Axel Schulz
Axel Schulz | |
|---|---|
| Born | Axel Schulz November 9, 1968 Bad Saarow, Germany |
| Nationality | Germany |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Heavyweight |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 32 |
| Wins | 26 |
| Wins by KO | 11 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No contests | 1 |
Axel Schulz, born 9 November 1968 in Bad Saarow, Germany is a German 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 tuteledge of Manfred Wolke, he became East German heavyweight champion. In 1999 he won the Chemiepokal in Halle, the silver medal at the European championships in Athens and a bronze medal in the world chamionships in Moscow where he lost to Félix Savón. Record : 78 wins, 20 losses.
Professional Career
Schulz turned professional in 1990. 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. After refusing a rematch Foreman was stripped of his title and Schulz was given a second opportunity when he fought Francois Botha fort he 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
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 step son of the boxing promoter Don King. His comeback fight has been set for November 2006. However, he is unable to work with his former trainer, Ulli Wegner, because Wegner’s employer, Wilfried Sauerland, did not agree to it.
The television channel RTL will cover the comeback.
Axel Schulz married in March 2006. He and his wife have their first child a girl on 19 August 2006 : Paulina Paricia Karla.