nordic nation would ever take the gloves away from its citizens.
But this sport tends to not stay down for long. And now Skoglund is fighting for his people amid Sweden’s ever-changing geopolitical climate.
“To fight in front of my hometown is very special to me,” said Skoglund. “Boxing was forbidden for a long time… I wasn’t sure that I was ever going to know the feeling of fighting in front of my hometown supporters.”
A rangy fighter, however, will be standing in his way. Shala is a well-traveled veteran with a lone loss on his ledger.
Skoglund fully understands the test he has in front of him and he has done his homework.
“Shala is a technical counterpuncher. He’s about my height and has a good reach. He has only one loss, against the undefeated German, Dominic Bosel,” said Skoglund.
Skoglund has never tasted defeat either. His last bout was a fun scrap with Ryno Lienberg, winning by unanimous decision. Lienberg is a product of the terrific 175-pound South African scene. Skoglund also holds a points win over former world champion Glen Johnson, defeating him over 10 rounds in 2014.
Having won a number of regional and youth belts, Skoglund was forced to fight professionally all over Europe in Denmark, Finland, and Germany before returning to Sweden. He is currently honing his fistic craft in Spain under his father who trained him throughout his amateur career.
The 25 year old expressed how much his father has helped him in and out of the ring.
“He’s always been my mentor,” said Skoglund. “There’s no one who can bring the best out of me like my father can.”
Skoglund previously worked under Karsten Rower of Berlin, Germany before suffering a major back injury. In 2015, he underwent surgery to repair a herniated disk. But with the help of his strength and conditioning coach, David Wahlgren, the Light Heavyweight contender is ready for action.
Still in his mid-twenties, Skoglund was a strong candidate to take on American superstar Andre Ward earlier this year until things fell apart. ESPN reported that it was the Swedish team who withdrew.
Allow Skoglund to set the record straight:
“The negotiations didn’t go as expected. The terms weren’t fair and the payment wasn’t fair,” said Skoglund.
Ward’s trainer, Virgil Hunter, also went on record to say that Skoglund’s team pulled out when they brought up VADA drug testing.
“That’s a funny story,” countered Skoglund. “As we push for the WADA testing ourselves… we have it on all of our shows in Europe.”
“I guess they didn’t want to admit they could not afford a better tune up for Ward.”
It is important to note Skoglund is enrolled in VADA’s volunteered testing program.
Nonetheless, he continued to say that he is more than willing to travel and fight anyone, anytime, as long as the terms are fair.
A solid showing against Shala this weekend can only push Skoglund back into world-title discussion.
Ahead of the big fight, Skoglund is already the No. 3-ranked Light Heavyweight in the IBF rankings and prepared to demonstrate why.
“I’m feeling good,” said Skoglund. “I belong with the best in the division.”
Header photo: KGZ Fougstedt
In article photo: Wende
