Editing Max Schmeling (section)

===The "Low Blow Champion"===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 102-11974, Max Schmeling mit seiner Mutter.jpg|thumb|190px|Max Schmeling with his mother Amanda Schmeling (''née'' Fuchs) in 1931]]
When he defeated the highly regarded Spaniard [[Paulino Uzcudun]] with a fifteen-round decision at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] later that year, Schmeling was regarded as the foremost young contender in the division. With the World Heavyweight Champion [[Gene Tunney]] having recently retired, promoters arranged a matchup between the German and veteran contender [[Jack Sharkey]] to fill the vacancy. On 12 June 1930, at Yankee Stadium, in a fight billed as the 'Battle of the Continents,' Schmeling, known as a slow starter, fell slightly behind on points going into the fourth round. He was trying to corner his opponent when Sharkey let loose with a very fast, clear hit to the groin. Schmeling fell to the canvas, claiming to have been fouled. When manager Jacobs ran into the ring, prompting chaos, the referee disqualified Sharkey and declared Schmeling the victor and the first man to win the world heavyweight championship on a foul. The [[New York State Athletic Commission]] (NYSAC), reviewing the call, agreed.

The first European-born boxer to win the heavyweight championship in thirty-three years, Schmeling was also the first from Germany to hold the distinction. Still, the way in which he won the title proved an embarrassment. Called the 'low blow champion,' he was disparaged in both America and Europe as an unproven titleholder. When he initially refused to face Sharkey in a rematch, the NYSAC officially stripped him of their recognition as world champion, but he remained recognised by both the National Boxing Association (NBA) and ''The Ring'' magazine. Most of the criticism faded after Schmeling's first defence, a fifteen-round TKO over [[Young Stribling]], a future hall-of-famer with 239 wins to his credit by 1931. In order to solidify his title as undisputed, Schmeling signed a contract to face the "Boston Gob" once more. On 21 June 1932, the championship picture became even more muddled when Sharkey won a highly controversial split decision, taking the championship. Many in attendance, including former heavyweight champion [[Gene Tunney]] and the mayor of New York, felt that Schmeling had proven himself the better man and was robbed. In losing the championship, the German had elevated his reputation in the minds of boxing fans.