| Fight Name: | Michael Moorer vs. Axel Schulz |
| Fight Date: | 22 June 1996 |
| Location: | Westfalenstadion, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany |
| Titles: | IBF Heavyweight Championship |
| Fighter1: | Michael Moorer |
| Nickname1: | Double M |
| Hometown1: | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Purse1: | $3,600,000 |
| Record1: | 36–1 (30 KO) |
| Height1: | 6 ft 2 in |
| Weight1: | 222+1/4 lb |
| Style1: | Southpaw |
| Recognition1: | IBF No. 1 Ranked Heavyweight Former Unified Heavyweight Champion |
| Fighter2: | Axel Schulz |
| Nickname2: | Der sanfte Riese (The Gentle Giant) |
| Hometown2: | Frankfurt an der Oder, Brandenburg, Germany |
| Purse2: | $1,700,000 |
| Record2: | 21–2–1 (1) (10 KO) |
| Height2: | 6 ft 3 in |
| Weight2: | 222+3/4 lb |
| Style2: | Orthodox |
| Recognition2: | IBF No. 2 Ranked Heavyweight |
| Result: | Moorer defeated Schulz by 12 round split decision |
Michael Moorer vs. Axel Schulz was a professional boxing match contested on 22 June 1996, for the IBF heavyweight championship.[1]
Following his controversial victory over Axel Schulz in April 1995, the IBF demanded that their heavyweight champion George Foreman have a rematch with Schulz or be stripped of the title.[2] Foreman would decide against a rematch would relinquish the title. The IBF would order a match between their two top ranked heavyweights, the number one ranked Francois Botha and the now number-two ranked Schulz to determine the next IBF heavyweight champion.[3] Botha would win by unanimous decision on December 9, 1995, but tested for steroids shortly after, causing the IBF to overturn Botha's victory into a no-contest and rescind Botha's recognition as champion. This led to Schulz getting a third consecutive opportunity at the championship, this time against the former champion Michael Moorer.[4]
The bout was to be held at Westfalenstadion (the home of Borussia Dortmund), and was biggest boxing event held in Germany since Muhammad Ali faced Karl Mildenberger in 1966.
Moorer dominated the first six rounds against a sluggish and passive Schulz, however flurry of combinations from Schulz in the seventh fired up the home crowd and led to his best period of the bout. At the end of 12 rounds judge Walter Cavalieri scored it 115–113 for Schulz, while Dave Parris had it 116–113 and John Stewart 115–113 both in favour of Moorer giving him a split decision victory.[5] [6]
Speaking after the bout Schulz accepted his defeat, saying "I think the decision was OK, I can live with it, because I think Moorer’s one of the best fighters around."[7]
Confirmed bouts:[8]
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| RTL | |||
| Citynet Television 27 | |||
| Sky Sports | |||
| ABC / Fox Sports Net |