Axel Schulz

Axel Schulz on August 11, 2007, in the Schlecker Cup in Ehingen

Axel Schulz (born 9 November 1968, Bad Saarow- Pieskow, Circle Fiirstenwalde, GDR ) is a retired German boxer.

Amateur career

The age of eleven Axel Schulz came to the department boxes of Fürstenwalder BSG Gaselan. Under Manfred Gehrke he coached until 1982 Boxgrundlagen and was eventually discovered by the talent scouting of the Children and Youth Sports School of the ASK Vorwärts Frankfurt (Oder). He boxed then from 1982 for the ASK Frankfurt ( Oder). The training paid off, Schulz won from 1982 for five years the East German Championship titles in his age group. In 1986, the 17 -year-old Schulz qualified for the European Junior Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, he won the light heavyweight under coach Ulli Wegner.

By winning the GDR Heavyweight Championship at senior level Schulz was also known nationally and the master trainer Manfred cloud began to train him. In 1989 he started his international career in the amateur field. After winning the Chemistry Cup in Halle in February, he qualified for the next European Championships in Athens. Again he came into the final as only three years before that in Copenhagen, but was ultimately defeated by the Dutch Arnold Vanderlyde. At the World Championships in Moscow in the same year, Schulz injured in the quarterfinals, thus not entered in the semifinals against the Cuban legend Félix Savón and won the bronze medal.

Professional career

After his surgery following bands and the resulting forced break of more than half a year, he signed together with cloud and Henry Maske a professional contract with Wilfried Sauerland. On 5 October 1990 in Dusseldorf Schulz debuted as a heavyweight professional against George Ajio from Uganda. After his win on points and three other construction battles, he was named by the magazine for young boxing Boxer of the Year 1990.

Schulz had only one at best average power but paired with solid taker skills and a good basic speed. His fighting style was characterized by defensive works with the jab to the opponent at first to keep at a distance and then attack him with mugging attacks can.

In 1992 he sat in Kassel against Bernd Friedrich (at this time five wins, one defeat ) by and was German heavyweight champion.

In 1992 and 1993 he boxed twice against the slightly favored Henry Akinwande for the European Championship. Defied Schulz in the first fight Akinwande a draw from, so he knew the rematch the greater reach of his opponent not to be compensated by sufficient speed and agility and had his first loss as a professional to accept.

After points Axel Schulz defeated in September 1994 in Leverkusen the already 41 -year-old James " Bonecrusher " Smith, who had been in the 1980s, before the rise of Tysons briefly WBA heavyweight champion. With this victory, Schulz slipped for the first time in the top 12 in the IBF rankings.

Schulz - Foreman

With the good ranking position was found for him the opportunity to be accepted as a challenger from the reigning world champion of this association. In spring 1995, Schulz was then unexpectedly this opportunity. Background was the fact that the already 45 years old ex world champion George Foreman had surprisingly managed to make a comeback on November 5, 1994 against the WBA and IBF world champion Michael Moorer. The hard-hitting veteran succeeded clearly laid back in the tenth round, on points, a victory. In order to prevent that he would both his belt gained during the first voluntary title defense again have to give, they were looking in the IBF rankings after a relatively harmless enemy. Ultimately, it was decided with Axel Schulz for the lowest-ranked boxer among the possible challengers. Schulz was in the United States until then virtually anyone a term; He was therefore in the U.S. media as underdogs. For better marketing of the Germans, the comparison with Max Schmeling was troubled. Stand in Germany especially the fact in the foreground, that it finally could be a German world heavyweight champion after Schmeling again, saw the U.S. media in Schulz especially " Schmeling's grandson ". Foreman went with his decision to run against Axel Schulz, at the same time the mandatory challenger to the WBA, Tony Tucker, out of the way, which is why his WBA title but knew her. Therefore, he only held at the time of the fight against Schulz the title of the IBF.

On April 22, 1995 in Las Vegas came to the meeting between the counterparty and for many a big surprise. Contrary to many predictions yielded Axel Schulz the defending not only a courageous battle, he managed to put the Americans repeatedly against unexpected problems. Except for a few dicey situations he departed sent from the dreaded wavers of the world champion, and then in turn to score in the half-distance. Could the Mavericks from Germany George Foreman ultimately give no " Boxlektion ", which was previously Evander Holyfield and Tommy Morrison succeeded in their point victories over the Old Master in 1991 and 1993, he was, at least for much of the struggle of the more active boxer. When he brought the "rock" Foreman in the last round with a clean quadruple combination to the chin to falter, believed most to a new world champion. However, a brief point victory of defending champion was announced with violent expressions of discontent of the audience at the end.

After the fight, almost all experts believe that Axel Schulz had won the fight. Although deprived of the reward of his labors, Schulz was made famous by this defeat ultimately overnight. With his courageous demeanor, he secured the world a lot of sympathy. To smooth the waves of outrage, the IBF ordered an immediate rematch. As George Foreman wanted to avoid another duel against Schulz and the request for rematch did not comply, and the IBF title he was denied.

Schulz - Botha

Well Schulz got against the undefeated, but not particularly prestigious South African Francois Botha another chance to fight for the now vacant IBF title. The German media, particularly the television station RTL, which had the rights to broadcast his fights were not tired, with Axel Schulz finally celebrate a perceived German world class boxer in the premier class. Here, like you overlooked the fact that George Foreman had indeed a great name, but already 46 years old, was not exactly slim and agile and had not recently won his world title by lucky circumstances. In addition, the importance of the various world organizations in professional boxing many Germans did not even realize. Overall, it was considered a legitimate contender for the world championship throne and the fight against completely unknown in Germany Botha only as a formality Axel Schulz of much of the German public. This huge expectations made ​​its mark at Schulz.

When the fight finally took place in Stuttgart on December 9, 1995 was the nonchalance with which Schulz eight months previously Foreman had delivered a great fight, nothing more to see; on the contrary, he seemed tense and self-conscious. Botha took over from the beginning the initiative, although most of his punches landed on the cover of German. This again showed all too rarely his actions and if so, he often did not seem determined enough in his attacks. Although many experts had certified Schulz conditional advantages over Botha and this physically not just made ​​a well-toned impression that South Africans remained until the end of the fight the more active man. Accordingly, many were disillusioned when Axel Schulz again lost a world title fight by majority decision. Nevertheless sensed many viewers, also because of the personal presence of the bustling Boxpromoters Don King, once again cheating on own husband. As a result, it caused a riot around the ring, in the course in addition to all the glasses of champagne bottles were thrown into the ring. These riots were slightly injured several spectators in the front rows, including the wives of Henry Maske and Bernie Ecclestone. Only happy circumstances, it was thanks to them that nothing worse happened. Since then, more output as a consequence of these events in boxing events in Germany no glass bottles or glasses.

As the winner Francois Botha after the battle taking unauthorized funds was transferred, canceled to the decision. Thus, the IBF world title was again vacant.

Schulz - Moorer

According to Botha's suspension Axel Schulz fought on June 22, 1996 in Dortmund for the third time for the World Champion title. Opponent was time former world champion Michael Moorer. In contrast to the previous two fights this time were from the scandals. Although Axel Schulz was also the third attempt the championship crown not win, but sold within its means acceptable and subject to Moorer with a boxer, who was then quite to amongst the world leaders.

After the defeat to Moorer the time of the lucrative fights was over for now for Axel Schulz. In a series of building struggles he scored victories against mediocre opponents, including a knockout victory against Kevin McBride, who made ​​eight years later with a surprising victory against the aged Mike Tyson stir. Gradually, Axel Schulz also increasingly plagued with numerous injuries around, which forced him to longer breaks. This time he used to be to try among others in the field of acting. But the ambition, but yet to win a major title in boxing, it did not let go. Even an operation on the disc did not change his plans. On 30 March 1999, and three weeks after the surgery, Axel Schulz was in Riesa a press conference. He explained that he stood only for big fights available, otherwise he would end his career. He asked his promoter Wilfried Sauerland either a fight an internationally recognized title or a comparison with one of the Klitschko brothers. The latter was probably the more attractive option for the public, the Ukrainians had boxed but lately with spectacular performances more and more into the spotlight.

Schulz - Klitschko

Axel Schulz finally got in September 1999 against Wladimir Klitschko a chance to fight for a third time at the European Championship and took the challenge. Although his last appearance in the ring already dated back more than a year and Wilfried Sauerland and coach Manfred cloud strongly dissuaded him from the fight, Schulz gave up some construction fights in preparation. His willingness to take risks but not paid off in the end. As the meeting on 25 September 1999 took place in Cologne 18,000 spectators, the clear traces of the ring break could not be overlooked when Axel Schulz despite a tough seven-week preparation in South Africa. From the first stroke of the gong on, he had to take the hardest hit his opponent. In addition, Schulz was, as so often miss his attacking instincts, instead he remained always static in its double cover and swallowed it a stiff left after another. As disastrous proved to be particularly the lack of sense of distance, which he constantly building inside the half distance before his opponent, which was optimal for the Ukrainians, given the range advantages Klitschkos. In the eighth round, the referee had relented and took the ravaged Germans from the fight. Axel Schulz drew the consequences and then announced yet in the ring his retirement from boxing. Despite three European and World championship fights he succeeded ultimately no international title.

Comeback attempt against Brian Minto

Since his career end Schulz works as a sports presenter and commentator. In December 2005 he got an offer from promoter Don King for a comeback. After a successful sports medical examination Axel Schulz trained for a fight against the Italian-American Brian Minto. His favorite coach Ulli Wegner, however, had to cancel it after his employer Wilfried Sauerland had prohibited cooperation. Instead, he was prepared by Richard Conti from the U.S.. Schulz et al trained Cape Coral / Florida, where the former mayor Riesa Wolfram Köhler acted as manager.

In the battle on 25 November 2006 at the Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle (Westfalen ) against the run in the independent computer rankings at number 26 Minto went Axel Schulz in the fourth round for the first time to the ground and lost to weak performance in the sixth round technical knockout. Axel Schulz was never able to use his size advantage and barely landing impact hits, Minto, however, was more aggressive and active. After this defeat Axel Schulz announced his definitive retirement from boxing.

One success was the transfer of the boxing match for the private broadcaster RTL, who had previously backed the rights to the broadcast. During the started at 23:07 clock struggle average of 11.53 million people watched. Both in the target group ( 14-49 years) and among viewers aged three and was able to achieve a market share of 48.1 percent RTL.

List of professional bouts

Honor

Others

Axel Schulz is married and has two daughters since March 2006.

In Germany tour the U.S. WCW (World Championship Wrestling ), he was employed as a villain, but refused to comply with the request of the organizer and to show risky maneuvers. Schulz is also occasionally active in supporting roles in film and television as well as a regular guest in the German talk shows.

The Mediensatiriker Oliver Kalkofe took Schulz in " Kalkofes ground glass " occasionally for a ride. Unlike other "victims" Schulz reported in lime kiln and expressed, each time very happy to and have fun. Axel Schulz contributes every public appearance (even at his wedding ), the cap of his sponsor torch GmbH & Co KG.

Mid February 2007 it was announced that Schulz just a week after the fight against Brian Minto suffered a stroke. This was a five-fold increased concentration of platelets. Already in September 2006 to have been diagnosed with a stroke Schulz, which did not prevent him, however, to compete against Brian Minto.

On June 23, 2012, announced that it had come to a surprise meeting between Schulz and his former opponent Botha. This case had the opportunity for a fair gesture used by he had at the time ( see above ) passed controversial gained championship belt Schulz.

Axel Schulz in 1986 had been recruited as minors by the Ministry of State Security of the GDR under the code name "Mark" as informer. After Schulz had not delivered in its reports the required information about people and events, the Stasi ended on its own cooperation.