Moorer faces Schulz for lost IBF belt

Dean Juipe

Thursday, June 20, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Michael Moorer may never be the most talkative, the most popular or the most marketable fighter around, but chances are he'll be a heavyweight champion by Saturday night.

Moorer, who held the International Boxing Federation heavyweight title until he was flattened by George Foreman in a stirring 1994 knockout, is taking on German-native Axel Schulz in Dortmund, Germany, with the vacant IBF belt at stake. ABC will televise the fight live Saturday afternoon on its Wide World of Sports program.

Moorer is a 3-to-1 favorite in Las Vegas sports books.

"I don't make predictions, but I'm ready," Moorer said during a Wednesday conference call. "I'm in a good mind. I know how to do it and I'm just going to go in there and do what I have to do."

While both Moorer and Schulz have become familiar faces to fight fans, they also have predictable styles.

Moorer, the first left-handed heavyweight champion, is 36-1 with 30 knockouts and is known for his strong jab and questionable chin. Aside from being KO'd by Foreman in a stunning 10th-round reversal in their Nov. 5, 1994, fight at the MGM Grand Garden, Moorer has also been down in two other fights.

Schulz, 21-3-1 with 10 KOs, is a durable fighter but not a particularly big hitter. Having survived 12 rounds with Foreman, it can be expected he's looking to go 12 with Moorer.

"I think he's going to be very easy to hit," Moorer said of Schulz. "But I'm not looking for a knockout."

The IBF title became vacant when Frans Botha, who decisioned Schulz in Germany last December, tested positive for steroids. When the IBF didn't immediately strip Botha of the title, the U.S. court system did.

The Moorer-Schulz winner is scheduled to face Botha later this year.

"The IBF has taken the position that the winner will defend against Botha, but there are some conditions," said Moorer's manager, Dino Duva. "Michael will consider anything; he wants the best fights available."

Naturally, the IBF champion could find himself being offered a shot at WBC champ Mike Tyson within the year.

"Michael has always said he's not in the Mike Tyson sweepstakes," Duva said. "But he may have something Mike Tyson and Don King may want."

And while Foreman appears to be unofficially retired, a Foreman-Moorer rematch isn't out of the question. Before knocking out Moorer, Foreman was losing badly. But he caught Moorer with consecutive punches and the usually evasive Moorer was suddenly on his back and being counted out.

"I'm not going to change anything," Moorer said when asked what he had learned from the loss to Foreman. "Knockouts are a part of boxing that can happen. (Foreman) jabbed and I should have moved. I'm not going to change my style."

Moorer has changed trainers and fought only once since that devastating night. His new trainer, Teddy Atlas, has a strategy for the Schulz fight that requires Moorer to start strong.

"I don't want him to be in a position where he has to come from behind," Atlas said, indicating he'll push Moorer to win the early rounds.

Schulz allowed Botha to win the early rounds of their fight and that eventually cost him the decision.

In addition to fighting Schulz, Moorer will also have to contend with 40,000 Schulz fans at the West Fallen Stadium in Dortmund.

"Everyone's been very nice to us," Moorer said of his stay in Germany, adding that he wouldn't let the fight crowd get to him. "We're having a good time. Nothing bad has happened and there won't be anything bad."

Should he win, Moorer will return to the U.S. with his pride as a champion restored.

"It's the most prestigious title in sports," he said of owning a heavyweight belt. "I'd love to be champion again. There's a lot of good competition in the division and a lot of money to be made. I'm anxious to be a part of it."

He isn't bothered by the lack of a unified champion or the fact four men could hold heavyweight titles by the end of the month. (Tyson is at least temporarily retaining the WBC title; his July 13 opponent in Las Vegas, Bruce Seldon, has the WBA title; and the vacant WBO title will be filled with a June 29 fight in California between Henry Akinwande and Alex Zolkin.)

"I'll consider myself one of the champions," Moorer said. "I'm not going to say I'm the real one."