[Rocco Del Sesto]

While just looking through my data base just looking at some things as I was starting to work on Albert Westphal, next German HW on that Boxing News list from 1966, I come across a file for John Strand, Swedish heavyweight from the 1920s. The file had no identification who rated him. Just that the file I had came from TB1 days. Saw he spent some time fighting in England so my interest picked to see If I find anything online on him through the UK newspaper website I'm on right now. Found some things.

Only photo of him I found online was in one of the newspaper articles of him training with another fighter. I was such a bad graining photo I didn't bother taking a snip of it.

John Strand - HW - Sweden 1925-28
Career Record: W7(KO 2) / L10(KO 6) / D5

Unknown information has been left blank.

DOB and DOD are from Boxerlist.com

Original rating could not find record or who made it. A list of heavyweights in the data base at the time was posted by LeeSkye on 3/25/2004 under General Discussions forum.So dated back to before that time. Anyone shed light on original rating originator let me know to give credit.Original rating was named as Johnny Strand. But all accounts of Strand in some UK papers on line and other sources all refer to him as John Strand to changed it to John.

Following are some bits of information from online UK newspapers of the time on some of Strand's fights there in the UK in 1927.

08 Apr 1927,Fri Westminster Gazette, London - Strand making his debut in England made a good showing. He had Gunner Bennett, his opponent down for a nine in the 5th round.Bennett then started getting better timing on Strand's frequent rushes and catching Strand with uppercuts, getting control of the fight.

08 Apr 1927,Fri Belfast Telegraph,Antrim, NI - Account says Strand dropped Bennett in the 15th round with a right-hand to the chin, not the 5th.This account notes Bennett rose and was able to stop Strand's further rushes in with straight lefts to the face and some rights to the body.Blood covered both fighters faces, Bennett from a cut to the eye and Strand from his nose. STrand seemed to weaken as the fight progressed from steady punches to his body by Bennett.

08 Apr 1927,Fri Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer, Yorkshire, England - This paper that BoxRec references to in thier record of this fight Strand vs Bennett, makes this detailed comment about Strand. "Strand is a man of strength, speed, hitting power, and great gameness, but knows very little about the art of boxing. Strand though was constantly attacking with both hands swinging fiercing. This account says Strand put Bennett down for the 9 count in the sixth round from a right upper cut to the jaw.

22 Apr 1927,FRi Westminster Gazette, London - Charlie Smith, Deptford beat John Strand, Sweden as the referee intervened in the seventh round after STrand looked very "distressted".

08 May 1927, Sun Reynold's Newspaper, London - Short piece more about Charlie Smith, mentions Smith stoppage of JOhn Strand, describing STrand as "a powerful young giant with a punch and is reckoned next best to Harry Persson in Sweden."

03 June 1927,Fri Belfast Telegraph, Antrim, NI - One time heavyweight champion of Great Britain, Bombardier Billy Wells, was referee in the ring in the Ilford Skating Rink for the 15 round bout between Harry Reeve, Plaistow and John Strand, Sweden. The fans apparently booed Wells out of the ring after he gave the 15 round decision to the Englishman!The fight found the crowd cheering on Strand as it continued with STrand the more agressive fighter while Reeve's was constantly on the defense.

10 June 1927,Fri Eastern Counties'Times, London - This account of the Reeve vs Strand fight also noted how the outcome decision was very unpopular with the fans.Strand came out fast to make a fight of it, but Reeve commenced to clinch much as he could and with his more experience could take advantage of an inside game. It went this way through the first 10 rounds but then from the 11th round on, STrand would not deal any more with Reeve's holding and clinching tactics and began turning it into a punching brawl. The writer of the article comments, had Strand had more experience, he felt Stand could have done Reeve in possibly, even by knock out route.Well's apparently had it in his mind to give the verdict to the local lad despite what the crowd thought who were cheering on Strand in the later stages.

13 Aug 1927,Sat Hull Daily Mail, Yorkshire, England - Talking about the upcoming fight for Con O'Kelly with his opponent being Swedish heavyweight John Strand. Article mentions Strand is under the management of Charlie Rose who also manages Phil Scott, leading UK heavyweight at the time.

23 Aug 1927,Tue Hull Daily Mail, Yorkshire, England - Prefight artical on the O'Kelly vs John Strand fight mentions Strand's height being about 6ft and weight at 13-1/2 stone.

24 Aug 1927,Wed Yorkshire Evening Post, and the Hull Daily Mail, Yorkshire, England. - Swedish heavyweight, John Strand gave a good showing at the Metropole, Hull against Con O'Kelly making the best action during the first five rounds.In the fifth round the referee warned Strand against using his head. Strand timed his blows well landing with his left and following with rights to the ribs.Strand kept his distance, prefering to fight outside, he had the advantage but during some wild exchanges in the sixth, O'Kelly repeatedly landed both hands with terrific blows to Strand's body. Opening the 11th, Strand landed a leading right hook to O'Kelly's jaw, but then breaking away from a clinch, O'kelly landed to Strand's chin with a left dazing Strand who fell into a clinch with O'Kelly. There O'Kelly pounded Strand again into the body dazing Strand further to the point the referee Harry Dorsey of Leeds, stopped the fight declaring O'Kelly the victor.