# 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. 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 (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

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 (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 in January 2010: Amelina Patricia Hedwig.

## Professional boxing record

| 33 fights | 26 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 11 | 2 |
| By decision | 15 | 3 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | 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 | |

## Television viewership
### Germany

| Date | Fight | Viewership (avg.) |
| 22 April 1995 | George Foreman vs. Axel Schulz | 3,900,000 |
| 9 December 1995 | Axel Schulz vs. Francois Botha | 18,030,000 |
| 22 June 1996 | Axel Schulz vs. Michael Moorer | 11,000,000 |
| 7 December 1996 | Axel Schulz vs. Jose Ribalta | 8,940,000 |
| 28 February 1998 | Axel Schulz vs. Julius Francis | 8,370,000 |
| 25 September 1999 | Axel Schulz vs. Wladimir Klitschko | 10,530,000 |
| 25 November 2006 | Axel Schulz vs. Brian Minto | 11,530,000 |
| | Total viewership | 74,300,000 |

## Citations

* ↑ "Axel Schulz gibt Stasi-Mitarbeit zu". Mitteldeutsche Zeitung. 1995-10-26. Archived from the original on 2012-01-01. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
* ↑ "Als Schulz gegen Foreman die Niederlage seines Lebens kassierte" (in German). 20 April 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
* 1 2 "Boxen bei RTL - Die größten Quoten-Erfolge" (in German). 14 November 2006. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
* ↑ "Die Faust, die die Boxwelt veränderte" (in German). 20 March 2022. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
* ↑ "Endlich! Nach 20 Monaten siegt Axel Schulz wieder" (in German). 9 December 1996. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
* ↑ "Axel Schulz bezwingt In Dortmund Julius Francis" (in German). 1 March 1998. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
* ↑ "Wladimir Klitschko Profile - East Side Boxing". Retrieved 16 May 2020.
* ↑ "Die Schwergewichtsboxer Vitali und Wladimir Klitschko über Hiebe, Geld und den Showdown in Las Vegas" (in German). Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
* ↑ "Boxen: Debakel für Axel Schulz, Triumph für RTL" (in German). 26 November 2006. Retrieved 15 May 2022.