Steffen Tangstad

Steffen Tangstad, born June 22, 1959, in Tønsberg, Norway, was a prominent figure in European boxing during the early 1980s. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and fighting with an orthodox stance, he began his professional career on October 1, 1980, with a four-round draw against Benji Smith at Chateau Neuf in Oslo.

Tangstad's career featured notable bouts against esteemed opponents. On October 16, 1982, he faced future world champion James "Buster" Douglas at the Bismarck Hotel in Chicago, resulting in an eight-round unanimous draw. A significant victory came on February 18, 1984, when he secured a split-decision win over former British and Commonwealth champion Joe Bugner in Copenhagen.

His pursuit of the European Heavyweight title culminated on November 9, 1984, when he defeated Lucien Rodriguez via unanimous decision to claim the EBU European Heavyweight title. However, Tangstad lost the title to Anders Eklund by a fourth-round TKO on March 9, 1985.

Tangstad's career peaked on September 6, 1986, when he challenged Michael Spinks for the IBF World Heavyweight Title at the Las Vegas Hilton. Despite a valiant effort, TKO defeated him in the fourth round. This bout marked his final appearance in the ring, concluding his professional career with 24 wins (14 by knockout), 2 losses, and 2 draws.

After retiring from boxing, Tangstad became a commentator and promoter on television. He was the CEO of "Modern Sports & Events" (MSE), which held broadcasting rights for UFC pay-per-view events in Scandinavia. In 2006, he participated in the second season of the Norwegian dance competition "Skal vi danse?".

Tangstad passed away on June 26, 2024, at the age of 65, after a prolonged illness. Three years prior, he had undergone a leg amputation and had been battling peripheral neuropathy, which led to the loss of function in his hands, arms, and legs.