Schmeling, Max (1905-2005), was a German boxer best known for his two fights with the American boxer Joe Louis in the 1930’s. Schmeling knocked out the previously undefeated Louis in the 12th round of a nontitle fight in 1936. Two years later, Louis, who was then the world heavyweight champion, knocked out Schmeling in the first round of a title bout.
Schmeling’s fights with Louis attracted international attention because the Nazi government in Germany promoted Schmeling as a hero of the white “master race.” Louis was an African American. Schmeling thus became a controversial figure, intensely disliked in the United States as a symbol of Nazi tyranny. However, he steadfastly refused to join the Nazi Party. Historians describe him as a decent man and credit him with saving several Jews from the Nazis.
Schmeling held the world heavyweight title from 1930 to 1932. He defeated Jack Sharkey for the title in 1930, winning on a disqualification after Sharkey fouled him with a low blow. It was the only time a heavyweight championship was decided because of a foul. Schmeling lost the title to Sharkey in a rematch in 1932.
Schmeling was born on Sept. 28, 1905, in Klein-Luckow, Germany, north of Berlin. His full name was Maximilian Adolph Otto Siegfried Schmeling. He became a professional boxer in 1924. Schmeling won the German light heavyweight championship in 1926 and the European light heavyweight championship in 1927. After losing to Louis in 1938, Schmeling won the European heavyweight championship in 1939, but his career was interrupted by World War II (1939-1945). Schmeling boxed a few more times in 1947 and 1948. He then retired. He had a career record of 56 victories, 10 defeats, and 4 draws. Schmeling became wealthy as the owner of a Coca-Cola franchise in Germany beginning in 1957. He died at the age of 99 on Feb. 2, 2005.
See also Louis, Joe .
