[IceTea]

Schulz Pays the Price for One Fight Too Many
Paul Anthony Cassidy

Sad news has come out of Germany over the last week with the revelation that former leading German Heavyweight hope and national hero Axel Schulz has suffered a stroke.

The 38 year old made a surprise and seemingly ill advised comeback last November against the capable American Heavyweight Brian Minto in front of a packed house at the Gerry Weber Stadium in Westfallen, Germany. Millions tuned in to see the return of the former three time world title contender.

However despite staring sharply Schulz, in his first fight in over seven years, quickly folded and was eventually stopped, rather embarrassingly, in the sixth round.

It was reported he had been paid millions for the farcical exercise and it quickly became apparent to the German public that which had been so obvious to all non German onlookers. Simply put, Schulz had done it for the money.

However this latest development in the Schulz story can only be described as tragic.

Sadly the German newspaper publication Bild has claimed that an EEG exam and other tests which took place well before the comeback fight showed that there was evidence of a pre-existing problem but Schulz claims further testing and check ups dismissed such findings and continues to insist they were not factors in his poor showing against Minto.

But physically Schulz is a shadow of his former self and it has been reported that he cannot even close his right hand.

Axel had already stated that the Minto defeat would be his last ever fight but that is now sealed by his current health problems . Surely not even in the crazy world of the Heavyweights a fighter who has suffered a stroke could be re-licensed . But then again didn’t both Joe Mesi and Tommy Morrison fight on the same bill last week?!!

Axels’ career record stands at 26-5-1(11) and he will always be a Heavyweight nearly man.

He drew with Henry Akinwande in late 1992 for the vacant European title and lost on points against the giant British based fighter in a rematch 5 months later.

Then he was infamously robbed blind on points against the ancient George Foreman in 95’ for the IBF belt in a fight he won out of sight. And lady luck continued to desert him when he was out pointed again later that year by Frans Botha for the vacant IBF strap. Botha was later stripped and the bout ruled a No Contest after the South African was found guilty of steroid use in a post fight urine test.

Schulz’s final tilt at the IBF belt came in June of 1996 when despite only losing via split decision he was deservedly beaten by the USA’s Michael Moorer over twelve