Axel Schulz


Axel Schulz 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 European Amateur Boxing Championships|1989 European Championships], both in the heavyweight division.
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 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.
WWW Official Site

Amateur career

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". 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.
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

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
33LossBrian MintoTKO6, 1:3025 Nov 2006Gerry Weber Stadion, Halle, Germany
32Loss26–4–1 Wladimir KlitschkoTKO8, 2:4225 Sep 1999Kölnarena, Cologne, GermanyFor WBA Inter-Continental and vacant European heavyweight titles
31Win26–3–1 Richard MasonUD1022 Aug 1998Trade Fair, Leipzig, Germany
30Win25–3–1 Julius FrancisUD1228 Feb 1998Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, Germany
29Win24–3–1 Kevin McBrideTKO9 30 Aug 1997Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany
28Win23–3–1 Jorge ValdesUD1026 Apr 1997Leipzig, Germany
27Win22–3–1 Jose RibaltaUD107 Dec 1996Vienna, Austria
26Loss21–3–1 Michael MoorerSD1222 Jun 1996Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, GermanyFor vacant IBF heavyweight title
2521–2–1 Francois Botha129 Dec 1995Hanns-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
24Loss21–2–1George Foreman1222 Apr 1995MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, USFor IBF and vacant WBU heavyweight titles
23Win21–1–1James SmithUD1017 Sep 1994Leverkusen, Germany
22Win20–1–1Jack BastingUD1018 Jun 1994Bismarck Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, US
21Win19–1–1Troy JeffersonPTS84 Jun 1994Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, Germany
20Win18–1–1Al EvansTKO3 7 May 1994Sporthalle Oberwerth, Koblenz, Germany
19Win17–1–1Carlton WestKO216 Oct 1993Koblenz, Germany
18Win16–1–1Kimmuel OdumUD107 Aug 1993Steel Pier, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
17Loss15–1–1Henry AkinwandeUD121 May 1993Sporthalle Charlottenburg, Berlin, GermanyFor vacant European heavyweight title
16Draw15–0–1Henry Akinwande1219 Dec 1992Berlin, GermanyFor vacant European heavyweight title
15Win15–0Ricky ParkeyPTS82 Oct 1992Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany
14Win14–0Bernd FriedrichUD1019 Sep 1992Kassel, GermanyWon vacant Germany BDB heavyweight title
13Win13–0Laszlo PaszterkoPTS825 Apr 1992Berlin, Germany
12Win12–0Gary McCroryTKO2 6 Mar 1992Berlin, Germany
11Win11–0Ricardo SpainTKO2 28 Jan 1992Legien-Center, Berlin, Germany
10Win10–0Charles DixonKO26 Dec 1991Düsseldorf, Germany
9Win9–0David MuhammedPTS82 Oct 1991Halle, Germany
8Win8–0Steve GeeKO2 13 Sep 1991Düsseldorf, Germany
7Win7–0Laszlo ViragTKO328 Jun 1991Dinslaken, Germany
6Win6–0Steve Garber5 31 May 1991Berlin, Germany
5Win5–0Ramon VoornTKO5, 2:3928 Feb 1991Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, Germany
4Win4–0Ramon VoornPTS614 Dec 1990Europahalle, Karlsruhe, Germany
3Win3–0Barry Ellis67 Dec 1990Berlin, Germany
2Win2–0Jens Ploesser116 Nov 1990Sporthalle Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany
1Win1–0George Ajio65 Oct 1990Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, Germany

Television viewership

Germany

DateFightViewership Source
22 April 1995George Foreman vs. Axel Schulz3,900,000
9 December 1995Axel Schulz vs. Francois Botha18,030,000
22 June 1996Axel Schulz vs. Michael Moorer11,000,000
7 December 1996Axel Schulz vs. Jose Ribalta8,940,000
28 February 1998Axel Schulz vs. Julius Francis8,370,000
25 September 1999Axel Schulz vs. Wladimir Klitschko10,530,000
25 November 2006Axel Schulz vs. Brian Minto11,530,000
Total viewership74,300,000