Steffen Tangstad eighties heavyweight, competing with his former employer
By Teddy Stenmark
12.03 - The now 42-year old former European heavyweight champion, Steffen Tangstad from Norway, that run the multi-Scandinavian stable, Modern Sports & Events had a colourful career in the early eighties. The handsome Norwegian started out his career in Tönsberg were he excelled as an amateur and compiled a record of 61-9, which rendered him six national titles and a solid position as the nations anchor of the national team.
Steffen made his professional debut in Oslo, Norway on October 1st 1980, and boxed his way to a four round draw with opponent, Benjamin Smith over four rounds. Strangely enough, it was proved to be the last show before pro-boxing was banned in the country (Jan 1st 1981).
That didn't discourage brawling Scandinavian to pursue his career elsewhere though. Tangstad financed, pretty much on his own, a trip to the states in 1981 to try his luck. He boxed 16 fights "over there" mostly on former WBA champion Ernie Terrell's cards in Chicago, 15 where won with just one draw. The draw came interestingly enough against then up-and-coming heavyweight and future Mike Tyson-beater Buster Douglas over eight rounds. The Douglas-draw was Steffen's only real name opponent while staying in the US. The hard-fighting Norwegian was a popular boxer locally in the Chicago-area but the USA-adventure didn't bring him much more than the valuable experience of boxing at other peoples back-yard and some healthy exposure in the medias back home in Norway.
That media-coverage got Danish promoter Mogens Palle interested in the Tönsberg-heavyweight though and that turned the mans career around. Steffen was lured over by Palle to launch his career in Europe in late 1983. He had his first fight for the Danish promoter in December of that year, scoring an eight round points victory over the durable Italian, Guido Trane. The Trane-bout made Steffen look good in the eyes of promoter Mogens who had the Italian over to fight Swede Anders Eklund prior to his meeting with Steffen. Trane had Eklund looking awful despite that he earned a draw. Most observers thought that the Swede was a loser in that match. Steffen's win was also tight but a knockdown in the final round made him look so much better than his Scandinavian rival. In February of 1984 Steffen won a close split decision over British heavyweight ace, Joe Bugner over 10 rounds which catapulted him on the European heavyweight ratings. Significantly again a comparison could be made with his Swedish rival Anders Eklund. The towering Swede had failed to beat the Hungarian-born Brit a month earlier and been forced to accept a 10 round loss in Randers. An eight round win (over Brit Winston Allen) later and Steffen was ready to challenge for the European title.
The Norwegians opportunity came in November of 1984 when promoter Mogens Palle managed to convince Frenchman, Lucien Rodriguez to defend his title in Copenhagen against Steffen. The Danish crowd "adopted" the likeable Norwegian as their own and cheered him on to a solid twelve round win over Rodriguez. Tangstad looked very impressing and it was unquestionable his best performance so far in his career. At that same night on the under card his stable mate and bitter rival, Anders Eklund stopped American Dorcey Gaymon in a tough eight rounder. The bout was an important one for Steffen because the two would meet up next in a highly publicised European title fight that caused some bitter words exchanged by Anders Eklund and his more famous national colleague Ingemar Johansson, (that took Steffen's side). Ingo saw more potential in Tangstad and got to be somewhat of a mentor to the Norwegian. Unfortunately Eklund was handed some tough criticism by the national hero and the two have had a hard time patching up their relationship ever since.
The Nordic match created warlike headlines on the Sport pages in all major newspapers in Sweden and Norway. Tangstad was the heavy favourite in their 1985 March 9th heavyweight showdown, but to every ones surprise Eklund took the initiative early on, stayed in control and TKOd Steffen in the fourth round to steal his EBU-belt. Tangstad had four more fights after that devastating loss, and managed to capture the European title once again when he took on Brit John Westgarth in Randers (Denmark) in April of 1986. It wasn't one of Tangstad's best appearances but it rendered him the title, which would make him eligible to challenge for the IBF World heavyweight title in September of that year.
The bout would take place in Las Vegas, and champion was at that time, as you readers probably remember, Michael Spinks. Although Steffen put up a gutsy performance he was in for a too tough task and the outcome was pretty much clear beforehand. He would loose! Question was in what round and how? Some crisp punches by the younger Spinks brother ended matters in the fourth and crushed the Norwegians championships ambitions. Steffen retired after that bout, but had been smart enough to secure the Norwegian broadcasting rights for the Spinks-fight. That made him some good money to retire on and he is now a major figure in the Scandinavian boxing scene. The stable he represents (Modern Sports & Events) have had their troubles in the past but is now firmly on track to compete evenly with his own former employer, Team Palle. The stable that nurtured him as a fighter is now his competitor. It's odd how things turn out!
