Axel Schulz

Last updated
Axel Schulz
Axel Schulz 01.jpg
Schulz in 2007
Born (1968-11-09) 9 November 1968 (age 56)
NationalityGerman
Other namesDer sanfte Riese
("The Gentle Giant")
Statistics
Weight(s) Heavyweight
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Reach193 cm (76 in)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights33
Wins26
Wins by KO11
Losses5
Draws1
No contests1
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
World Championships
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1989 Moscow Heavyweight
European Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1989 Athens Heavyweight

Axel Schulz (born 9 November 1968) is a German former professional boxer who competed from 1990 to 1999, and in 2006. He challenged three times for both the IBF and European heavyweight titles. As an amateur he won a bronze medal at the 1989 World Championships and silver at the 1989 European Championships, both in the heavyweight division.

Contents

Schulz first fought for a world championship in 1995, when he challenged George Foreman for his IBF title. Schulz lost a very close majority decision, but was immediately granted a second opportunity at the title in the same year. With Foreman having vacated the title after refusing a rematch, Schulz faced Francois Botha but this time lost via (a controversial) split decision. However, Botha later failed a drug test, which led to Schulz receiving a third chance at the title. In 1996 he fought Michael Moorer for the vacant IBF title, losing again via split decision. During his career, Schulz also fought Jeremy Williams and former world champions Henry Akinwande, James Smith and Wladimir Klitschko.

Amateur career

Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1989-0326-004, halle-Saale, 18. Internationales Boxturnier, Boxer.jpg
Axel Schulz and Torsten Schmitz at the awards ceremony of the 1989 Chemistry Cup

From 1982 Schulz boxed for the army sports club Vorwärts in Frankfurt (Oder), later becoming the East German youth champion. From 1986 onward, he was a Stasi informer under the codename "Markus". [1] At the junior European championships in Denmark in 1986, Schulz won the light-heavyweight title, and in 1988, under the tutelage of Manfred Wolke, he became East German heavyweight champion. In 1989 he won the Chemiepokal in Halle (Saale), the silver medal at European Championships in Athens, and a bronze medal in the world championships in Moscow, where he lost to Félix Savón. Amateur record: 78 wins, 20 losses.

Professional career

After reunification, Schulz turned professional. In 1992 he became German heavyweight champion after defeating Bernd Friedrich in Kassel.

1992 and 1993 saw two fights against Henry Akinwande for the European championship. The first fight was declared a draw, but in the return match Schulz suffered his first professional defeat.

IBF heavyweight title challenges

On 22 April 1995 Schulz fought George Foreman for the IBF heavyweight title, losing controversially on points. This was Foreman's first fight since regaining the title from Michael Moorer, and Schulz was viewed at the time as being a weak, unknown opponent. After refusing a rematch, Foreman was stripped of his title and Schulz was given a second opportunity when he fought Francois Botha for the vacant title on 12 December 1995. Following a split decision verdict in Botha's favour, the result was changed to a no-contest when Botha failed a doping test. A third chance followed for Schulz on 22 June 1996 when he faced Michael Moorer for the still vacant title. Moorer won on points.

Several fights against lower quality opposition followed. These included a stoppage victory over Kevin McBride, who eight years later would defeat a badly faded Mike Tyson. Schulz ended his career after suffering a stoppage at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko on 25 September 1999 for the vacant European championship. Schulz had been thoroughly outclassed. In the end, despite lofty expectations after the George Foreman fight, Schulz was unable to win a title at European or world level.

Comeback attempt

Since the end of his career Schulz has worked in television as a summariser. In December 2005 he received an offer to fight again from Carl King, the stepson of the boxing promoter Don King. His comeback fight took place on November 25, 2006, against Brian Minto. He lost the fight in the sixth Round (T.K.O.).

He retired with a record with 26-5-1 and one no contest with 11 knockouts.

Axel Schulz married in March 2006. He and his wife had their first child, a girl, on 19 August 2006: Paulina Patricia Clara and another girl born in January 2010: Amelina Patricia Hedwig.

Professional boxing record

33 fights26 wins5 losses
By knockout112
By decision153
Draws1
No contests1
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
33Loss26–5–1 (1) Brian Minto TKO6 (10), 1:3025 Nov 2006 Gerry Weber Stadion, Halle, Germany
32Loss26–4–1 (1) Wladimir Klitschko TKO8 (12), 2:4225 Sep 1999 Kölnarena, Cologne, GermanyFor WBA Inter-Continental and vacant European heavyweight titles
31Win26–3–1 (1)Richard MasonUD1022 Aug 1998 Trade Fair, Leipzig, Germany
30Win25–3–1 (1) Julius Francis UD1228 Feb 1998Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, Germany
29Win24–3–1 (1) Kevin McBride TKO9 (10)30 Aug 1997 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany
28Win23–3–1 (1)Jorge ValdesUD1026 Apr 1997 Leipzig, Germany
27Win22–3–1 (1) Jose Ribalta UD107 Dec 1996 Vienna, Austria
26Loss21–3–1 (1) Michael Moorer SD12 22 Jun 1996 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, GermanyFor vacant IBF heavyweight title
25NC21–2–1 (1) Francois Botha SD129 Dec 1995 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, GermanyVacant IBF heavyweight title at stake;
Originally an SD win for Botha, later ruled an NC after he failed a drug test
24Loss21–2–1 George Foreman MD12 22 Apr 1995 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, USFor IBF and vacant WBU heavyweight titles
23Win21–1–1 James Smith UD1017 Sep 1994 Leverkusen, Germany
22Win20–1–1Jack BastingUD1018 Jun 1994 Bismarck Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, US
21Win19–1–1Troy JeffersonPTS84 Jun 1994 Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, Germany
20Win18–1–1Al EvansTKO3 (10)7 May 1994Sporthalle Oberwerth, Koblenz, Germany
19Win17–1–1Carlton WestKO216 Oct 1993 Koblenz, Germany
18Win16–1–1Kimmuel OdumUD107 Aug 1993 Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
17Loss15–1–1 Henry Akinwande UD121 May 1993Sporthalle Charlottenburg, Berlin, GermanyFor vacant European heavyweight title
16Draw15–0–1 Henry Akinwande MD1219 Dec 1992Berlin, GermanyFor vacant European heavyweight title
15Win15–0 Ricky Parkey PTS82 Oct 1992 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany
14Win14–0Bernd FriedrichUD1019 Sep 1992 Kassel, GermanyWon vacant Germany BDB heavyweight title
13Win13–0Laszlo PaszterkoPTS825 Apr 1992Berlin, Germany
12Win12–0Gary McCroryTKO2 (8)6 Mar 1992Berlin, Germany
11Win11–0Ricardo SpainTKO2 (8)28 Jan 1992Legien-Center, Berlin, Germany
10Win10–0Charles DixonKO26 Dec 1991Düsseldorf, Germany
9Win9–0David MuhammedPTS82 Oct 1991 Halle, Germany
8Win8–0Steve GeeKO2 (8)13 Sep 1991Düsseldorf, Germany
7Win7–0Laszlo ViragTKO328 Jun 1991 Dinslaken, Germany
6Win6–0Steve GarberKO5 (8)31 May 1991Berlin, Germany
5Win5–0Ramon VoornTKO5, 2:3928 Feb 1991Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, Germany
4Win4–0Ramon VoornPTS614 Dec 1990 Europahalle, Karlsruhe, Germany
3Win3–0Barry EllisPTS67 Dec 1990 Berlin, Germany
2Win2–0Jens PloesserTKO116 Nov 1990Sporthalle Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany
1Win1–0George AjioUD65 Oct 1990 Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, Germany

Television viewership

Germany

DateFightViewership (avg.)Source(s)
22 April 1995
George Foreman vs. Axel Schulz
3,900,000
[2] [3]
9 December 1995
Axel Schulz vs. Francois Botha
18,030,000
[4]
22 June 1996
Axel Schulz vs. Michael Moorer
11,000,000
[3]
7 December 1996
Axel Schulz vs. Jose Ribalta
8,940,000
[5]
28 February 1998
Axel Schulz vs. Julius Francis
8,370,000
[6]
25 September 1999
Axel Schulz vs. Wladimir Klitschko
10,530,000
[7] [8]
25 November 2006
Axel Schulz vs. Brian Minto
11,530,000
[9]
Total viewership74,300,000

Citations

  1. "Axel Schulz gibt Stasi-Mitarbeit zu". Mitteldeutsche Zeitung. 1995-10-26. Archived from the original on 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
  2. "Als Schulz gegen Foreman die Niederlage seines Lebens kassierte" (in German). 20 April 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Boxen bei RTL - Die größten Quoten-Erfolge" (in German). 14 November 2006. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  4. "Die Faust, die die Boxwelt veränderte" (in German). 20 March 2022. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  5. "Endlich! Nach 20 Monaten siegt Axel Schulz wieder" (in German). 9 December 1996. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  6. "Axel Schulz bezwingt In Dortmund Julius Francis" (in German). 1 March 1998. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  7. "Wladimir Klitschko Profile - East Side Boxing" . Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  8. "Die Schwergewichtsboxer Vitali und Wladimir Klitschko über Hiebe, Geld und den Showdown in Las Vegas" (in German). Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  9. "Boxen: Debakel für Axel Schulz, Triumph für RTL" (in German). 26 November 2006. Retrieved 15 May 2022.