Axel Schulz
| Axel Schulz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Axel Schulz |
| Nickname(s) |
Der sanfte Riese (The gentle giant) |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Reach | 76 in (193 cm) |
| Nationality |
 German |
| Born |
9 November 1968 Bad Saarow, Germany |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 33 |
| Wins | 26 |
| Wins by KO | 11 |
| Losses | 5 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Competitor for  East Germany
| ||
| Men’s Boxing | ||
| World Amateur Championships | ||
| Bronze | 1989 Moscow | Heavyweight |
| European Amateur Championships | ||
| Silver | 1989 Athens | Heavyweight |
Axel Schulz (born 9 November 1968) is a retired German heavyweight boxer.
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 | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss | 26-5-1 1 NC |
 Brian Minto |
TKO | 6 (10) | 25/11/2006 | Gerry Weber Stadium, Halle, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |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. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |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. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 25-3-1 1 NC |
 Julius Francis |
UD | 12 | 28/02/1998 | Arena Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany |
Eliminator for EBU Heavyweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |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. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 23-3-1 1 NC |
 Jorge Valdes |
UD | 10 | 26/04/1997 | Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 22-3-1 1 NC |
 Jose Ribalta |
UD | 10 | 07/12/1996 |  Vienna, Austria |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |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. |
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |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. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 21-1-1 | James Smith |
UD | 10 | 17/09/1994 | Leverkusen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 20-1-1 | Jack Basting |
UD | 10 | 18/06/1994 | Bismark Hotel, Chicago, Illinois, United States |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 19-1-1 | Troy Jefferson |
PTS | 8 | 04/06/1994 | Arena Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 18-1-1 | Al Evans |
TKO | 3 (10) | 07/05/1994 | Oberwerth Halle, Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 17-1-1 | Carlton West |
KO | 2 (?) | 16/10/1993 | Koblenz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 16-1-1 | Kimmuel Odum |
UD | 10 | 07/08/1993 | Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States |
|
| style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |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. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 15–0 | Ricky Parkey |
PTS | 8 | 02/10/1992 | Deutschlandhalle, Charlottenburg, Berlin, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 14–0 | Bernd Friedrich |
PTS | 10 | 19/09/1992 | Kassel, Hessen, Germany |
Won vacant Germany BDB Heavyweight title. |
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 13–0 |  Laszlo Paszterko |
PTS | 8 | 25/04/1992 | Berlin, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 12–0 | Gary McCrory |
TKO | 2 (8) | 06/03/1992 | Berlin, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 11–0 | Ricardo Spain |
TKO | 2 (?) | 28/01/1992 | Legien Center, Mitte, Berlin, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 10–0 | Charles Dixon |
KO | 2 (?) | 06/12/1991 | Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 9–0 |  David Muhammed |
PTS | 8 | 02/10/1991 | Halle, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 8–0 | Steve Gee |
KO | 2 (10) | 13/09/1991 | Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 7–0 | Laszlo Virag |
TKO | 3 (?) | 28/06/1991 | Dinslaken, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 6–0 | Steve Garber |
KO | 5 (8) | 31/05/1991 | Berlin, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 5–0 |  Ramon Voorn |
TKO | 5 (?) | 28/02/1991 | Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 4–0 | Ramon Voorn |
PTS | 6 | 14/12/1990 | Europahalle, Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 3–0 | Barry Ellis |
PTS | 6 | 07/12/1990 | Berlin, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 2–0 | Jens Ploesser |
TKO | 1 (?) | 16/11/1990 | Sporthalle, Wandsbek, Hamburg, Germany |
|
| style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win | 1–0 |  George Ajio |
UD | 6 | 05/10/1990 | Philips Halle, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany |
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