Top-rated heavyweight contender Ingemar Johansson destroys Floyd Patterson to capture the heavyweight title on June 26, 1959 at New York’s Yankee Stadium. Patterson, 182, was the 5-1 betting favorite to beat the #1 contender Johansson, 196.
The fight was broadcast live on ABC radio and available in 170 locations in 135 cities on closed-circuit television through movie theaters and drive-in theaters. Prices for the fight at Yankee Stadium ranged from ringside at $100 to the upper bleachers at $5.
Johansson was guaranteed $100,000, while the heavyweight champion Patterson was guaranteed $300,000.
A crowd of 21,961 turned out that produced a live gate of $470,712.25.
Top-rated heavyweight contender Ingemar Johansson destroys Floyd Patterson to capture the heavyweight title on June 26, 1959 at New York’s Yankee Stadium. Patterson, 182, was the 5-1 betting favorite to beat the #1 contender Johansson, 196.
The fight was broadcast live on ABC radio and available in 170 locations in 135 cities on closed-circuit television through movie theaters and drive-in theaters. Prices for the fight at Yankee Stadium ranged from ringside at $100 to the upper bleachers at $5.
Johansson was guaranteed $100,000, while the heavyweight champion Patterson was guaranteed $300,000.
A crowd of 21,961 turned out that produced a live gate of $470,712.25.
