End of Argument: David Haye is the only boxer to hit big outside of the U.S. PERIOD!!

"The German boxing business really started in 1992 when my dad did the deal for [German boxer] Henry Maske with [TV channel] RTL," insists Kalle Sauerland, whose father Wilfred kept the business ticking over for 15 years before the Maske deal. "There are three people responsible for boxing in Germany: Wilfred Sauerland, Henry Maske and Hans Mahr of RTL because he took the risk and it looked like a risk at the time." Maske went on and had 12 world title fights between 1993 and 1996 and averaged 17.8m viewers, with a peak at 23m.

"When Henry boxed it was like a national holiday," remembers Sauerland.

They used to call Maske the ''Michael Jordan of Germany''

Maske vs Hill was a unification match up with both Hill's WBA belt and Maske's IBF one on the line and obviously a huge event for German boxing (it was the most expensive one in German boxing history).

MUNICH, GERMANY. On the evening of Saturday, November 23th, Germany`s Henry Maske and Virgil Hill from the USA were scheduled to meet in the ring for the unification of their IBF & WBA Light Heavyweight world titles. Maske had planned this to be his farewell match (`My greatest dream is to retire as an undefeated world champion.`). As usual, a whole bunch of stars and wannabe-stars were showing up at ring-side, surrounded by patriotic fans on the cheaper places. The rest of the nation was at home watching TV, where the fight was not broadcasted but celebrated.

 

More people know The Krusher than know David Haye.