Schmeling wearing boxing trunks and gloves, 1938. Maximillian Adolph Otto Siegfried "Max" Schmeling (September 28, 1905 - February 2, 2005) was a German boxer. Starting his professional career in 1924, Schmeling came to the United States in 1928. He became the first to win the heavyweight championship by disqualification in 1930, after opponent Jack Sharkey knocked him down with a low blow in the 4th round. He retained his crown successfully in 1931 by a TKO victory over Young Stribling. A rematch in 1932 with Sharkey saw the American gaining the title from Schmeling by a controversial 15 round split decision. In 1933, Schmeling lost to Max Baer by a 10th round TKO. The loss left people believing that he was past his prime. In 1936, he knocked out American rising star Joe Louis, placing him as the number one contender for Jim Braddock's title, but Louis got the fight and knocked Braddock out to win the championship in 1937. Schmeling finally got a chance to regain his title in 1938, but Louis knocked him out in one round. During WWII, Schmeling served with the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) as an elite paratrooper. After the war, he mounted a comeback, but retired permanently in 1948. He died in 2005 at the age of 99. In 2003, he was ranked 55 on The Ring magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. Photographed for the New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper by William C. Greene, 1938.