Axel Schulz: Botha doping scandal hurt more than Foreman rematch

Former German heavyweight Axel Schulz says losing to a steroid cheat hurt worse than missing out on a George Foreman rematch that would have paid him millions.

Schulz dropped a tight majority decision to Foreman at the MGM Grand in 1995, a fight that drew nearly 4 million viewers in Germany. The IBF ordered a rematch, but Foreman vacated the belt instead. Schulz walked away with about $350,000 and no second shot at a payday that would have dwarfed that sum.

Botha doping case sparked anti-doping push in boxing

But according to BoxingScene, it was his next fight that still rankles. Schulz faced South African Francois Botha for the vacant IBF title in Stuttgart later that year, a bout that attracted 18.03 million German TV viewers and remains the most-watched boxing event in the country's history. Botha won a controversial split decision, then tested positive for steroids and was stripped. Schulz never got his rematch.

"No, not at all," Schulz told BoxingScene when asked if he remains angry about Foreman. "But I was upset about Botha. I would have liked to have that again. I was more upset by that one than I was fighting Foreman again." He added that the doping scandal became a catalyst for increased anti-doping measures across the sport. "The motivation behind today's doping plan is thanks to that particular event," he said.

Schulz fought Michael Moorer for the vacant title in his third consecutive IBF shot and lost another split decision. Now 57, he works as a boxing analyst and runs a food and beverage company that sells 31 licensed products, including barbecue sauce and gin, in German supermarkets.

Source: boxingscene.com