10 of the most well known German heavyweights

Tom Schwarz is a German heavyweight unfamiliar to most boxing fans. These 10 are far more established.

BN Staff

10 of the most well known German heavyweights
  1. Max Schmeling
    Schmeling, the world heavyweight champion in 1930, made history when snapping the unbeaten record of Joe Louis in 1936 only to then get wiped out in a round by Louis two years later.
  2. Karl Mildenberger
    Mildenberger owned the European heavyweight crown between 1964 and 1968 but is best known for taking on Muhammad Ali in ’66. Mildenberger,was knocked down three times and eventually stopped in the 12th.
  3. Axel Schulz
    Schulz famously boxed George Foreman for the IBF heavyweight title in 1995, losing a stinking majority decision after 12 rounds. He also challenged Michael Moorer for the same belt, falling short via split decision.
  4. Luan Krasniqi
    Krasniqi was born in Kosovo but became a big star in Germany. He beat Rene Monse in 2002 to lift the European title, then won it a second time two years later against Sinan Samil Sam. Krasniqi lost his WBO title shot against Lamon Brewster inside nine rounds.
  5. Agit Kabayel
    Still in his prime at 26 years of age, Kabayel is the current European heavyweight champion and undefeated in 19 pro fights. He beat Dereck Chisora to win his current title in 2017 and has since defended it against Miljan Rovcanin and Andriy Rudenko.
  6. Walter Neusel
    Seriously underrated, Neusel’s record of 68-13-9 (36) included wins over Tommy Loughran, Jack Peterson, King Levinsky and Max Schmeling.
  7. Manuel Charr
    Charr arrived in Germany in 1989 as a five-year-old refugee from Lebanon and challenged Vitali Klitschko for the WBC heavyweight title in 2012.
  8. Christian Hammer
    Despite losing his pro debut due to injury, Romanian-born Hammer has become a solid heavyweight contender who has shared the ring with the likes of Tyson Fury, Luis Ortiz and Alexander Povetkin.
  9. Alexander Dimitrenko
    Seemingly forever on the periphery, Russian-born Dimitrenko became European champion in 2010, when beating Yaroslav Zavorotnyi in five rounds, and went on to fight the likes of Kubrat Pulev, Joseph Parker and Andy Ruiz Jnr.
  10. Timo Hoffmann
    A durable and reliable European-level contender, Hoffmann fell short in European title challenges against Vitali Klitschko, Luan Krasniqi and Paolo Vidoz but was stopped just twice in 52 pro fights.

More stories