Axel Schulz

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, losing close decisions in all of them. 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.

Axel Schulz
Schulz in 2007
Statistics
Nickname(s)Der sanfte Riese
("The Gentle Giant")
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Reach193 cm (76 in)
NationalityGerman
Born (1968-11-09) 9 November 1968
Bad Saarow, Bezirk Frankfurt, East Germany
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights33
Wins26
Wins by KO11
Losses5
Draws1
No contests1
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  East Germany
World Championships
1989 Moscow Heavyweight
European Championships
1989 Athens Heavyweight

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
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
Main article: George Foreman vs. Axel Schulz

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
Professional record summary
33 fights 26 wins 5 losses
By knockout 11 2
By decision 15 3
Draws 1
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
33 Loss 26–5–1 (1) Brian Minto TKO 6 (10), 1:30 25 Nov 2006 Gerry Weber Stadion, Halle, Germany
32 Loss 26–4–1 (1) Wladimir Klitschko TKO 8 (12), 2:42 25 Sep 1999 Kölnarena, Cologne, Germany For WBA Inter-Continental and vacant European heavyweight titles
31 Win 26–3–1 (1) Richard Mason UD 10 22 Aug 1998 Trade Fair, Leipzig, Germany
30 Win 25–3–1 (1) Julius Francis UD 12 28 Feb 1998 Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, Germany
29 Win 24–3–1 (1) Kevin McBride TKO 9 (10) 30 Aug 1997 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany
28 Win 23–3–1 (1) Jorge Valdes UD 10 26 Apr 1997 Leipzig, Germany
27 Win 22–3–1 (1) Jose Ribalta UD 10 7 Dec 1996 Vienna, Austria
26 Loss 21–3–1 (1) Michael Moorer SD 12 22 Jun 1996 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, Germany For vacant IBF heavyweight title
25 NC 21–2–1 (1) Francois Botha SD 12 9 Dec 1995 Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart, Germany Vacant IBF heavyweight title at stake;
Originally an SD win for Botha, later ruled an NC after he failed a drug test
24 Loss 21–2–1 George Foreman MD 12 22 Apr 1995 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, US For IBF and vacant WBU heavyweight titles
23 Win 21–1–1 James Smith UD 10 17 Sep 1994 Leverkusen, Germany
22 Win 20–1–1 Jack Basting UD 10 18 Jun 1994 Bismarck Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, US
21 Win 19–1–1 Troy Jefferson PTS 8 4 Jun 1994 Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, Germany
20 Win 18–1–1 Al Evans TKO 3 (10) 7 May 1994 Sporthalle Oberwerth, Koblenz, Germany
19 Win 17–1–1 Carlton West KO 2 16 Oct 1993 Koblenz, Germany
18 Win 16–1–1 Kimmuel Odum UD 10 7 Aug 1993 Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
17 Loss 15–1–1 Henry Akinwande UD 12 1 May 1993 Sporthalle Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany For vacant European heavyweight title
16 Draw 15–0–1 Henry Akinwande MD 12 19 Dec 1992 Berlin, Germany For vacant European heavyweight title
15 Win 15–0 Ricky Parkey PTS 8 2 Oct 1992 Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany
14 Win 14–0 Bernd Friedrich UD 10 19 Sep 1992 Kassel, Germany Won vacant Germany BDB heavyweight title
13 Win 13–0 Laszlo Paszterko PTS 8 25 Apr 1992 Berlin, Germany
12 Win 12–0 Gary McCrory TKO 2 (8) 6 Mar 1992 Berlin, Germany
11 Win 11–0 Ricardo Spain TKO 2 (8) 28 Jan 1992 Legien-Center, Berlin, Germany
10 Win 10–0 Charles Dixon KO 2 6 Dec 1991 Düsseldorf, Germany
9 Win 9–0 David Muhammed PTS 8 2 Oct 1991 Halle, Germany
8 Win 8–0 Steve Gee KO 2 (8) 13 Sep 1991 Düsseldorf, Germany
7 Win 7–0 Laszlo Virag TKO 3 28 Jun 1991 Dinslaken, Germany
6 Win 6–0 Steve Garber KO 5 (8) 31 May 1991 Berlin, Germany
5 Win 5–0 Ramon Voorn TKO 5, 2:39 28 Feb 1991 Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, Germany
4 Win 4–0 Ramon Voorn PTS 6 14 Dec 1990 Europahalle, Karlsruhe, Germany
3 Win 3–0 Barry Ellis PTS 6 7 Dec 1990 Berlin, Germany
2 Win 2–0 Jens Ploesser TKO 1 16 Nov 1990 Sporthalle Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany
1 Win 1–0 George Ajio UD 6 5 Oct 1990 Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, Germany

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.
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