Eckhard Dagge (27 February 1948 – 4 April 2006) was a German professional boxer who competed in the super welterweight division.
Eckhard Dagge was Germany's second world champion, after Max Schmeling, holding the World Boxing Council Light Middleweight title from 1976 to 1977. Dagge also held German National and European titles, during his ten-year career.
Background Dagge was born in Berlin, Allied-occupied Germany, in 1948. He learned how to fight in the bars and taverns of Hamburg. He would later embark on an amateur career, in which he won 66 out of 80 bouts, before falling short of making the 1972 Olympic Team. Dagge turned professional in 1973, at the age of 25.
Professional career Dagge would win the German Middleweight title, in his 6th bout. Dagge would follow up with wins over notable, but faded fighters Denny Moyer and Manuel González. In 1974, Dagge challenged Jose Manuel Duran for the European Light Middleweight title, losing by 11th-round TKO. He came back the next year however, and stopped Duran in the 9th round, to win the title. He would defend the title once, before losing it by decision to Vito Antuofermo.
Dagge earned a title shot against WBC Light Middleweight champion Elisha Obed on 17 June 1976. Dagge pulled off a stunning upset of Obed, winning by 10th-round TKO, to win the title in Berlin. Dagge was scheduled to defend his title against Sugar Ray Seales. However Seales pulled out a of the fight and former champion Emile Griffith stepped in as a replacement. The result was Dagge winning a controversial majority decision. He followed this up with a draw over England's Maurice Hope, a future world champion. Dagge then faced Australia-based Italian Rocky Mattioli on 6 August 1977, and was knocked out in the 5th round. Dagge would win six more bouts over lesser opposition until he was stopped by Brian Anderson in 1981, he retired from the ring shortly thereafter.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes32Loss Brian AndersonTKO206/11/1981 31Win26–4–1 Bruce StraussPTS825/09/1981 30Win25–4–1 George WalkerPTS1010/04/1981 29Win24–4–1 Esperno PostlTKO713/02/1981 28Win23–4–1 Larry DavisPTS1006/05/1978 27Win22–4–1 Rennie PinderKO407/04/1978 26Win21–4–1 Jimmy SavageKO810/12/1977 25Loss20–4–1 Rocky MattioliKO506/08/1977 24Draw20–3–1 Maurice HopePTS1515/03/1977 23Win20–3 Emile GriffithMD1518/09/1976 22Win19–3 Elisha ObedTKO1018/06/1976 21Win18–3 Marcel GiordanellaKO702/04/1976 20Loss17–3 Vito AntuofermoPTS1516/01/1976 19Win17–2 Franz CsandlTKO704/11/1975 18Win16–2 José DuránTKO924/06/1975 17Loss15–2 Carlos MarksPTS1018/03/1975 16Win15–1 Pascal ZitoPTS1030/11/1974 15Win14–1 Jules BellaichePTS805/11/1974 14Loss13–1 José DuránTKO1103/09/1974 13Win13–0 Billy BackusTKO320/06/1974 12Win12–0 Manuel GonzalezPTS1014/05/1974 11Win11–0 Denny MoyerPTS1020/02/1974 10Win10–0 Francis VermandereKO709/11/1973 9Win9–0 Jose Maria MadrazoPTS826/10/1973 8Win8–0 Matt DonovanKO228/09/1973 7Win7–0 Shako MambaPTS1031/08/1973 6Win6–0 Klaus-Peter TombersTKO503/06/1973 5Win5–0 Antonio RimastiKO111/05/1973 4Win4–0 Anton SchnedlTKO427/04/1973 3Win3–0 Waldi ClereKO130/03/1973 2Win2–0 Ferzi IsirTKO108/03/1973 1Win1–0 Hans HeukeshovenKO102/03/1973
Life after boxing Dagge had a reputation as a wild man during his career and afterwards, as he struggled with alcoholism. Dagge worked with Universum after his pro career ended, training Dariusz Michalczewski, Michael Loewe, and Mario Schiesser. However, he was dismissed from his job as a manager in 1994, due to absenteeism and his problems with alcoholism. Dagge died on 4 April 2006 in Hamburg, Germany, after a battle with cancer.
See also List of world light-middleweight boxing champions
References
External links