German boxing legend Max Schmeling dies

HAMBURG - German sports icon Max Schmeling, a former world heavyweight boxing champion, died on Wednesday and was buried on Friday, the Max Scmeling foundation announced. He was 99.

The foundation said that Schmeling died in his house in Hollenstedt in northern Germany and that a memorial service was planned in Hamburg's St. Michaelis church. A date was not given.

Schmeling was a world heavyweight champion in 1930 and 1931, but gained the most fame in a non-title bout in 1936 when he knocked out Joe Louis in the 12th round in front of a 42,088-strong crowd in new York's Yankee stadium.

Schmeling fought 70 times, winning 56, drawing four and losing 10 in his professional career 1924-1948.

He was worshipped as a hero in Germany throughout his life but was also misused as a propaganda tool by the Nazi regime, something he regretted later, saying he had been naive.

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http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=52&story_id=16583&name=German+boxing+legend+Max+Schmeling+dies

I had no idea.

"Max-Schmeling-Halle", Berlin's main Basketball stadium (in the shadows oft the almost defunct old GDR major soccer stadium).

He used to celebrate his birthdays in there :-( .

I was shocked when I heard the news this morning.

I assumed he'd died years ago.

Of course, the uber Nazi Leni Riefenstahl only died in 2003 at 101.

Wasn't that the big affront to Hitler (that a black man knocked out an Aryan)?:shrug:

The big affront to Hitler at Munich in '36 was Jesse Owens.

:thumbsup:

But IIRC it wasn't an olympic fight.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Schmeling

And, in the rematch, Louis destroyed Schmeling.

when in fact, he was very sympathetic to those persecuted by the Nazi party.

and helped to pay for the funeral when Joe died.

Two splendid sportsmen, and although Joe Louis is the one who is most remembered on this side of the Atlantic, I have kind thoughts for Mr. Schmeling as well. I like to think that Mr. Louis would be pleased by this.

Rest in Peace, Max.

he'll wish he was in hell. Unless he's Joe Louis, of course. :silly:

and they became good friends in the later days

Joe Louis was my grandmother's younger brother on my mom's side.

I met him only once, when he came back to Detroit before he passed.

By the, he's buried in Arlington National Cemetary right next to Lee Marvin.

I'm sure they have some interesting conversations in the afterlife.

A man related to Joe Louis who has Noam Chomsky as an avatar... Sir I salute you :) RIP Max and Joe two people caught up in difficult times and both abused by their own governments (Max and the Nazis, Joe and the IRS). Yet they managed to mantain their essential humanity. RIP.
Scott

I am impressed.

RIP

Schmeling is indeliably imprinted on our culture because of his participation in a series of athletic events that transcended sports and intersected global politics.

only the aforementioned post speaking of another sporting event, the gold medals the great jesse owens won under hitler's nose in berlin carry as much cultural significance to american history.

sitting at my dad's knee he spoke of listening to the louis-schmeling fight on the radio and the impact it had on black americans in their quest for full enfranchisement and black and white americans as they were getting ready to fight fascism.

:shrug: