BoxRec

Their is an article at http://www.ringtalk.com on the old timer and to my suprise it mentions he is still living, that must make him in his late 90's.

Yes, the great Max is alive & kicking in Germany. In fact, I wrote a letter to him a few months ago and got back a nice reply.

My grandfather, Pete Sanstol, once wrote that he had spent some time with Max in the Summer of 1926, training and running together in the hills surrounding Berlin when they were both young chaps:

http://home.talkcity.com/BleacherSt/box ... ht/Moi.htm

Somebody here awhile ago gave me Max's address. I wrote a letter to ask him if he remembered Pete. He promptly replied that he is 96-years-old and 1926 is so long ago that he does not remember my grandfather. I was saddened to hear that - expecting to some degree to have him say that "Yes" I remember your grandfather Pete and those good ol' days.

Nevertheless, I was quite glad & happy to hold in my hands a type-written and autographed letter from this great gentleman & former World Champion. I will cherish it forever.

(Hey?! Why doesn't either the World Boxing Hall of Fame & The International Boxing Hall of Fame invite him to their inductions ceremonies. Huh?)



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Ric on 2002-04-02 05:14 ]</font>

I've heard that Max Schmeling replies to every letter that is written to him! That's quit amazing, most guys just blow stuff like that off, or have someone do it for them... but he Obviously writes his own letters... If anyone has his address, could they please post it, I'd like to write him. Thanks

That's what I hear, too. I'll email you the address. If anyone else would discreetly like his address, I'll e-mail it to you. Check my profile for my e-mail address.

Here's a JPG of the letter he sent to me. I erased his address and my last name for privacy reasons. (Once personal items like that get out on the Web, it's there forever for ALL to see; I prefer to maintain some semblance of privacy and anonymity.) Champ Max wrote on the back of the letter I had sent to him, so there is some "bleed-thru" in the JPG.

Type the following URL into your "address bar." Do not click on the link; because it just won't work.

http://home.talkcity.com/BleacherSt/box ... Letter.JPG


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Ric on 2002-01-01 06:18 ]</font>

I noticed that the letter is in German - was this your wish Ric so most people do not know what it says? I speak German and therefore could translate it for everyone on here.

But because it is your letter, I would assume you speak German youself - and if you wanted people to see what ti said would have translated it yourself.

Was it your wish for people to read it - or to just know the great Max Schmelig wrote you a letter?

Max writes in English too right? If not, that's alright, I can get it translated... as long as he can read English, I don't wanna right him and have him not understand a word of it!

Thanks, Prince. When I posted the link to his letter I did not have the translation in front of me. It was at the office. A co-worker is from Germany and she translated it for me. How close did she come?

"Dear [me].
As you probably know, I was 96 years old in September 2001. It therefore is always enjoyable for me to hear from celebrities whom I met during my active sports career.

It is with great regret that I must inform you that I cannot remember your grandfather, Pete Sanstol. After all, in the meantime 75 years have passed since our meeting.

With best regards,
/s/ Max Schmeling"

And Sammy Farber - a great bantam from the 1920s - is also with us. From what I have been told by his grandson during recent e-mails, the 90-plus-year-old Sammy always gets a massive smile on his face anytime anyone remembers his ring adventures, writes him a letter or telephones him. (I called him a few months ago and had a grand time talking with him. He fought my grandfather, Pete Sanstol, a few times and lost every one.)

I have Sammy's address. Once again, if any fan of old-time boxers would love to write to Sammy, I have his address. E-mail me if you'd like to write to this great Golden-Age Bantamweight Fighter.

OK. Yeah thats all correct.

p.s. I looked at your pete sanstol website, very good. well done.

Thanks, Prince. Now that I think about it, when I wrote to Mr. Schmeling, I should have asked him about his diet and lifestyle, too. Whatever he's doing, it seems to be working wonderfully. I wouldn't mind getting to at least 96 myself.

Edit: I just remembered: When I was researching the NY TIMES and THE WORLD newspapers a couple of years back, one of those newspapers contained an article about Max - I think it was about the time he was preparing to fight Paolino Uzcudan in June 1929. One of the things that article did was to compare the diets of the two. Max, of course, consumed no tobacco or alcohol, but was BIG on drinking milk, as I recall. I don't remember how much more detail that article went into.


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Ric on 2002-01-03 04:05 ]</font>

Max is probably the oldest champion in the history of boxing -unless you consider Johnny Connors paperweight champ who died at the century mark- I saw a tape of him from two years ago at Hank Kaplan's house and Max speaks pretty fair English and his mind is still clear but he is unable to travel.

Is Jimmy McLarnin still alive? If he is, he can't be far behind Schmeling in age.

To be broadcast soon on North American television is a brand-new, made-for-TV movie entitled <i>Joe & Max</i>. It will be shown on the Starz! pay channel. It supposedly "documents" a chapter in both Schmeling and Louis' boxing career. We all know what this usually means: Hollywood will take some liberties with the truth to make this movie a "hit."

I just hope it doesn't rely on old "out-dated" information to depict Max as "the villain." I wasn't alive at the time, but from what I know today, Max doesn't deserve to be known as a "bad guy."

$Bill: You were a young man when Joe met Max. What are <i>your</i> memories of the time?

Schmelling was portrayed as the Nazi bad guy. Joe, all of a sudden, became an American. Racism seemed to be temporarily put on the back-burner. Understand Joe and Max became pen pals after WW2. His son could probably elaborate on this. Saw Max fight in 31 at Cleveland against Stribling. Stribling gave Max all he could handle. I always wondered about that fight. Maybe Max could fill us in. Verify if it was on the up and up. One other incident. Served in WW2. Was in Germany at the end. Heard Max had been to another area. He passed out photos and offered to sign autographs.
the GI's ran him off, tore up the pictures, urinated on them and some of them were used as a substitute for toilet paper. I wonder if that will be shown in the picture. He also volunteered to help as a translator. Turned him down. Understand he is very fond of Americans. Did not support the Nazi's. Didn't let them use him as a propaganda tool. Believe he was wounded in the war. I made a half-hearted effort to locate him. Didn't have enough time and we weren't really allowed to wander around very much. Personally thought he was one of the great LightHeavys (sorry Ezzard Charles). Thought I would stir that up again. I wonder if the movie people talked to Max and Joe's kid before they made the movie. Joe son is a viewer of this site. If his son reads this. I saw both Conn fights. Conn was double-stupid. First time I can understand. Second time was unbelieveable. Shook Joe's hand in Las Vegas, a number of times, when he a was door-greeter. I really admired him. Sorry about his IRS troubles. Don't know the final outcome on that. Thought the debt should have been forgiven for all he did for the troops and this country during WW2. Rambled on enough. Thanks for asking.

Have any of you folks, that I gave addresses to, written to either Max or Sammy? If so, have you received a reply? ric

Ric,
I've still got your e-mail in my inbox, I've gotta get around to writing a letter soon.

max's address

Max Schmeling
21279 Hollenstedt
Nordheide
Germany

Their is a small report in http://www.fightnews.com about Max Schmelling meeting Euro champ Luan Krasniqi. At 96 years old Schmelling is still in good health.