Max Schmeling

For the 2010 German film, see Max Schmeling (film).
Max Schmeling

Max Schmeling in 1938
Statistics
Real name Maximillian Adolph Otto
Siegfried Schmeling
Nickname(s) Black Uhlan of the Rhine
Rated at Heavyweight
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Reach 193 cm (76 in)
Nationality German
Born (1905-09-28)28 September 1905
Klein Luckow, Province of Pomerania, German Empire
Died 2 February 2005(2005-02-02) (aged 99)
Wenzendorf, Germany
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 70
Wins 56
Wins by KO 40
Losses 10
Draws 4
No contests 0

Maximillian Adolph Otto Siegfried "Max" Schmeling (German: [ˈʃmeːlɪŋ]; 28 September 1905 – 2 February 2005) was a German boxer who was heavyweight champion of the world between 1930 and 1932. His two fights with Joe Louis in 1936 and 1938 were worldwide cultural events because of their national associations.

Starting his professional career in 1924, Schmeling went to the United States in 1928 and, after a ninth-round technical knockout of Johnny Risko, became a sensation. He became the first to win the heavyweight championship (at that time vacant) by disqualification in 1930, after opponent Jack Sharkey knocked him down with a low blow in the fourth round. Max retained his crown successfully in 1931 by a technical knockout victory over Young Stribling. A rematch in 1932 with Sharkey saw the American gaining the title from Schmeling by a controversial fifteen-round split decision. In 1933, Schmeling lost to Max Baer by a tenth-round technical knockout. The loss left people believing that Schmeling was past his prime. Meanwhile, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party took over control in Germany, and Schmeling came to be viewed as a 'Nazi puppet.'

In 1936, Schmeling knocked out American rising star Joe Louis, placing him as the number one contender for Jim Braddock's title, but Louis got the fight and knocked Braddock out to win the championship in 1937. Schmeling finally got a chance to regain his title in 1938, but Louis knocked him out in one round. During World War II, Schmeling served with the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) as an elite paratrooper (Fallschirmjäger).[1] After the war, Schmeling mounted a comeback, but retired permanently in 1948.

After retiring from boxing, Schmeling worked for the Coca-Cola Company. Schmeling became friends with Louis, and their friendship lasted until the latter's death in 1981. Schmeling died in 2005 aged 99, a sporting icon in his native Germany. Long after the Second World War, it was revealed that Schmeling had risked his own life to save the lives of two Jewish children in 1938.[2]

In 2003, Schmeling was ranked 55 on The Ring magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.[3] He died 2 years later on 2 February 2005 at the age of 99.

Biography

Early years

Schmeling was born in the Pomeranian town of Klein Luckow. He first became acquainted with boxing as a teenager, when his father took him to watch film of the heavyweight championship match between Jack Dempsey and Georges Carpentier. Impressed with Dempsey's performance in that fight, young Schmeling became determined to imitate his new hero. He began boxing in amateur competitions and, by 1924, won Germany's national amateur title in the light heavyweight division. Shortly thereafter, he turned professional. Ironically, though he idolised the raging, brawling Dempsey, Schmeling developed a careful, scientific style of fighting that lent itself more to counterpunching. Using this style, he won seventeen of his first twenty-three bouts, thirteen by knockout. In 1925, he got into the ring with Dempsey, who was then still heavyweight champion of the world and was touring Europe. Dempsey boxed for two rounds with the then-unknown German and, according to a story later told by Schmeling, was greatly impressed. He proved Dempsey's praises correct on 24 August 1926, when picking up the German light heavyweight championship with a first-round knockout of rival Max Diekmann, who had previously beaten Schmeling. The next year, Schmeling won the European championship by stopping Fernand Delarge in the first boxing match broadcast live in Germany. After defending both titles against Hein Domgoergen the same year and, in 1928, the European Title with a first-round knockout of Michele Bonaglia, he secured the German heavyweight championship with a point victory against Franz Diener and decided to chase bigger fights and bigger purses in the United States.

Arriving in New York for the first time in 1928, Schmeling was hardly noticed by the American fight circles. Considered a stiff European fighter who had padded his record against German and European unknowns, he was given few opportunities to prove himself until he hooked up with American manager Joe Jacobs. Schmeling's debut in America took place at Madison Square Garden with an eighth-round knockout of Joe Monte, who was not a top-flight heavyweight but nonetheless had been in with some tough competition. Two more victories led to a fight with Johnny Risko, one of the biggest names in the division, though somewhat beyond his prime. On 1 February 1929, Schmeling floored Risko four times with his right hand before the referee halted the contest in the ninth round, handing Risko his only loss by TKO. The surprised crowd in attendance roared with appreciation and The Ring magazine subsequently recognized the win as its 'Fight of the Year.'

The "Low Blow Champion"

Max Schmeling in 1930

When he defeated the highly regarded Spaniard Paulino Uzcudun via a fifteen-round decision at Yankee Stadium later that year, Schmeling was regarded as the foremost young contender in the division. With the World Heavyweight Champion Gene Tunney having recently retired, promoters arranged a matchup between the German and veteran contender Jack Sharkey to fill the vacancy. On 12 June 1930, at Yankee Stadium, in a fight billed as the 'Battle of the Continents,' Schmeling, known as a slow starter, fell slightly behind on points going into the fourth round. He was trying to corner his opponent when Sharkey let loose with a blow to the body which strayed below the belt line. He immediately clutched his groin and fell to the canvas, claiming to have been fouled. When manager Jacobs ran into the ring, prompting chaos, the referee disqualified Sharkey and declared Schmeling the victor and the first man to win the heavyweight championship on a foul since Joe Goss in 1876. The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC), reviewing the call, agreed.

The first European-born boxer to win the heavyweight championship in thirty-three years, Schmeling was also the first from Germany to hold the distinction. Still, the way in which he won the title proved an embarrassment. Called the 'low blow champion,' he was disparaged in both America and Europe as an unproven titleholder. When he initially refused to face Sharkey in a rematch, the NYSAC officially stripped him of their recognition as world champion, but he remained recognised by both the National Boxing Association (NBA) and The Ring magazine. Most of the criticism faded after Schmeling's first defence, a fifteen-round TKO over Young Stribling, a future hall-of-famer with 239 wins to his credit by 1931. In order to solidify his title as undisputed, Schmeling signed a contract to face the "Boston Gob" once more. On 21 June 1932, the championship picture became even more muddled when Sharkey won a highly controversial split decision, taking the championship. Many in attendance, including Gene Tunney and the mayor of New York, felt that Schmeling had proven himself the better man and was robbed. In losing the championship, the German had elevated his reputation in the minds of boxing fans.

Walker and Baer

When Schmeling faced Mickey Walker, the future hall-of-famer who had recently held Sharkey to a draw that many felt Walker deserved, it was thought that this fight was for the real heavyweight championship. Walker, a former welterweight, was a popular slugger who had won championships in two divisions but was at a considerable size disadvantage against the European. Though Walker took the lead on points, Schmeling dealt out a beating as the fight progressed. After eight rounds, Walker's corner threw in the towel, confirming Schmeling's status as the leading heavyweight in the world.

With the coming of 1933, however, Schmeling's image in America began to take a decided turn. In 1932, the Nazi Party became the most powerful political force in Germany, and its ideologies, voiced by party leader Adolf Hitler, overflowed with anti-Semitic tendencies. Major American cities such as New York had large Jewish populations, who worried over what the party could mean for people of their religion in the future. Schmeling, because he was German, was viewed as an extension of Hitler's plans for world domination. When he was slated to fight heavy-hitting contender Max Baer on 8 June 1933, he immediately became the 'bad guy' in the eyes of fans. Baer, who did not practice the Jewish religion but had a Jewish father, came into the ring wearing the Star of David on his shorts. Promoter Jack Dempsey played up this angle and suddenly the fight was viewed as Baer defending his faith against the prejudice of the Nazis, represented reluctantly by Schmeling. Thrown off of his game in part by the bad publicity but also because of Baer's wild, brawling style and frequent fouls (including backhand punches and rabbit punches), Schmeling was thrashed after ten rounds before nearly 60,000 onlookers at Yankee Stadium. While the German took a battering against the ropes in the tenth, the referee leapt in to stop the fight. The fight, combined with a follow-up loss to contender Steve Hamas early the next year, left many wondering if Schmeling was still a world top-class fighter.

Versus Joe Louis

Louis vs. Schmeling, 1936

Returning to his native Germany, Schmeling won three of his next four fights, with one draw, including knockout wins over first Walter Neusel, then another redeeming his previous loss to Steve Hamas. However, many among the American press and fans remained unmoved on the idea of rooting for Schmeling in light of the Nazi Party's behavior. Articles continued to be published declaring the German 'washed up,' a 'has been,' or a 'Nazi puppet.' When he was matched with undefeated black sensation Joe Louis in 1936 for the German's first fight on American soil in more than two years, he was clearly the betting underdog, considered a name opponent for Louis to roll over on his route to the title. Nevertheless, he was number two contender for the title behind Louis. Prior to the match, Schmeling carefully studied films of Louis's prior fights, dissecting apparent flaws in the Detroit fighter's technique. Among the weaknesses he noticed was the fact that Louis lowered his left hand after throwing a left jab. In the ring, Schmeling exploited this subtle flaw to his own advantage, countering nearly every Louis jab with his best punch, the right cross. The fight proved to be a competitive, hard-hitting affair for the first three rounds, but, in the fourth, a counter right from the German dropped Louis for the first time in his career. Though Louis rose, he was badly dazed for the remainder of the fight. For a further eight rounds, Schmeling battered Louis, often standing toe-to-toe with the vaunted puncher and landing that same right hand to the jaw repeatedly. In the twelfth, he sent the American tumbling to the floor once more, and this time Louis could not recover. He was counted out on the floor, and Schmeling had scored the most talked-about sports upset of the year.

Now the unexpected number one contender for the heavyweight crown held by Jim Braddock, Schmeling looked forward to his chance to regain the title as first Heavyweight ever, scheduled for that September. The fight was postponed, however, when Braddock injured his hand in training. Rumors existed that the fight's organizers were stalling, afraid of the negative publicity that would be generated over a perceived Nazi getting a shot at the world's title. When it was confirmed that Braddock's managers were in talks with the Louis camp, the New York Commission officially released an order for Braddock to fight Schmeling for the title. Any other fight, with Louis or otherwise, would not be recognized by New York as being for the championship. The Madison Square Garden Corporation, the largest promotional company in the sport at the time, even attempted to get a legal injunction against a Braddock-Louis fight (Louis was not on their roster). Nonetheless, in February in 1937, Schmeling received the news that the champion had indeed signed to defend his championship against Louis. A furious Schmeling protested, but to no avail, and he was forced to watch from ringside as Louis knocked Braddock out and gained the championship. Sorely disappointed and convinced that he would never receive his chance at redemption, Schmeling fought just once more in America, an eighth-round knockout of future contender Harry Thomas, before returning to Germany. In his native land, Schmeling was regarded as a hero and promoted by the Nazi propaganda machine as a perfect example of German supremacy over the rest of the world by virtue of his defeat of the current champion, Louis. The government ordered parades and rallies in his honor. He became a friend to Hitler and other powerful figures in the government and also a popular subject of newspaper articles and films. He continued to press for a chance at a rematch with Louis and in the meantime padded his record against overmatched fighters Ben Foord and Steve Dudas.

"Battle of the Century"

In 1938, champion Joe Louis announced that he would face Schmeling for the title. The rematch became an instant international sensation. Many clamored impatiently for its happening, but others, afraid of international tensions and the possibility of Hitler taking over the championship, protested. The controversy and ballyhoo led to the event becoming the most anticipated boxing match since the rematch between Dempsey and Gene Tunney, or possibly earlier. Louis, with his poor, black roots was adopted by American fans as the symbol of America as a land of opportunity. In contrast, Americans perceived Schmeling and his ties to Hitler as an obvious threat to those opportunities and ideals. When the German walked to the ring at Yankee Stadium on 22 June 1938, he did so under a hail of garbage thrown from the stands. Louis came out blazing in the first round and Schmeling tried to counter-punch as he had in the first bout, but to no avail. Driven into the ropes and battered with a fusillade of short, crisp blows from every angle, Schmeling turned his back to his opponent and clutched onto the ropes, letting out a scream that even years later, many spectators could recall vividly. Schmeling later said that he screamed because he had been hit with a blow to the kidneys. Schmeling's knees buckled under the punishment, and referee Arthur Donovan pushed Louis away, beginning a count on Schmeling. Schmeling reluctantly stepped away from the ropes, and Donovan allowed him to continue. A few punches later, Schmeling was knocked down again. From then on, he was helpless. He rose but fell moments later, and Donovan stopped the fight.

Many years later, in 1975, Schmeling said, "Looking back, I'm almost happy I lost that fight. Just imagine if I would have come back to Germany with a victory. I had nothing to do with the Nazis, but they would have given me a medal. After the war I might have been considered a war criminal."[4]

Schmeling in his later years

Max Schmeling (right) with Joe Louis in 1971.

When he returned to Germany after his defeat by Joe Louis, Schmeling was now shunned by the Nazis. He won both the German and European heavyweight championships on the same night, with a first-round knockout of Adolf Heuser. During the Nazi purge of Jews from Berlin, he personally saved the lives of two Jewish children by hiding them in his apartment. It was not the first time that Schmeling defied the Nazi regime's hatred for Jews. As the story goes, Hitler let it be known through the Reich Ministry of Sports that he was very displeased at Schmeling's relationship with Joe Jacobs, his Jewish fight promoter and wanted it terminated, but Schmeling refused to bow even to Hitler. During the war, Schmeling was forcibly drafted where he served with the Luftwaffe and was trained as an elite paratrooper. He participated in the Battle of Crete in May 1941, where he was wounded in his right knee by mortar fire shrapnel during the first day of the battle. After recovering, he was dismissed from active service after being deemed medically unfit for duty because of his injury. He later visited American P.O.W. camps in Germany and occasionally tried to help conditions for the prisoners. By early 1945, he was spending his time giving exhibition bouts against former British Free Corps member Eric Pleasants in German officers' messes.[5]

After the war, Schmeling settled in Hamburg where in 1947, strapped for money, he embarked upon a moderately successful comeback in boxing, winning three of his five bouts with two point-defeats before re-entering retirement for good in October 1948.

During the 1950s, Schmeling began working for the Coca-Cola Company's offices in Germany. Before long, he owned his own bottling plant and held an executive's position within the company. He became friends with Joe Louis and assisted his former rival financially in his later years, eventually financing his military funeral in 1981.

His wife for 54 years, the Czech-born actress Anny Ondra, died in 1987. In 1992, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He lived his remaining years as a wealthy man and avid boxing fan, dying on 2 February 2005, at the age of 99.[6]

From 1936 to 1945, Schmeling lived in a large mansion on Schweinfurth Straße in the leafy green suburb of Dahlem in Berlin. The house currently houses the Libyan embassy.

In 2010, a bronze statue of Schmeling was erected in Hollenstedt.[7]

Honours

Cultural references

German stamp, 2005

Schmeling lived in Stettin, Germany (now known as Szczecin, Poland); a band from this city, the Analogs, recorded the song "Max Schmeling" on their album Hlaskover rock.

Schmeling briefly appears as himself in the film The Zurich Engagement (1957)

In his film "Deconstructing Harry" [1997] Woody Allen is playing the character of Harry Block who claims to have divorced his first wife since "she looked like Max Schmeling" under a particular lighting setting.

The 2002 American-German film Joe and Max tells the true story of Joe Louis and Max Schmeling and their enduring friendship.

In the book The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Joe Kavalier is beaten up by someone who may or may not have been Max Schmeling. The author hints that it probably wasn't, as Schmeling should have been fighting in Poland at the time.

In Rocky IV, the climactic fight between American Rocky Balboa and Russian Ivan Drago was inspired by the bout between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling, just updated to reflect Cold War relationships.

The song "Ambling Alp" by Yeasayer mentions Max Schmeling as a "formidable foe." The nicknake 'Ambling Alp' does not refer to Schmeling but refers to another contemporary boxer Primo Carnera. Carnera and Schmeling never faced each other in the ring, but both had high-profile bouts with Joe Louis.

Schmeling also appears as a character in the opera, Shadowboxer, based on the life of Joe Louis.[8]

Schmeling figures prominently in the 2010 novel by P.F. Kluge A Call From Jersey.

Henry Maske and Wladimir Klitschko, after the unveiling of the Max Schmeling monument in Hollenstedt on 21 May 2010

In the novel Kaputt by Curzio Malaparte, 1944, Schmeling figures prominently in the chapter Cricket in Poland depicting a gathering in February 1942 hosted by Governor-General Dr. Hans Frank in the Belvedere palace in Warsaw.

Schmeling's role as a paratrooper in World War II is mentioned in Gunter Grass's famous 1959 novel "The Tin Drum"

Schmeling is the central figure in the stage play, "The Measure of a Man", written by Brian C. Petti.

For 2010's film Max Schmeling - Eine deutsche Legende another former boxing champion, who moreover had known him, played Max Schmeling: Henry Maske.

The 2011 novel, "The Berlin Boxing Club" by Robert Sharenow, set in 1930s Berlin, features Schmeling heavily as the character who introduces a young Jewish boy to boxing, and later plays a larger role.

The Voyagers! episode "All Fall Down" depicts his second fight with Joe Louis. The series' time travelling protagonists Phineas Bogg and Jeffrey Jones convinced Louis not to back out of the fight and witnessed his victory over Schmeling in Yankee Stadium on 22 June 1938.

The Law & Order Season 9 episode "Hunters" features an elderly former boxer named Terry Barrick who went ten rounds with Schmeling in 1937.

Honorary residencies

Professional record

56 Wins (40 knockouts, 16 decisions), 10 Losses (5 knockouts, 5 decisions), 4 Draws[9]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 56-10-4 Germany Richard Vogt PTS 10 31/10/1948 Germany Waldbühne, Westend, Berlin, Germany
Win 56-9-4 Germany Hans Joachim Draegestein TKO 9 (10) 02/10/1948 Germany Holstein-Platz

Booklet , Kiel, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Draegestein suffered broken jaw.
Loss 55-9-4 Germany Walter Neusel PTS 10 23/05/1948 Germany Platz in Hamburg-Altona, Altona, Hamburg, Germany
Win 55-8-4 Germany Hans Joachim Draegestein PTS 10 07/12/1947 Germany Omnibushalle, Altona, Hamburg, Germany
Win 54-8-4 Germany Werner Vollmer KO 7 (10) 28/09/1947 Germany Waldstadion, Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany This was Schmeling's first fight in over eight years.
Win 53-8-4 Nazi Germany Adolf Heuser KO 1 (15) 02/07/1939 Nazi Germany Adolf-Hitler-Kampfbahn, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Won EBU & Germany BDB Heavyweight titles.
Loss 52-8-4 United States Joe Louis TKO 1 (15) 22/06/1938 United States Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States For NYSAC, NBA & World Heavyweight titles. Proclaimed the "Fight of the Decade" by The Ring Magazine.
Win 52-7-4 United States Steve Dudas KO 5 (?) 16/04/1938 Nazi Germany Hanseatenhalle, Hamburg, Germany
Win 51-7-4 South Africa Ben Foord PTS 12 30/01/1938 Nazi Germany Hanseatenhalle, Hamburg, Germany
Win 50-7-4 United States Henry Thomas TKO 8 (15) 13/12/1937 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win 49-7-4 United States Joe Louis KO 12 (15) 19/06/1936 United States Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States Louis was down in the 4th and 12th rounds. 1936 Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine.
Win 48-7-4 Spain Paulino Uzcudun PTS 12 07/07/1935 Nazi Germany Poststadion, Moabit, Berlin, Germany
Win 47-7-4 United States Steve Hamas KO 9 (12) 10/03/1935 Nazi Germany Hanseatenhalle, Hamburg, Germany
Win 46-7-4 Nazi Germany Walter Neusel KO 9 (15) 26/08/1934 Nazi Germany Sandbahn Lokstedt, Hamburg, Germany This fight has the largest European boxing attendance of 102,000 people.
Draw 45-7-4 Spain Paulino Uzcudun PTS 12 13/05/1934 Spain Montjuich Stadium, Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain
Loss 45-7-3 United States Steve Hamas PTS 12 13/02/1934 United States Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss 45-6-3 United States Max Baer TKO 10 (15) 08/06/1933 United States Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States The fight was in front of a crowd of 53,000 (with another 3,300 with passes). Including Jack Sharkey and Primo Carnera, paid $239,676.07 to assure a fair profit for Jack Dempsey in his first big promotional venture. 1933 Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine.
Win 45-5-3 United States Mickey Walker TKO 8 (15) 26/09/1932 United States Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, Queens, New York, United States Walker down once in round 1 and twice in round 8. Jack Kearns, Walker's manager, signalled Referee Denning to stop the bout.
Loss 44-5-3 United States Jack Sharkey SD 15 21/06/1932 United States Madison Square Garden Bowl, Long Island City, Queens, New York, United States Lost NYSAC, NBA World Heavyweight titles. As a result of the controversial decision of this bout, the NYSAC barred any but "boxing experts" (sports writers, referees, judges) from broadcasting descriptions of future matches.
Win 44-4-3 United States Young Stribling TKO 15 (15) 03/07/1931 United States Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio, United States Retained NBA & World Heavyweight titles. 1931 Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine.
Win 43-4-3 United States Jack Sharkey DQ 4 (15) 12/06/1930 United States Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States Won vacant NYSAC, NBA and World Heavyweight titles. Sharkey was disqualified because of a low blow.
Win 42-4-3 Spain Paulino Uzcudun PTS 15 27/06/1929 United States Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York, United States Schmeling injured his right hand in the 5th round.
Win 41-4-3 United States Johnny Risko TKO 9 (15) 01/02/1929 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States 1929 Fight of the Year by The Ring Magazine. Schmeling dropped Risko in rounds 1, 7, 8, and 9, each time with a right hand.
Win 40-4-3 Austria Pietro Corri KO 1 (10) 21/01/1929 United States Laurel Garden, Newark, New Jersey, United States
Win 39-4-3 United States Joe Sekyra PTS 10 04/01/1929 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win 38-4-3 United States Joe Monte KO 8 (10) 23/11/1928 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win 37-4-3 Germany Franz Diener PTS 15 04/04/1928 Germany Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, Berlin, Germany Won Germany BDB Heavyweight title.
Win 36-4-3 United States Ted Moore PTS 10 11/03/1928 Germany Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Loss 35-4-3 United Kingdom Gipsy Daniels KO 1 (10) 25/02/1928 Germany Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
Win 35-3-3 Kingdom of Italy Michele Bonaglia KO 1 (15) 06/01/1928 Germany Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, Berlin, Germany Retained EBU Light Heavyweight title.
Win 34-3-3 United Kingdom Gipsy Daniels PTS 10 02/12/1927 Germany Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, Berlin, Germany
Win 33-3-3 Germany Hein Domgoergen KO 7 (15) 06/11/1927 Germany Leipzig, Sachsen, Germany Retained EBU & Germany BDB Light Heavyweight titles.
Win 32-3-3 Switzerland Louis Clement KO 6 (?) 02/10/1927 Germany Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win 31-3-3 Denmark Robert Larsen KO 3 (?) 02/09/1927 Germany Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, Berlin, Germany
Win 30-3-3 Netherlands Willem Westbroek KO 3 (?) 07/08/1927 Germany Radrennbahn, Essen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win 29-4-3 United States Jack Taylor PTS 10 13/07/1927 Germany Hamburg, Germany
Win 28-3-3 Belgium Fernand Delarge KO 14 (15) 19/06/1927 Germany Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany Won EBU Light Heavyweight title.
Win 27-3-3 France Raoul Paillaux KO 3 (?) 17/05/1927 Germany Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
Win 26-3-3 Denmark Robert Larsen PTS 10 07/05/1927 Germany Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
Win 25-3-3 United Kingdom Stanley Glen KO 1 (?) 26/04/1927 Germany Sagebiel, Hamburg, Germany
Win 24-3-3 France Francois Charles KO 8 (?) 08/04/1927 Germany Berlin, Germany
Win 23-3-3 France Leon Sebilo KO 2 (?) 12/03/1927 Germany Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win 22-3-3 Germany Joe Mehling KO 3 (?) 04/02/1927 Germany Zirkus Sarassani, Dresden, Sachsen, Germany
Win 21-3-3 Belgium Louis Wilms TKO 8 (?) 23/01/1927 Germany Centennial Hall, Breslau, Lower Silesia, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland)
Win 20-3-3 United Kingdom Jack Stanley KO 8 (?) 07/01/1927 Germany Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, Berlin, Germany
Win 19-3-3 Netherlands Herman van't Hof DQ 8 (?) 01/10/1926 Germany Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, Berlin, Germany Van 't Hof was disqualified for kidney-punching.
Win 18-3-3 Germany Max Diekmann KO 1 (12) 24/08/1926 Germany Berlin, Germany Won Germany BDB Light Heavyweight title.
Win 17-3-3 Germany August Vongehr TKO 1 (4) 13/07/1926 Germany Luna Park, Berlin, Halensee, Berlin, Germany
Win 16-3-3 Germany Willy Louis TKO 1 (?) 19/03/1926 Germany Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Draw 15-3-3 Germany Max Diekmann PTS 8 12/02/1926 Germany Berlin, Germany
Win 15-3-2 France Rene Compere PTS 8 08/11/1925 Germany Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Loss 14-3-2 Canada Larry Gains TKO 2 (?) 01/09/1925 Germany Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Draw 14-2-2 Belgium Leon Randol PTS 10 13/06/1925 Belgium Brussels, Belgium
Loss 14-2-1 United States Jack Taylor PTS 10 09/05/1925 Germany Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win 14-1-1 Germany Fred Hammer PTS 8 28/04/1925 Germany Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Draw 13-1-1 United States Jimmy Lyggett PTS 8 03/04/1925 Germany Berlin, Germany
Win 13–1 Spain Alfred Baker KO 3 (?) 15/03/1925 Germany Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win 12–1 Belgium Leon Randol KO 4 (?) 01/03/1925 Germany Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win 11–1 Germany Joe Mehling PTS 6 20/01/1925 Germany Berlin, Germany
Win 10–1 Belgium Johnny Cludts KO 2 (?) 18/01/1925 Germany Schauburgring, Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win 9–1 United States Jimmy Lyggett Sr TKO 4 (?) 26/12/1924 Germany Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win 8–1 Germany Helmuth Hartig KO 1 (?) 17/12/1924 Germany Berlin, Germany
Win 7–1 Martinique Battling Mathar KO 3 (?) 07/12/1924 Germany Westfalenhalle, Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win 6–1 Germany Hans Breuer KO 2 (?) 04/12/1924 Germany Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win 5–1 Germany Fred Hammer KO 3 (?) 31/10/1924 Germany Westdeutsche Sporthalle, Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Loss 4–1 Germany Max Diekmann TKO 4 (?) 10/10/1924 Germany Sportpalast, Schoeneberg, Berlin, Germany
Win 4–0 United Kingdom Rocky Knight PTS 8 04/10/1924 Germany Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win 3–0 Belgium Henri van der Vyver KO 3 (?) 22/09/1924 Germany Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win 2–0 Germany Willy Louis KO 1 (?) 20/09/1924 Germany Duisburg, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Win 1–0 Germany Hans Czapp KO 6 (?) 02/08/1924 Germany Tonhalle, Duisburg, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany Pro debut for Schmeling.

Literature and media

Films

See also

References

  1. "Max Schmeling - NNDB.com". Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  2. "Max Schmeling - Auschwitz.dk". Retrieved 2008-06-11.
  3. "Ring Magazine's 100 Greatest Punchers". About.com. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  4. "Boxing legend Max Schmeling dies at 99". USA Today. February 4, 2005. Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  5. Weale, Adrian (2014-11-12). Renegades (Kindle Locations 2992-2994). Random House. Kindle Edition
  6. "Heavyweight legend Max Schmeling dies". BBC Sport. February 4, 2005. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
  7. "Hollenstedt: Max-Schmeling bekommt ein Denkmal", Hamburger Abendblatt, 01.04. 2010.
  8. Midegette, Anne, "Inspired by Joe Louis, opera 'Shadowboxer' scores one for reality", Washington Post, 17 April 2010
  9. http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=009041&cat=boxer
  10. Besprechung: Beyond Glory von Joyce Carol Oates, New York Times, 2. Oktober 2005
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Achievements
Preceded by
Gene Tunney
Retired
NYSAC Heavyweight Champion
June 12, 1930 – January 7, 1931
Stripped
Succeeded by
Jack Sharkey
NBA Heavyweight Champion
June 12, 1930 – June 21, 1932
World Heavyweight Champion
June 12, 1930 – June 21, 1932
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Jack Sharkey
Oldest Living Heavyweight Champion
August 17, 1994 – February 2, 2005
Succeeded by
Ingemar Johansson
Oldest Living World Champion
August 17, 1994 – February 2, 2005
Succeeded by
Al Hostak
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