The brief professional career of Swedish heavyweight Håkan Brock
By Teddy Stenmark
28.02 - Sweden had a few good heavyweights in recent years and one of the best prospects that turned out to be nothing is unquestionably the towering Håkan Brock, who had his brief professional career between the years 1989 and 1991. The massive Swede that had the career ruined by blood cloths (thrombus) in his arms, was the brightest amateur star of Swedish boxing in the eighties.
In 1985, Brock was ranked as the second best amateur heavyweight in the World after defeating such respectable boxers as Vjatjeslav Jakovlev, Biko Botowamungo, Ulli Kaden and Valeri Abadsjan among others. Although never reaching a medal position in any prestigious championship tournaments at that time he still drew large crowds to the arenas because of his ferocious punching power.
Brock was a Swedish national champion in 1983 and 1984 and a Scandinavian ditto in 1984, he represented the Swedish national team 43 times. He was the heavyweight anchor of the team at the 1984 Olympics and on the squad that was in Budapest for the European championships in 1985 and the World championships in Reno the following year. He always performed well. He was elected Swedish amateur boxer of the year in 1985 and interestingly enough ran into a young 18-year old Mike Tyson in Tampere, Finland in 1984. The then experienced World-class Swede was supposed to have beaten Tyson but he didn't. Mike was too strong and Brock was forced to accept a point loss to the aggressive teenager. It was the future World heavyweight champ's last amateur bout.
In failing to reach the team that went to the 1988 Olympics, Håkan figured it was time to turn professional a year later. He teamed up with managers Jimmy Cavo and Gary Trevett in Florida to launch his career. Training the big Swede: legendary Angelo Dundee.
Brock was nicknamed the Rock and started off his career with a quick 2nd round Kayo over novice Robert Holloway in June of 1989. He added five more wins on his record before a sour TKO-loss to the hands of Mike Robinson came in January of 1990 (TKO 1). It was a loss that couldn't be fully repaired and although another three wins were added in the column (before receiving yet another loss, Stanley Wright, LTKO 2) straight after that he never recovered completely. He then lost a close six round split decision to well-known trial-horse, David Jaco in Miami, Florida in the summer of 1991 and decided to call it a day after that. His blood-cloths problems in the arms had started and that made up his mind. He hasn't boxed since.
The professional career record of Håkan "The Rock" Brock:
1989-06-25 Robert Holloway W KO 2
1989-07-24 Howard Nero W KO 4
1989-08-04 Ed Williams W KO 1
1989-08-15 Rodney Bolden W KO 1
1989-08-15 Charles Dread W KO 1
1990-01-05 Jimmy Harrison W PTS 4
1990-01-28 Mike Robinson L TKO 2
1990-03-20 Paul Bradshaw W PTS 4
1990-06-16 Jarrett Patton W KO 4
1990-08-10 Alger Williams W KO 2
1990-09-22 Stanley Wright L TKO 2
1991-02-01 Greg Payne W TKO 2
1991-05-16 Al Malcolm W PTS 6
1991-06-11 David Jaco L PTS 6
Wins: 11 (8 KO) Defeats: 3 Drawn: 0 Total bouts: 14
