Welcome to a comprehensive guide to the best Boxing players in Sweden! From the youth level to the professional level, Sweden is home to some of the world’s most prolific and talented boxers. In this article, we will cover the best of the best, from the past to the present.
We will highlight Swedish champions, notable contenders, up-and-coming prospects, and more. So, if you are looking to learn more about the Swedish boxing scene, then you have come to the right place!.
1. Badou Jack
Badou Jack is a professional boxer of Gambian-Swedish origin. He is a three-time world champion in different weight classes. In 2015, he won the WBC super-middleweight title and held it until 2017. In 2017, he won the WBA light-heavyweight title.
He has been the WBC cruiserweight champion since February 2023. This makes him one of the few fighters to win world titles in three different weight classes. His success in the boxing ring is a testament to his hard work and dedication.
Jack’s achievements have been widely celebrated in both his home countries of Gambia and Sweden.
2. Otto Wallin
Einar Otto Wallin is a Swedish professional boxer who achieved a great deal of success in the sport. In 2017, he won the WBA Continental heavyweight title and continued his success the following year when he became the European Union heavyweight champion.
Wallin’s accomplishments have earned him recognition from two respected boxing organizations. As of October 2022, he is ranked as the sixth-best active heavyweight boxer by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and ninth by ESPN.
Wallin is clearly a talented boxer who is highly regarded in the sport and has reached impressive heights in his career.
3. Ingemar Johansson
Jens Ingemar “Ingo” Johansson was a Swedish professional boxer who had a successful career in the sport, lasting from 1952 to 1963.
He is best known for becoming the world heavyweight champion in 1959, and for being the fifth heavyweight champion to be born outside of the United States.
During his time as champion, he fought some of the biggest names in professional boxing, such as Floyd Patterson and Ingemar Johansson.
His success was not limited to boxing, however, as he was seen as a national hero in Sweden, and his name is still remembered fondly by many in the country. He retired from boxing in 1963, but his legacy continues to live on.
4. Anders Eklund
Anders Eklund was a Swedish boxer with an interesting story. He was born in Gävle, Sweden and was originally given the nickname “Lillen”.
However, he later decided to go by the nickname “Viking” instead. In 1980, Eklund made his Olympic debut in the Heavyweight division at the Summer Olympics in Moscow. Unfortunately, he was defeated in the quarterfinals.
Despite this setback, Eklund continued to pursue his boxing career and made his professional debut on October 7, 1982 in Copenhagen. Throughout his career, Eklund was a great force in the world of boxing in Sweden.
He was a highly respected athlete and was known for his courage and determination. He was a true inspiration to many aspiring boxers, and his legacy lives on today.
5. Erik Skoglund
Erik Skoglund is a Swedish professional boxer who has made a name for himself through his accomplishments in the ring. Skoglund held the European Union light-heavyweight title between 2013 and 2014, successfully defending it three times before vacating it.
He then went on to participate in the World Boxing Super Series in 2017, where he lost to Callum Smith in the super-middleweight quarter-finals.
Skoglund’s record of achievement is commendable, particularly considering that he has held multiple titles and has gone up against some of the best fighters in the world.
He remains a respected and popular figure in the boxing community, and his career is an inspiration to many aspiring boxers.
6. Robert Helenius
Robert Gabriel Helenius is an impressive figure in the boxing world, having achieved a great deal of success in the heavyweight division. He has won multiple regional championships in this division, including the European title twice between 2011 and 2016.
This is an impressive feat considering the competitive nature of the heavyweight division. Before making his mark in the professional boxing world, Robert Gabriel Helenius had a successful amateur career.
He won a silver medal in the super-heavyweight division at the 2006 European Championships, highlighting his skill and dedication to the sport. Robert Gabriel Helenius is a clear example of a hard-working and determined boxer.
Not only did he achieve success as an amateur, but he has also won multiple championships in the heavyweight division as a professional. His impressive career highlights the importance of hard work and dedication in order to reach one’s goals.
7. Olle Tandberg
Olof Peder “Olle” Tandberg was a Swedish heavyweight boxer who achieved a great deal of success during his career. He began boxing in the early 1930s and achieved success on the amateur circuit, eventually becoming the European Amateur Boxing Champion between 1937 and 1939.
During this time, he was regarded as one of the top fighters in his weight class, and he was known for his powerful punch and great stamina. After turning professional, he fought several notable opponents, including Max Schmeling and Joe Louis.
Though he was never able to become the world champion, he continued to fight until the 1950s and remained a popular figure in Sweden for the rest of his life.
8. Tonton Semakala
Tonton Walombua Semakala is a professional boxer from Sweden who has a unique origin story. Born in Zaire, he moved to Sweden as a young adult and began competing in boxing.
He quickly became known for his skill in the ring, earning the nickname “The New Swedish Hammer” due to his impressive strength and power.
Semakala’s biggest accomplishment as an amateur was winning the bronze medal at the 1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
This was a major achievement for the boxer, as it demonstrated his immense talent and established him as a formidable opponent in the ring. Since then, Semakala has gone on to have a successful professional career.
He has competed in numerous fights and has become a respected boxer in the sport. His strong performances have made him a fan favorite, and he continues to impress audiences with his skill and tenacity in the ring.
Tonton Walombua Semakala is a remarkable boxer who has achieved success both as an amateur and a professional.
His impressive performance at the 1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Budapest, Hungary is a testament to his skill and determination, making him a formidable opponent in the ring.
9. Armand Krajnc
Armand Krajnc was a Swedish professional boxer who had an impressive career spanning from 1996 to 2004. During this time, he became the WBO middleweight champion in 1999 and held the title until 2002.
He then went on to challenge for the unified WBA and IBF super-middleweight titles in his last fight in 2004, though he was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempt to become a champion in this weight class.
His impressive record earned him recognition from fans and critics alike, and he was seen as a highly-skilled fighter with an intense dedication to the sport. He was known for his fast hands, strong punches, and excellent defensive techniques, which gave him an edge in the ring.
Despite not being able to win his last title, Armand Krajnc still remains an admired figure in boxing circles for his impressive career.
10. Nils Ramm
Nils Arvid Ramm was a Swedish heavyweight boxer who had an impressive career. He won a silver medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics and the 1927 European title, and finished second in 1925. After the success of the Olympics, Ramm made the decision to turn professional.
He had a record of 17 wins, 4 losses, and one draw before retiring in 1931. His success in the ring was largely due to his physical and mental strength, as well as his relentless dedication to honing his skills.
Ramm’s achievements are a testament to the hard work and dedication he put into the sport. He will always be remembered as one of Sweden’s most successful heavyweight boxers.
11. Harry Persson
Harry Persson, also known as HP, was a Swedish heavyweight professional boxer and actor who achieved fame and success in the 1920s. He was the Scandinavian and European heavyweight champion and was highly regarded in his homeland.
His boxing career was a major factor in his rise to stardom, but his acting career also helped him to become one of the most recognizable figures in Sweden during the decade. Persson’s fame and success was so great that he was considered to be one of the biggest Swedish sports stars of the 1920s.
He was a major public figure who was seen as a role model for many young people in the country. He was also known for his philanthropy and charity work, which earned him even more respect from the Swedish public.
His boxing skills were considered to be quite impressive, and his popularity extended far beyond the boxing ring. Persson’s fame was further bolstered by Arne Borg, another Swedish sports star of the time who was also a professional boxer.
The two men were often compared to each other, and their boxing matches were seen as some of the biggest events of the decade.
Together, the two athletes helped to make professional boxing more popular in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia. The 1920s were a golden age for Swedish sports, and Harry Persson was one of the main reasons for this.
His success as a boxer and actor helped to increase the popularity of both sports in the country, and he provided a source of inspiration for many young people. His legacy lives on to this day, and his name is still remembered fondly among many Swedes.
12. Hasse Thomsén
Hasse Evert Thomsén was a professional heavyweight boxer from Sweden. He had a successful career, notably winning a bronze medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Thomsén reached the semifinals of the tournament, only to be defeated by Romania’s Ion Alexe on points.
Despite this result, Thomsén had a successful amateur career, being crowned national heavyweight champion in Sweden from 1969 to 1972. This is a testament to his skill and determination, given the high level of competition in the sport.
Thomsén was a formidable fighter and will always be remembered for his achievements in the ring.
13. Gunnar Berggren
Gunnar Alf Erik Berggren was a Swedish boxer who achieved great success in his amateur career. He won bronze medals in the lightweight division at the 1927 European Championships and at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
After these Olympic Games, he decided to turn professional and fought in a total of 32 matches. Out of these, he won 13, lost 9 and drew 10, before retiring from boxing in 1936. Berggren was a talented boxer who achieved great success in a relatively short career.
He made a name for himself in the amateur circuit, winning bronze medals at prestigious events. After the Olympics, he made the decision to turn professional and fought in some tough matches.
He was able to win more matches than he lost but was unable to achieve the same kind of success as in his amateur days. In 1936, he decided to call it quits and retire from the sport.
Gunnar Alf Erik Berggren is remembered today as a successful Swedish boxer who achieved great success in his amateur career. He was able to win medals at major tournaments and even managed to win more matches than he lost in his professional career.
He will always be remembered for his achievements in the ring and his legacy will live on for generations to come.
14. Allan Carlsson
Carl Allan Carlsson was a highly accomplished boxer from Sweden. He competed in the featherweight division at the 1932 Summer Olympics and won a bronze medal.
His impressive technical skills earned him four Swedish titles, two of them in the featherweight division and two in the lightweight division. He is known for never having turned professional, despite his many successes.
Carlsson’s style of boxing was characterized by his technical prowess. He was known for his ability to outmaneuver and outwit his opponents, using his agility and speed to his advantage. He was a master of the jab, and his footwork was unparalleled in the ring.
He had a great deal of stamina, and he could go the distance with any fighter. It was Carlsson’s technical skills that made him such a formidable opponent in the ring. He was able to outthink and outmaneuver his opponents, often exploiting their weaknesses.
He was able to use his speed and agility to great effect, and his footwork was second to none. He was also known for his great stamina, allowing him to go the distance and keep up with the best fighters. Carl Allan Carlsson was a truly remarkable boxer.
His accomplishments in the ring, as well as his refusal to turn professional, are a testament to his dedication and skill. He was a master of the jab, and his technical prowess was unmatched. He was also known for his great stamina, allowing him to go the distance in the ring.
Carlsson’s legacy will live on as a reminder of his dedication and skill in the ring.
15. Thure Ahlqvist
Thure Johan Ahlqvist was a Swedish boxer who achieved great success in the lightweight division. He is best known for his silver medal win at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Ahlqvist was a tall and mobile boxer, making use of his height to great advantage in the ring.
His style of fighting was centered around keeping a distance between himself and his opponent, and he had a proclivity for throwing straight punches. His success in the Olympics was a testament to his skill and athleticism.
16. Erik Ågren
Erik Alfred Ågren was a Swedish amateur boxer who had an impressive career. He achieved success in two major international competitions. At the 1936 Summer Olympics, Ågren won a bronze medal in the lightweight division.
He continued to excel in his sport, and four years later, he earned a silver medal in the welterweight division at the 1939 European Amateur Boxing Championships. His accomplishments demonstrate his dedication to the sport and his natural talent for the sport.
He is remembered as one of the greatest Swedish amateur boxers of all time.
17. Lennart Risberg
Lennart Kurt Risberg was a Swedish boxer who had the opportunity to compete in the 1956 Summer Olympics. Representing his home country in the lightweight event, Risberg had high hopes of succeeding in the competition.
Unfortunately, his dreams were cut short as he was eliminated in the first round. Despite the setback, Lennart Kurt Risberg remains as an example of a dedicated athlete who strived to reach the highest levels of competition.
His participation in the 1956 Olympics serves as a lasting reminder of his dedication and commitment to the sport of boxing.
18. Otto von Porat
Otto Wessel von Porat was a Norwegian professional boxer who specialized in the heavyweight division. He was a highly successful athlete, who achieved one of the highest honors in his sport – winning a gold medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics in the boxing category.
His success was the result of his hard work and dedication to the sport, and his ability to out-box his opponents. In the Olympics, he faced off against Danish boxer Søren Petersen in the final and was able to come out victorious.
This victory not only made him an Olympic champion, but also solidified his place in the history of boxing, and in the hearts of the Norwegian people.
19. Sven Fornling
Sven Fornling is a Swedish professional boxer who has made a name for himself in the boxing world. He is a former IBO light-heavyweight champion, having held the title from 2018 to 2019.
During his time as champion, he also challenged for the WBA interim light-heavyweight title, though he was unsuccessful in his attempt.
His success as a professional boxer has seen him gain recognition in his native Sweden, where he is held in high regard by both boxing fans and the media alike.
Despite not being able to secure the WBA interim title, Fornling remains an accomplished boxer, having achieved success at the highest level, and will surely continue to be a formidable opponent in the ring.
Conclusion
It is clear that Sweden has some of the best boxing players in the world. They have an impressive record of success in both amateur and professional boxing.
The top boxers from Sweden have achieved success both in the ring and outside of it, making them some of the most respected boxers in the sport. With such a high level of talent in the country, it is easy to see why the sport of boxing is so popular in Sweden.
