Eckhard Dagge
Encyclopedia
Eckhard Dagge was a professional boxer
in the super welterweight (154 lb
) division.
Eckhard Dagge was Germany's second world champion, after Max Schmeling
, holding the WBC Light Middleweight title from 1976 to 1977. Dagge also held German National and European titles, during his ten-year career.
, near Kiel
in 1946. He learned to fight in the bars and taverns of Hamburg
. He would later embark on an amateur career, in which he won 66 out of 80 bouts, before falling short of making the 1972 Olympic Team.
and Manuel Gonzalez
. In 1974, Dagge challenged Jose Manuel Duran
for the European Light Middleweight title, losing by 11th round TKO. He came back the next year however, and stopped Duran in the 9th round, to win the title. He would defend this title once, before he lost it by decision to Vito Antuofermo
.
Dagge earned a title shot against WBC Light Middleweight champion Elisha Obed
on June 17, 1976. Dagge pulled off a stunning upset of Obed, winning by 10th round TKO, to win the title in Berlin. Dagge then successfully defended his title against faded former champion Emile Griffith
, winning a majority decision. He followed this up with a draw over England's Maurice Hope, a future world champion. Dagge then faced Australia-based Italian Rocky Mattioli
on August 6, 1977, and was knocked out in the 5th round. Dagge would win six more bouts over lesser opposition until he was stopped by Brian Anderson in 1981.
, Michael Loewe
, and Mario Schiesser. However, he was fired from his job as a manager in 1994, due to absenteeism and his problems with alcoholism. Dagge died on April 4, 2006 in Hamburg, Germany, after a battle with cancer.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
in the super welterweight (154 lb
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
) division.
Eckhard Dagge was Germany's second world champion, after Max Schmeling
Max Schmeling
Maximillian Adolph Otto Siegfried Schmeling was a German boxer who was heavyweight champion of the world between 1930 and 1932. His two fights with Joe Louis in the late 1930s transcended boxing, and became worldwide social events because of their national associations...
, holding the WBC Light Middleweight title from 1976 to 1977. Dagge also held German National and European titles, during his ten-year career.
Background
Dagge was born in Probsteinhagen, GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, near Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
in 1946. He learned to fight in the bars and taverns of Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. He would later embark on an amateur career, in which he won 66 out of 80 bouts, before falling short of making the 1972 Olympic Team.
Professional career
Dagge would win the German Middleweight title, in his 6th bout. Dagge would follow up with wins over notable, but faded fighters Denny MoyerDenny Moyer
Denny Moyer was an American boxer who held the world light middleweight title between 1962 and 1963. He finished his career with a 97–38–4 record.-Early life:...
and Manuel Gonzalez
Manuel González
Manuel del Refugio González Flores was a military general and Mexican politician, who eventually served as the 31st president of Mexico from 1880 to 1884...
. In 1974, Dagge challenged Jose Manuel Duran
Jose Manuel Duran
Jose Manuel Duran is a former Spanish professional boxer. During his eleven year professional career Duran held the WBA World Light Middleweight title, in addition to this he also challenged for the WBC version of the title and held the EBU title.-Professional career:Duran made his professional...
for the European Light Middleweight title, losing by 11th round TKO. He came back the next year however, and stopped Duran in the 9th round, to win the title. He would defend this title once, before he lost it by decision to Vito Antuofermo
Vito Antuofermo
Vito Antuofermo is an Italian-American actor who is also a former world Middleweight boxing champion.-Background:Antuofermo was born in Italy, in the town of Palo del Colle, which is located about 15 km inland from the city of Bari. but his family moved to the United States when he was 17...
.
Dagge earned a title shot against WBC Light Middleweight champion Elisha Obed
Elisha Obed
Elisha Obed was a Bahamian boxer at middleweight and is considered to be one of the greatest fighters to ever to come out of the Bahamas.- Amateur career :...
on June 17, 1976. Dagge pulled off a stunning upset of Obed, winning by 10th round TKO, to win the title in Berlin. Dagge then successfully defended his title against faded former champion Emile Griffith
Emile Griffith
Emile Alphonse Griffith is a former boxer who was the first fighter from the U.S. Virgin Islands ever to become a world champion. He is perhaps best known for his controversial third fight with Benny Paret in 1962 for the welterweight world championship...
, winning a majority decision. He followed this up with a draw over England's Maurice Hope, a future world champion. Dagge then faced Australia-based Italian Rocky Mattioli
Rocky Mattioli
Rocky Mattioli an Italian-Australian former boxer at junior middleweight, and former world champion.- Career :...
on August 6, 1977, and was knocked out in the 5th round. Dagge would win six more bouts over lesser opposition until he was stopped by Brian Anderson in 1981.
Life After Boxing
Dagge had a repuatation as a wild man during his career and afterwards, as he struggled with alcoholism. Dagge worked with Universum after his pro career ended, training Dariusz MichalczewskiDariusz Michalczewski
Dariusz Michalczewski is a retired Polish- German boxer and former Lineal, WBO, WBA, & IBF light heavyweight champion and WBO cruiserweight champion.-Early career:...
, Michael Loewe
Michael Loewe
Michael Loewe , also known as M. A. N. Loewe, is a British academic and renowned sinologist who has authored dozens of books, articles, and other publications in the fields of Classical Chinese and ancient Chinese history....
, and Mario Schiesser. However, he was fired from his job as a manager in 1994, due to absenteeism and his problems with alcoholism. Dagge died on April 4, 2006 in Hamburg, Germany, after a battle with cancer.