Former champ dies

vistaman44 · 04-06-2006, 09:50 AM

Former world junior middleweight champion Eckhard Dagge of Germany, who won the title from Elisha Obed and lost it to Rocky Mattioli, died of cancer on April 4 at age 58.

The hard-living fighter's famous quote was, "Many world champions have become alcoholics, but I am the first alcoholic to become world champion."

The man was colorful, and very popular in Europe. Here's to Eckhard, may he rest in peace ...

jofre · 04-06-2006, 09:43 PM

ECKHARD DAGGE
April 5, 2006 – Eckhard Dagge died on April 4, 2006 in Hamburg, Germany, after a battle with cancer. Dagge was Germany's second world champion, after Max Schmeling, holding the WBC Light Middleweight title from 1976 to 1977. Dagge also held German National and European titles, during his ten-year career. Dagge was born in Probsteinhagen, Germany, near Keil in 1946. He learned to fight in the bars and taverns of Hamburg. He would later embark on an amateur career, in which he won 66 out of 80 bouts, before falling short of making the 1972 Olympic Team. Dagge would win the German Middleweight title, in his 6th bout. Dagge would follow up with wins over notable, but faded fighters Denny Moyer and Manuel Gonzalez. In 1974, Dagge challenged Jose Manuel Duran for the European Light Middleweight title, losing by 11th round TKO. He came back the next year however, and stopped Duran in the 9th round, to win the title. He would defend this title once, before he lost it by decision to Vito Antuofermo. Dagge earned a title shot against WBC Light Middleweight champion Elisha Obed on June 17, 1976. Dagge pulled off a stunning upset of Obed, winning by 10th round TKO, to win the title in Berlin. Dagge then succesfully defended his title against faded former champion Emile Griffith, winning a majority decision. He followed this up with a draw over England's Maurice Hope, a future world champion. Dagge then faced Australia-based Italian Rocky Mattioli on August 6, 1977, and was knocked out in the 5th round. Dagge would win six more bouts over lesser opposition until he was stopped by Brian Anderson in 1981. Dagge had a repuatation as a wild man during his career and afterwards, as he struggled with alcoholism. Dagge worked with Universum after his pro career ended, training Dariusz Michalczewski, Michael Loewe, and Mario Scheisser. However, he was fired from his job as a manager in 1994, due to absenteeism and his problems with alcoholism. Source: BoxRec.

shane6969 · 04-07-2006, 05:20 AM

Very sad indeed. I remember when Mattioli won the World title from him, it was big news here in Australia.

R.I.P Eckhard Dagge.

04-06-2006, 09:50 AM	#1
vistaman44 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Auxvasse, Mo. Posts: 3,576	Former champ dies Former world junior middleweight champion Eckhard Dagge of Germany, who won the title from Elisha Obed and lost it to Rocky Mattioli, died of cancer on April 4 at age 58. The hard-living fighter's famous quote was, "Many world champions have become alcoholics, but I am the first alcoholic to become world champion." The man was colorful, and very popular in Europe. Here's to Eckhard, may he rest in peace ... __________________ ---Mark (vistaman44) http://www.fistication.blogspot.com/ "What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters, compared to what lies within us." — Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist, philosopher and poet (1803-1882) ----------------------------------- Currently operating 1970s SM-HW, 1940s, African, 1980s LW and women's boxing universes Last edited by vistaman44; 04-06-2006 at 01:39 PM.

04-06-2006, 09:43 PM	#2
jofre Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 2,139	ECKHARD DAGGE April 5, 2006 – Eckhard Dagge died on April 4, 2006 in Hamburg, Germany, after a battle with cancer. Dagge was Germany's second world champion, after Max Schmeling, holding the WBC Light Middleweight title from 1976 to 1977. Dagge also held German National and European titles, during his ten-year career. Dagge was born in Probsteinhagen, Germany, near Keil in 1946. He learned to fight in the bars and taverns of Hamburg. He would later embark on an amateur career, in which he won 66 out of 80 bouts, before falling short of making the 1972 Olympic Team. Dagge would win the German Middleweight title, in his 6th bout. Dagge would follow up with wins over notable, but faded fighters Denny Moyer and Manuel Gonzalez. In 1974, Dagge challenged Jose Manuel Duran for the European Light Middleweight title, losing by 11th round TKO. He came back the next year however, and stopped Duran in the 9th round, to win the title. He would defend this title once, before he lost it by decision to Vito Antuofermo. Dagge earned a title shot against WBC Light Middleweight champion Elisha Obed on June 17, 1976. Dagge pulled off a stunning upset of Obed, winning by 10th round TKO, to win the title in Berlin. Dagge then succesfully defended his title against faded former champion Emile Griffith, winning a majority decision. He followed this up with a draw over England's Maurice Hope, a future world champion. Dagge then faced Australia-based Italian Rocky Mattioli on August 6, 1977, and was knocked out in the 5th round. Dagge would win six more bouts over lesser opposition until he was stopped by Brian Anderson in 1981. Dagge had a repuatation as a wild man during his career and afterwards, as he struggled with alcoholism. Dagge worked with Universum after his pro career ended, training Dariusz Michalczewski, Michael Loewe, and Mario Scheisser. However, he was fired from his job as a manager in 1994, due to absenteeism and his problems with alcoholism. Source: BoxRec. __________________ jofre

04-07-2006, 05:20 AM	#3
shane6969 All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Bendigo, Australia Posts: 1,013	Very sad indeed. I remember when Mattioli won the World title from him, it was big news here in Australia. R.I.P Eckhard Dagge. __________________ Hatred is an acid that corrodes the soul