Heavyweight legend Schmeling dies

Max was a boxer of decent skills in an era that had a lot of tough, strong heavyweights. He managed in one night to achieve a moment of greatness in knocking out Joe Louis. "I see something" was what he said. Exploiting that something was what he did. Most boxers never even reach that one moment of greatness where their performance excedes their inherint skills. The only one I can think of in recent history was Buster Douglas. The reason that Max will be remembered as a great fighter was because of the way he carried himself outside the ring and the great things he did after his career was over. A lot of the spoiled, self-centered, egotistical pricks in the sport today could learn a lot from the boxers of Schmelling's era. If they did, boxing would have a much broader following, rather than the mostly Jerry Springer audience types it has today. Well said, couldn't agree more

to tell you guys the truth he really wasn't that great of a boxer.Max was a boxer of decent skills in an era that had a lot of tough, strong heavyweights. He managed in one night to achieve a moment of greatness in knocking out Joe Louis. "I see something" was what he said. Exploiting that something was what he did. Most boxers never even reach that one moment of greatness where their performance excedes their inherint skills. The only one I can think of in recent history was Buster Douglas. The reason that Max will be remembered as a great fighter was because of the way he carried himself outside the ring and the great things he did after his career was over. A lot of the spoiled, self-centered, egotistical pricks in the sport today could learn a lot from the boxers of Schmelling's era. If they did, boxing would have a much broader following, rather than the mostly Jerry Springer audience types it has today.

I have hella respect for the guy , but just because he died, I won't act like he was ali. is anybody acting like he was Ali?

to tell you guys the truth he really wasn't that great of a boxer. the only time he became champ was on a DQ..he's a ruiz style. in fact im pretty sure he went down purposely after realizing he was dealt a low shot, then just stayed down for the win. terry norris knows somethin bout that kinda win. I have hella respect for the guy , but just because he died, I won't act like he was ali.

I remember seeing a documentary about Schmelling, and in the course of an interview he was asked about his affiliation with Hitler. Apparently he turned down 2 dinner invitations from Hitler before finally deciding that he could no longer avoid it without insulting Hitler and putting his life at risk. His response to whether or not he was a Nazi was one of the classic lines ever. "I also ate with Roosevelt. That doesn't make me a Democrat." great quote..thanks

VERY VERY BAD JOKE That jerk stylepts2 is sick in the brain...nah, he got his head inside his ass!!!! :mad:

He was a nazi and helped run auschwitz. VERY VERY BAD JOKE

Thanks for mentioning this, it would be sad to associate Schmelling with the Nazis. Also hitler wanted him to divorce from his Czech wife: http://www.fightnews.com/fightnews_2/headlines//EEpZVFkFlpgQCZsjxo.html The nazis tried to use him and he just managed to survive I think. but definitely not a racist

The first fighter to deal the brown bomber his first defeat must be a great fighter. I salute Max Schemeling for his greatness and may his soul repose into eternal rest.

He was a nazi and helped run auschwitz. You're a bone head, are'nt you? :mad:

He was a nazi and helped run auschwitz. Are you serious? If you don't mind, where did you find this information? I've never heard that before.

Have you read Schmeling's book? I have it but haven't read it yet (a lot on my list right now). I don't think people are questioning that, in the end, Schmleing rejected Nazism, but I think people question whether or not he at least considered it for a brief period in his life. Like I said in my previous post, it's not something that can be taken lightly, even if his acceptance of Nazism didn't last long. What kind of stuff did Max Baer day, out of curiosity? When Joe Louis knocked him out, he got to one knee, but apparently decided not to get up. In the following press conference, one reporter who had picked up on this stated that he appeared to be able to get up but did not, and asked him why. Max replied "yes, I felt as if I could have gotten up, but before the last knockdown, there were five Joes fighting me, I tried to hit the one in the middle, but the other four just kept beating the hell out of me! When he knocked me down, I looked across the ring, and it looked like all of Harlem was in the ring, and I decied it would be best not to get up lol

Max was a tremendous boxer who in his later years was an ambassador for the sport and helped out Louis quite abit. I have a serious question for you(not trying to be funny) Did he not support the Nazi party and stood silent during the holocuast? Stood proud with Hitler? I don't remember exactly the history and would have to research..but that is what my memory tells me. I need Jabs or dempseyfire to clarify...or another historian. I remember seeing a documentary about Schmelling, and in the course of an interview he was asked about his affiliation with Hitler. Apparently he turned down 2 dinner invitations from Hitler before finally deciding that he could no longer avoid it without insulting Hitler and putting his life at risk. His response to whether or not he was a Nazi was one of the classic lines ever. "I also ate with Roosevelt. That doesn't make me a Democrat."

Whether you accept this or not is up to you. There's no doubting that he did a lot of good after he retired and after the Reich had fallen. The fact that he was such good friends with Louis seems to indicate that he did not support the Nazis' theories on racial segregation and superiority...Louis certainly would not have been friends with him if he had. i think this shows great character from Schmeling, that he could be friends with Louis, not because of the racial issue but because Louis fucked him up bad in the rematch - he broke Max's back vertebrae with his body punches. Max was a very forgiving guy in my eyes...So long Max

Do you think he went to heaven or hell? What do you think?

Max Schmeling Died 99 years old...

The Late Max Schmeling boxing lost a true great, Max Schemeling from www.fightnews.com Max Schmeling dies at 99 February 4, 2005 By Florian Kalle Two days ago, Max Schmeling lost the last fight of his life and died in his hometown Hollenstedt near Hamburg at the age of 99 years, after he caught a bad cold during the Christmas holidays and never recovered. He fell into coma 5 days ago and never woke up again. Max Schmeling became heavyweight champ of the world after a disqualification win over Jack Sharkey on June, 12th, 1930. After knocking out "The Brown Bomber" Joe Louis (06-19-36), Schmeling became famous all over the world. In September, when he celebrated his 99th birthday, he told the press, that he did everything to archieve his goal - to reach the 100. Schmeling is still the only German ever to win a heavyweight world title. But he will not only be remembered as a great boxer, he was also as a great person who helped others everywhere he could. Although Hitler tried to use him for his propaganda-machine in the 1930s, Schmeling always kept a distance to the Nazi regime and rejected their demand to divorce from his Czech wife and to split from his Jewish manager. After WW2 (where Schmeling had to fight as a soldier and was seriously wounded), Schmeling bought a license to produce Coca Cola products for northern Germany and did very well as a business man too. Financially independent, he could even support his old rival Joe Louis. 20 years after their fights and without all the political propaganda in their counties, they became friends. Even today, almost 70 years after his fights against Joe Louis, Schmeling is still one of the most famous people in Germany and finished sixth in a ranking of the greatest German sportsmen ever. His death left many people shocked: Gerhard Schroeder, Chancellor of Germany: "Max Schmeling was an idol for generations of people. During his life, he was among the most famous and most popular sportsmen in our country. Not only because of his incredible success in boxing - being heavyweight champion of the world, the champion of all classes, he was a legend. But especially the person Max Schmeling was respected over the borders of Germany - For his fairness, his modesty and his irreproachability. He was a star, but he never felt like one." Vitali Klitschko: "My brother Wladimir and I, we have lost a close friend. We are shocked. Max Schmeling was a mentor for us who always helped us with his valuable advice. He was an idol for us, also because of his life outside of the ring, especially his charity work." Felix Sturm: "Max Schmeling was a great personality, someone who proved that boxing has to do with mind. He was a star over decades, a legend because he had the charisma of a fantastic sportsman and did many good things apart from sports." Luan Krasniqi, European heavyweight champion: "This is a sad day for me. Max Schmeling was one of the greatest Germans at all. As a boxer, I am holding a title that he also fought for. I will keep Max in good remembrance. When I met him once, we talked about so many things, that the time flew by. He was a very smart and charming person. Dariusz Michaelczewski: "I can't believe it. Max congratulated me, when I won my first world-title over 10 years ago, and sent me messages after my fights. I visited him a couple of time. His state of health was impressive for someone in his age. He was not only a famous boxer, but also known all over the world as a great person." Manfred Wolke (former Coach of Axel Schulz and Henry Maske): "With Max Schmeling, one of the really great ones has left the stage of life. He was a man of the people, someone who made from the bottom to the top. In conversations, I learned that it was his goal to make the 100. It's a pity that he didn't make it. Fritz Sdunek (coach of Vitali Klitschko and Dariusz Michaelczewski): "I am very sad to hear about his death. The German boxing scene and the sports scene all over the world has lost one of its greatest personalities. Schmeling was an idol for those in boxing who work hard, act fair and be a pattern outside of the ring."

damnit just two days ago I was going to get him to sign a picture of himself when he was like 25..guess I waited too long :mad: may he rest in peace. he lived a great life...

Interestingly, if Schmeling had better handlers he might have been heavyweight champion and Joe Louis might have been forgotten. After Schmleing beat Louis he was definitely deserving to fight champion James Braddock next, but Louis' managers were clever enough to secure a fight with Braddock for their man first. Braddock was a shaky champion, and Louis beat him easily. After that Louis had his confidence back and could knock down any challenger. If Schmleing had taken the crown first it might have been tough for Louis to beat him in a rematch, if one ever even took place.

i think he kinda summed up that he wasnt a nazi with that one lien he said to a reporter i think it was " if i had dinner with rosevelt that doesnt make me a democrat" probally not totaly right but close of enough. basically if i have dinner with hitler that doesnt make me a nzi is what he was trying to say ;). RIP to the only man who beat joe louis in his prime.