How Many Gift Decisions Did Sven Ottke Actually Get ?

Addressing something you brought up, it’s puzzling to me how many boxing aficionados don’t appreciate that it is a career, a way to make a living and a business to the fighters.

A guy like Ottke could make more money fighting (and defending) at home than taking it on the road. So of course he’d choose to do that. His style was never going to entice big promoters to pay him to come to Las Vegas for main events, so take what you can make.

Virgil Hill did the same with a lot of fights in his home state in North Dakota. He was a favorite son, a hero and an attraction there — he filled basketball arenas and made good money. But when the bigger money came to take fights like vs. Hearns in Las Vegas, he gladly stepped out of his region. And toward the end of his career, he decided to say ‘I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, anytime as long as I get paid handsomely for it’ and took on top fighters wherever they set up the ring.

 

I think with Ottke the biggest chance for him to make money outside of Germany was a fight with Calzaghe who at that point was regarded in a similar manner as Ottke. He really wasn't a draw outside of the UK. Now that changed once he beat Lacy and Kessler, then it was clear he wasn't just some protected guy and big money fights with BHOP and Jones followed. Ottke simply never had that big signature win and I think he was somewhat on the downside when he went pro due to how many amateur fights he had and being in his 30's.

 

The Reid fight was one of the worst robberies in history.

 

Was this fight ever talked about?

Also thanks for pointing that out, I forgot how old He was when He turned pro

 

Ottke and Calzaghe was constantly talked about but Ottke didn't want to leave Germany and Calzaghe wanted no part of fighting in Germany after what happen to Robin Ried. When Ottke retired, his IBF title was won by Jeff Lacy who ended up losing it to Calzaghe in a unification fight.

 

He lost against Brewer I, Larsen and Reid. The Mitchell and Brewer II fights could have gone either way but of course Ottke got the benefit of the doubt. There might be more controversial fights but that is as far as I remember

 

That Ra’s Al-Ghul / Kosst Amojan guy - incapable of an objective opinion when it came to German fighters.