Sixties junior middleweight Bo Högberg a true fighter
By Denzel Ivarsson
23.12 - Some boxers leave the ring with a reputation that is hard to forget, junior middleweight Bo Högberg of Sweden who campaigned between the years 1962-1973 is unquestionably such a boxer. Bo was a feared fighter even at an early age and after a successful amateur career that brought him three Swedish national titles, the first one at the age of 17, he turned pro out pointing Dutchman Chris Kok in April of 1962.
Högberg was really the darling of media during his fighting days, with his hard, often crowd-pleasing fighting-style, he even picked up the interest of the not normally so boxing-interested crowd, and created war-like headlines in all the major papers in Sweden. He boxed 4 opponents in 1962 following his debut, knocking them all out. He then racked up seven straight wins in 1963 before he ran into left-hook artist, Harry Scott in Karlstad. Högberg was knocked out cold but the hard memory of that loss was history when he made his US-debut in New York a couple of months later and out pointed Felix Santiago over four rounds. His reputation had begun to grow and in 1964 Högberg was the main attraction on most cards that he appeared on. Quick KO-wins over Dennis Read, Heini Meinhardt and a solid 10 round decision over Sugar Boy Nando really created talks of him closing in on a European title fight.
Unfortunately he suffered a severe back-injury that kept him out of the ring until August of 1965 when he outscored Johnny Cooke over eight rounds. Högberg had really dedicated himself to hard training during his short absence and it paid off, two more wins were recorded that year (Fabio Bettini, KO7, Dante Peleaz, KO8), two very important ones. They lead to his careers big break, the one break he had been waiting for, A chance to fight for the European title. Interestingly enough, it wasn't the Swedes that managed to land a European title fight for the very popular Högberg. A young promoter by the name of Mogens Palle lured over Italian Bruno Visintin to Copenhagen to deal with Högberg at the start of 1966.
Bo grabbed the opportunity and gave the Swedish people a very nice New Years day present by stopping the Italian in seven rounds. The tough Swede didn't last long as a champion though, in his next fight against mandatory challenger, Yolande Leveque he lost on points following a madman-like brave effort were he had boxed for almost 14 rounds with a broken jaw. Högberg got yet another chance to regain his European title, in Stockholm late November that same year against Italian great Sandro Mazzinghi. It was a classic battle, one of the toughest that has taken place on Swedish soil. Högberg clearly out skilled by the slick Italian refused to go down, and retire wasn't in his vocabulary. The bout lasted for 14 gruelling rounds, which saw the Swede suck up a tremendous beating, by no means healthy and probably career-breaking to everyone else but Högberg. Luckily the referee stepped in to stop it, Bo never would have quit himself. Högberg were not in the mood to retire after the Mazzinghi-loss, he struggled on in 1967 and four wins and draw with American Bobby Cassidy (D10) later the brawling Swede had reached 1968. Everybody could see it, his career were closing in towards its end, Högberg´s torture-like training-regime had taken its toll and he only registered one bout that year, a tough loss to Harold Richardson over 10 rounds in Gothenburg.
Högberg had one more go in the early seventies (1973) two fights in Spain but he was well past his prime and he lost them both. At his best Högberg was genuinely World-class, it was not by coincident that the hard man from Gothenburg was ranked in the top-ten by ring-magazine at middleweight for a short period. He was as hard as they come, a true fighter.
