Stockholm - Hundreds of mourners Friday paid tribute to the late Swedish heavyweight champion Ingemar "Ingo" Johansson who died at the end of January at age 76.

Johansson's funeral was held in the west coast city of Gothenburg where he hailed from, and was open to the public. The church which seats some 1,000 people was packed, local media reported.

The mourners left the funeral held in the Vasa Church to the famous tune Frank Sinatra song My Way.

The city of Gothenburg has announced plans to erect a statue in memory of the former champion who made his mark in boxing by becoming the first Swedish national to hold the heavyweight title after defeating Floyd Patterson on June 26, 1959, in a classic fight at Yankee Stadium in New York.

Patterson later regained the title from the Swede, quashing the saying "They never come back."

Johansson retired in 1963. Before his third and final encounter with Patterson that year, he sparred with a gifted young boxer known as Cassius Clay.

On retirement, Patterson and Johansson became good friends and visited each other on various occasions.

Johansson placed third after tennis great Bjorn Borg and alpine ski star Ingemar Stenmark in a national vote for the Swedish sports personality of the 20th century.

Before turning professional in 1952, Johansson worked as a stone layer. His father was a stone mason. (dpa)