Henry Maske- light heavyweights forgotten man and other forgotten European world champions

Excellent fighter who's style was typical German - boring but brutally efficient, uninspiring but very effective.

I was never a fan of the fighter in the ring, but I always thought highly of the man himself, and fan of his style or not he was one of the best of his generation at his weights.

Good thread btw

 

It's funny too when you think of German sports cars and how they compare with, oh..... How about Italy's sports cars.

Take the best fighters of their generations from both also and in both cases they personify their sports car personality.

Masked - respected by all fans, never inspired passion in anyone, purists were only ones who could appreciate him

Gatti - All excitement rollercoaster career with scorching highs and frigid lows, everyone - boxing fan or not - loved/adored him and wanted to be just like him. He could inspire your grandmother to take up arms and go to war

 

Good shout I forgot about Beyer ans Braehmer.

 

I did a similar thread a few months ago:

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/how-do-you-rate-henry-the-gentleman-maske.642859/

 

I liked him but I do remember that the revenge fight against Hill was controversial among some fans (presumably American) both because of Hill's age, and because some thought Hill won it.

i never did see it, so I am not commenting. I liked Maske despite his methodical style, and he presaged the serious return of Europe to the boxing scene.

Good thread.

 

Yes, Henry Maske was a good boxer, top class amateur and turned over to the pros with the fall of the Eastern bloc regimes. He was one of their best hopes to do well in the professional game and succeeded.

He was a tall southpaw, strong, well conditioned, good defense and solid chin when needed, very definitely a boxer who placed emphasis on points scoring more than being a puncher. His style wasn't exciting, but was very successful. A very good light heavyweight.

 

The Germans definitely put an emphasis on boxing over brawling. Abraham and Michelcheski were different.

 

You are correct. In recent years, German fighters have not strayed to far from home. Main reasons--

1. They make more money fighting at home where German boxing fans appreciate that style of boxing.

2. As many controversial decisions that we have see in Germany, there have been some big ones that went against German fighter's in the U.S.

Axel Schulz should have one the lineal heavyweight championship against Foreman. Even Foreman himself said later on that he lost that fight. People in Germany were rightfully pissed after that one.
Another one was Felix Sturm getting robbed against the Golden Boy. He clearly beat Oscar that night.

I just created a thread about this on the classic forum a couple of days ago. I really don't blame Ottke or Michalczewski for never fighting out of Germany.