Daughters of Boxing Legends: Maria Johannson

“On that humid June evening in 1959 at Yankee Stadium in New York, lightning and thunder shook the skies.  The “Hammer of Thor” found it’s way and downed Floyd Patterson seven times in the third round, making Ingemar Johansson from Sweden the new heavyweight boxing Champion of the world.  For the first time the punishing power of the “Hammer of Thor” was revealed to the American public.  The American sports press named his mighty right after the Viking god Thor, who according mythology used his hammer to create thunder in the skies.”

Today, some forty years later…….the spirit of this legendary Viking  is back again.  This time as in the form of a woman, Maria “Daughter of Thor” Johansson, Ingemar’s youngest child.

Maria, 34-year-old  mother of two,  shows an inexhaustible energy level and is dedicated to doing what it takes to be a contender in Women’s boxing.

When her father learned of Maria’s plans to become a professional woman boxer, The Champ retorted:  “Will she be fighting girls?  Okay then, I will always support my little doll. But it is a dirty sport and if you don’t look out for yourself, you can really get hurt.”

Ingemar has never been a big spokesperson for women’s boxing, on the contrary, he has even called it ridiculous. Regardless, he supports Maria in her endeavor to pursue the sport.

Maria grew up traveling between Geneva, Switzerland and Gothenburg, Sweden, together with her father, mother, Birgit, and older brother Patric.  In 1970 her family settled in Gothenburg.  Maria was 5 years old.  Boxing has been a passion all of her life.

After Maria married Anders Gregner, she moved onto a small farm in the forest 60 miles Northeast of Gothenburg.  She was able to raise and care for her horses (Maria rode, trained, competed and raised horses for 20 years),  putting in 18 hour days.

Maria raises her two young children and devotes her time to training in boxing.  She has earned a technician’s degree, and she has also worked as a bouncer in a local bar.  While she worked in the bar, she was invited to participate in the local strong-woman competition.  She won that competition.

A few years later, she was approached to compete in the National Championship for Swedens Strongest Woman.  Maria had first declined but to put an end to the constant persuasion, she entered the event.  With no training, only two weeks to prepare and pulling a baby stroller between the Maria is

Maria, 5’9″ ranging from 170-175 lbs.,  had her first pro fight against experienced Karrie Frye.   She lost the fight by a split decision, but she battled for four-rounds with Frye showing a lot of heart and perseverance.

Maria (0-1) is going to have her second professional bout July 21 on Showtime in Las Vegas, Nevada.