HAMBURG - German sports icon Max Schmeling, a former world heavyweight boxing champion, died on Wednesday and was buried on Friday, the Max Scmeling foundation announced. He was 99.
The foundation said that Schmeling died in his house in Hollenstedt in northern Germany and that a memorial service was planned in Hamburg's St. Michaelis church. A date was not given.
Schmeling was a world heavyweight champion in 1930 and 1931, but gained the most fame in a non-title bout in 1936 when he knocked out Joe Louis in the 12th round in front of a 42,088-strong crowd in new York's Yankee stadium.
Schmeling fought 70 times, winning 56, drawing four and losing 10 in his professional career 1924-1948.
He was worshipped as a hero in Germany throughout his life but was also misused as a propaganda tool by the Nazi regime, something he regretted later, saying he had been naive.
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