SCHMELING, MAX

born Sept. 28, 1905, Klein Luckow, Brandenburg, Ger. byname of Maximilian Schmeling German world heavyweight boxing champion from June 12, 1930, when he defeated Jack Sharkey, until June 21, 1932, when he was outpointed by Sharkey in 15 rounds at Long Island City, N.Y., Schmeling became the first European to win the world heavyweight title in the 20th century. Schmeling, who from 1919 to 1922 studied business, had won the European light-heavyweight title and the German heavyweight championship when he went to the United States in 1928. He attracted attention there with his facial resemblance to former champion Jack Dempsey. The most notable victory of Schmeling's career was a 12-round knockout of Joe Louis in New York City, June 19, 1936. Louis, after winning the heavyweight title in 1937, knocked out Schmeling in one round in New York City, June 22, 1938. By the late 1930s, Schmeling became very unpopular in the United States and elsewhere because of his adherence to Nazi teachings. Later he turned against the Nazi government, which, for punishment, assigned him to the parachute forces in 1941. He was wounded during the German airborne invasion of Crete in that year. Schmeling returned to boxing in 194748, winning three of five fights in Germany before retiring at 43. He had 70 bouts, winning 55, 38 by knockouts. He later became an executive of a soft-drink company. His publications concerning his life and career include Erinnerungen (1977; Memoirs).