Schulz's last chance of title against Moorer

Boxing

Axel Schulz has possibly his last chance of taking a version of the world heavyweight championship tonight when he meets Michael Moorer, of the United States, on home territory in Dortmund for the vacant International Boxing Federation title.

The 27-year-old Schulz has come close twice before to becoming the first German since Max Schmeling in 1931 to lift the heavyweight crown. Schulz's first defeat was at the hands of George Foreman in April last year, a controversial result after which a battered Foreman referred to Schulz as a "Tasmanian devil". Two months later he relinquished the title rather than give Schulz a rematch.

Then in December last year Schultz was again deemed unlucky to lose against South Africa's Frans Botha, who was later disqualified and stripped of the title for using a steroid before the fight.

Moorer, the 28-year-old favourite, has disappeared from the scene since he lost the IBF title to Foreman in April 1994. Before then, Moorer had been invincible. He battered his first 26 opponents into early submission and beat Evander Holyfield to become champion, before walking into a Foreman hammer blow when leading on points in his first defence.