Axel Schulz

Axel Schulz
Axel Schulz
	File:Axel Schulz 01.jpg Schulz in 2007
Statistics
Nickname(s)	Der sanfte Riese; ("The Gentle Giant")
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Reach	193 cm (76 in)
Nationality	German
Born	9 November 1968 (age 55); Bad Saarow, Oder-Spree, Brandenburg, East Germany
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	33
Wins	26
Wins by KO	11
Losses	5
Draws	1
No contests	1
	Representing East Germany
Men's boxing
World Amateur Championships
European Amateur Championships

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Axel Schulz (born 9 November 1968) is a German former professional boxer. He is a three-time world heavyweight title challenger and also held the European heavyweight title. As an amateur he won a bronze medal at the 1989 World Amateur Boxing Championships and silver at the 1989 European Amateur Boxing Championships, after which he turned professional in 1990.

Schulz first fought for a world title in 1995, when he challenged George Foreman for his IBF heavyweight 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 Frans Botha but lost the fight via split decision. However, Botha later tested positive steroids, which led to Schulz receiving a third chance at the title. In 1996 he fought Michael Moorer for the vacant IBF heavyweight title, losing again via split decision.

Amateur career

From 1982 Schulz boxed for the army sports club Vorwärts in Frankfurt (Oder), later becoming the East German youth champion. 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. 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.

Fights for the IBF Championship

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 on January 2010: Amelina Patricia Hedwig.

Professional boxing record

26 Wins (11 knockouts, 15 decisions), 5 Losses (2 knockouts, 3 decisions), 1 Draw, 1 No Contest [1]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	26-5-1 1 NC	Brian Minto	TKO	6 (10)	25/11/2006	Gerry Weber Stadium, Halle, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Loss	26-4-1 1 NC	Wladimir Klitschko	TKO	8 (12)	25/09/1999	Kolnarena, Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany	For WBA Inter-Continental vacant EBU Heavyweight titles. Schulz retired for seven years after this bout.
Win	26-3-1 1 NC	Richard Mason	UD	10	22/08/1998	Messehalle, Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany	Schulz was knocked down for the first time in his career.
Win	25-3-1 1 NC	Julius Francis	UD	12	28/02/1998	Arena Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany	Eliminator for EBU Heavyweight title.
Win	24-3-1 1 NC	Kevin McBride	TKO	9 (10)	30/08/1997	Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany	McBride down in round 9.
Win	23-3-1 1 NC	Jorge Valdes	UD	10	26/04/1997	Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany
Win	22-3-1 1 NC	Jose Ribalta	UD	10	07/12/1996	Vienna, Austria
Loss	21-3-1 1 NC	Michael Moorer	SD	12	22/06/1996	Westfalen Stadion, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany	For vacant IBF Heavyweight title.
NC	21-2-1 1 NC	Francois Botha	NC	12	09/12/1995	Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany	For vacant IBF Heavyweight title. Botha tested positive for steroids shortly after the fight and was stripped of the title.
Loss	21-2-1	George Foreman	MD	12	22/04/1995	MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	For IBF & vacant WBU Heavyweight titles. Shortly after this fight, Foreman was stripped by the IBF for refusing to give Schulz a rematch.
Win	21-1-1	James Smith	UD	10	17/09/1994	Leverkusen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win	20-1-1	Jack Basting	UD	10	18/06/1994	Bismark Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win	19-1-1	Troy Jefferson	PTS	8	04/06/1994	Arena Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win	18-1-1	Al Evans	TKO	3 (10)	07/05/1994	Oberwerth Halle, Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Win	17-1-1	Carlton West	KO	2 (?)	16/10/1993	Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany
Win	16-1-1	Kimmuel Odum	UD	10	07/08/1993	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss	15-1-1	Henry Akinwande	UD	12	01/05/1993	Berlin, Germany	For vacant EBU Heavyweight title.
Draw	15-0-1	Henry Akinwande	PTS	12	19/12/1992	Berlin, Germany	For vacant EBU Heavyweight title.
Win	15–0	Ricky Parkey	PTS	8	02/10/1992	Deutschlandhalle, Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany
Win	14–0	Bernd Friedrich	PTS	10	19/09/1992	Kassel, Hessen, Germany	Won vacant Germany BDB Heavyweight title.
Win	13–0	Laszlo Paszterko	PTS	8	25/04/1992	Berlin, Germany
Win	12–0	Gary McCrory	TKO	2 (8)	06/03/1992	Berlin, Germany
Win	11–0	Ricardo Spain	TKO	2 (?)	28/01/1992	Legien Center, Mitte, Berlin, Germany
Win	10–0	Charles Dixon	KO	2 (?)	06/12/1991	Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win	9–0	David Muhammed	PTS	8	02/10/1991	Halle, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany
Win	8–0	Steve Gee	KO	2 (10)	13/09/1991	Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win	7–0	Laszlo Virag	TKO	3 (?)	28/06/1991	Dinslaken, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win	6–0	Steve Garber	KO	5 (8)	31/05/1991	Berlin, Germany
Win	5–0	Ramon Voorn	TKO	5 (?)	28/02/1991	Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win	4–0	Ramon Voorn	PTS	6	14/12/1990	Europahalle, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Win	3–0	Barry Ellis	PTS	6	07/12/1990	Berlin, Germany
Win	2–0	Jens Ploesser	TKO	1 (?)	16/11/1990	Sporthalle, Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany
Win	1–0	George Ajio	UD	6	05/10/1990	Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany