Anders “Little” Eklund was a character.
Even when he lost.
After getting a big stroke from Tim Witherspoon, he came up with the most beautiful play.
He was 18 years old when he stepped into the ring for the first time, but it didn’t matter. With his enormous physique – he weighed around 120 kilos and measured almost two meters – he was a super talent right away, and once he got to practice a little, everyone understood that it was something very special.
Everyone’s favorite
In 1980, Lille got to go to the Olympics, after having managed to win both USM and JSM. However, Eklund did not succeed in any great deeds there, and two years later he chose to become a professional. In 1985, Lillen Eklund won an EC title, and after winning it, he was one of Sweden’s greatest athletes – but also the most written about. The journalists loved him, and he often offered the little extra.
Although Lillen Eklund had some problems in the upcoming title fights, the money rained in, and he did not immediately become less popular among boxing fans and journalists. Eklund had a straightforward personality that went straight home. He won 19 out of 25 games, but he was perhaps most beautiful after the losses.
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Beautiful words
Lillen Eklund fought in the USA in the late 80s. He first won against Phillip Brown in a classic battle. Next, the future world champion, the most famous Tim Witherspoon, awaited. Hopes for the fight were high, but it didn’t last very long. It was a quick knockout loss, and the beginning of the end of Eklund’s career.
Witherspoon was a badass, known for his quick knockouts, and the match against Lille was no exception. Barely a minute into the first round, the match was over, but Lillen was not unhappy. Instead, he came up with an almost classic quote.
– I was good as long as the match lasted, he said.
To offer a quote like that after being knocked out after less than a minute – that’s character!
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