Not any debate topic but just wanted to note the popularity of boxing and the 3 most marketable boxers in Deutschland at the time: 1.Axel Schulz vs Francois Botha december 9th on RTL 18,03 million viewers 2.Henry Maske vs Graciano Rocchigiani 2 october 14th on RTL 17,59 million viewers 3.Euro 96 qualifiers Germany-Bulgaria november 15th ARD 14,27 million viewers 4.Henry Maske vs Graciano Rocchigiani 1 may 27th RTL 12,93 million viewers 5. Euro 96 qualifiers Wales-Germany october 11th ARD 12,47 million viewers 6.Henry Maske vs Egerton Marcus february 11th RTL 11,75 million viewers The rest if the top 10 are football matches. Just wanted to point out how popoular boxing was and how these 3 guys(Maske,Rocchigiani and Schulz) were box office in Germany at the time.
What is about Formel 1, with Michael Schumacher and Tennis with Boris Becker or Steffi Graf? I didn't know that Maske vs. Marcus was 1995.
I disnt make the rwnkings I just posted them. I have the actual picture from the paper with the rankings but I dont know how to post it. I guess those werent that viewed in that particular year. My point was these guys and later Ottke and Abraham becoke stars in german boxing. Right now I cant see anyone have half of the notoriety these guys had.German boxing is in a bad state.
The Klitschko brothers were similar popular, Michalczewsky a little bit less. Abraham might be comparable, Ottke was it not so much, but both didn't reach Maske or the three world championships of Schulz. Beyer and Urkal were also popular, maybe like Ottke and Halmich (both from Karlsruhe). Brähmer was known as talent of the century and prison-boxer, but had not the level of a great legit champion (avoided Erdei and got outworked by Garay convincingly). Tajbert was very gifted, but boxed in a low division, which had not so much interest. A little bit below them was Michel Trabant, who was with 16 the youngest German professional boxer. With him can be now compared Jack Culcay-Keth, but he is a bit more skillful (was amateur world champion) and has maybe a better chin. The other at present are probably Dominic Bösel and Tyrone Zeuge, which are too inactive and sometimes not focused or didn't take the preparation serious and therefore got knocked out. Axel was possible also not so desciplined as "The Gentleman", as he said he drunk before fights a beer or energy drink (he did the last vs. Minto). That was also a problem of the Abraham brother, to be too lazy in training. The Murat brothers were the opposite, them were very buissy in training always, just as is "Golden Jack". I guess these heavyweights as Peter Kadiru, Tom Schwarz or Denis Boytsow didn't like to train very hard. The last could have boxed in Cruiserweight, but got always heavier and more passive (had at begin many early knockouts and was compared with Tyson) and the black Hamburgian was Youth Olympic champion, but looked not defined or very athletic (rather like the faded & fattened Heavyweight-Gomez). But Schwarz is just a scumbag, rotten in character and with no brave. Dominick Britsch was very promising and boxed in the USA few times, but finally failed (vs. Santos). I suppose the new generation has often not the professionality and take not enough responsibility for their fitness and mentally focus. But the other problem is, boxing is in German free TV almost not existing anymore. Henry Maske, Axel Schulz, the Klitschkos, Sven Ottke and Markus Beyer had strong partners in broadcasting channels as RTL and ARD. Michalczewsky was partly in Pay TV (as the Klitschkos sometimes too), but came against Hill to Sat 1 and later to ZDF (where made boxing a short comeback last year I think). Presently is rather broadcasted American Football (even Rugby, Ice-Hockey and Baskettball) on Pro7, although the rules are not really understandable in it.
Yeah the tv deals destroyed german boxing. Universum dissapeared when the ZDF contract finished. This new Universum is trying to make moves but it doesnt look good so far.
