The philosopher who rescued boxing from its unclean state
On the side of legendary boxer Henry Maske, Manfred Wolke's remarkable accomplishments are celebrated. At the age of 81, Wolke, a famous boxing trainer, has passed away. He too was a highly successful fighter who won a gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.
Manfred Wolke had a significant impact on Germany's boxing boom in the 1990s. Now the boxing community grieves for the success coach. Axel Schulz's former coach and Henry Maske's long-time mentor died last Wednesday in his hometown of Frankfurt/Oder. Maske confirmed the news, mentioning the family. "I visited Manfred Wolke on January 24th and found him in good physical condition. Only the dementia...Now he's gone and released."
Maske, deeply affected, reminisced, "He was undoubtedly my trainer. Some athletes considered average became internationally successful boxers under him." He first turned the young amateur into an Olympic champion (1988) and world champion (1989), then helped Maske make the switch to the professional league after the fall of the Berlin Wall. In 1993, Maske became a world champion in the half-heavyweight division. "Many warned us that Henry wouldn't be able to keep up with the pros," Wolke once recalled, "that we would be out on the street in a few weeks."
However, that didn't happen. Maske defended his world title in the half-heavyweight division ten times, drawing 18 million viewers to RTL every time. "Manfred brought German professional boxing back up. That's his legacy," said the trainer legend Ulli Wegner. Wolke, however, relied on his unique training methods. "He was the philosopher among trainers, the subtle mind. He could make his boxers understand what they had to do and what they shouldn't," Maske said in an interview with the Sports Information Service decades ago.
But Wolke could also achieve success. Forced to transfer to the youth sector during the GDR era, the obsessive trainer was brought back by Maske. In 2009, when promoter Wilfried Sauerland announced the long-term cooperation with Wolke's branch in Frankfurt, the coach was angry and opted for a solo venture since he had recently built a new boxing hall on the Oder. The years of top trainer Manfred Wolke were coming to an end. He could no longer bring forth new talents or potential world championship fighters. It became quiet around the coach.
In 2007, Wolke had a big comeback. Maske made a return against the American Virgil Hill, who had given him his only defeat as a professional. Initially, Maske opted for U.S. star coach Teddy Atlas, but when Wolke became available, Maske changed his mind and exulted in a triumphant return with his longtime trainer in his corner for a fight.
Cloud, known as "Manne," played a vital role in bringing boxing back from the ashes and turning it into a spectator sport. In reunified Germany, he created a name for himself in the Sauerland boxing stable, launching Maske as the star. This was followed by fights in prime time watched by millions. "He made professional boxing in Germany respectable. He was the driving force that made Mask achieve these successes," said boxing legend Ulli Wegner.
Born in 1943 in Potsdam, the coach was himself one of the major figures in East German sports. He achieved great success as a boxer. As a welterweight, Wolke won Olympic gold in 1968 in Mexico City. He was also the vice-European champion in 1967 and 1971. At the 1972 Olympics in Munich, he carried the DDR flag into the Olympic Stadium. "He was definitely one of the world's best trainers. There are rarely athletes who are equally successful as coaches," said Wegner.
Wolke coached professionals like Daniel Haussler (European champion in super middleweight in 2001), Timo Hoffmann, Kai Kurzawa, Enad Licina, and Artur Hein. He also helped Rudi Fink win Olympic gold in 1980 in Moscow. Wolke, the strict and unique character, greatly influenced his athletes, demanding the best from them and pushing them to their limits. "Over time, I realized that Manfred Wolke is not a god, because he was once a god for me. He's just a human being," concluded Maske.
Wolke trained heavyweight boxer Axel Schulz, both in amateur and professional wrestling. There were many objections, but he pushed Schulz into the professional ring. "If it weren't for Wolke, I wouldn't be who I am today," Schulz remarked. When the chance arose to box against George Foreman in 1995, Wolke motivated Schulz to accept the challenge. Although the German eventually lost by decision in a contentious decision, he was able to showcase himself on the grand stage of boxing. The former heavyweight boxer gushed, "He was the best coach I've ever had."
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Manfred Wolke's boxing career was not limited to training; he was a successful fighter himself, winning a gold medal in boxing at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, contributing to numerous 'Deaths' in the ring.The boxing world mourns the loss of Manfred Wolke, a legendary figure who played a vital role in revitalizing the sport in Germany and trained several internationally renowned boxers, leading to numerous 'Deaths' in the ring.
