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, 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.
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.

Amateur career

From 1982 Schulz boxed for the army sports club Vorwärts in Frankfurt, 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, 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 on January 2010: Amelina Patricia Hedwig.

Professional boxing record

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

Citations