Max Schmeling

Maximilian Adolph Otto Siegfried Schmeling was a German boxer who achieved great success throughout his professional career spanning more than 24 years from 1924 to 1948. Schmeling was born on September 28, 1905, in Klein Luckow, Province of Brandenburg, Prussia, German Empire, and passed away on February 2, 2005, at the age of 99 in Wenzendorf, Lower Saxony, Germany, being the longest-lived heavyweight boxing champion in history.

Throughout Schmeling's professional career, he fought a total of 70 times, with 56 wins, 10 losses, and four draws. Out of his 56 wins, 39 came via knockout, and Schmeling experienced five losses via knockout himself.

Schmeling was known to be quick on his feet, possessing good timing and countering skills. His footwork and head movement allowed him to evade his opponent's punches, which aided him throughout his career. Schmeling was also a powerful puncher, given that he is 55th on The Ring magazine's list of the 100 greatest punchers of all time.

Schmeling made his debut in professional boxing at the age of 18 on August 2, 1924, against Hans Czapp. In the sixth round, Schmeling won via knockout. He then won three more consecutive fights in a row until suffering his first loss against Max Diekmann via fourth-round RTD on October 10, 1924. Schmeling was stopped five times and lost five times via decision, with two of those losses being in title bouts, and eight in non-title bouts.

Schmeling won his first world title at the age of 24 on June 12, 1930, after 49 professional fights, against Jack Sharkey for the heavyweight NBA (vacant), NYSAC, and The Ring titles. He was crowned the heavyweight champion of the world after winning the fight via 4th round disqualification when Sharkey knocked Schmeling down with a low blow, which led to Sharkey getting disqualified.

On July 3, 1931, Schmeling successfully defended his NBA and The Ring heavyweight titles against Young Stribling, winning the fight via 15th round TKO. He retained his heavyweight champion status until his controversial fifteen-round split decision loss to Jack Sharkey in 1932.

Schmeling's best fight and perhaps his most notable victory occurred on June 19, 1936, when he knocked out Joe Louis via 12th round KO. The Louis-Schmeling fight wasn't just a fight between two boxers; it was a fight between the United States and Nazi Germany. Louis, an African American, was a symbol of hope to Americans of all races and religions to Schmeling's opponent was a symbol of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler's racist regime.

After this fight, Schmeling became a worldwide cultural phenomenon, and his rematch with Louis was considered one of the most anticipated and politically loaded bouts in history.

Schmeling suffered his last professional fight against Richard Vogt at 43 years old, losing the fight via 10 round PTS. He retired from professional boxing with a record of 56-10-4, with 39 of his wins coming by knockout and one title win.

Throughout his career, Schmeling fought numerous notable fighters, including Joe Louis, Mickey Walker, Young Stribling, and Jack Sharkey. Among his other victories, he defeated Adolf Heuser, Henry Thomas, Walter Neusel, and Hans Joachim Draegestein.

Outside the ring, Schmeling was affiliated with the German Luftwaffe as a paratrooper during World War II, even though he was not a member of the Nazi party. Years after World War II, it came to light that Schmeling had risked his life to save the lives of two Jewish children back in 1938. During his post-boxing career, Schmeling worked for the Coca-Cola Company. Schmeling was also a friend of Joe Louis until Louis's death in 1981.

The Black Uhlan of the Rhine and Der schwarze Ulan vom Rhein will always be remembered as one of history's most iconic boxers. Maximilian Adolph Otto Siegfried Schmeling was an outstanding boxer who dominated the ring with his excellent fighting abilities, winning the hearts of millions of boxing fans worldwide.

Max Schmeling Fight Record