Heinz Lazek
Encyclopedia
Heinz Lazek was an Austria
n professional boxer
. He fought 64 times between 1932 and 1950; winning 48 (21 by knockout
), losing 8 and drawing 8. During his career Lazek won the EBU
title at light heavyweight
and heavyweight
.
against Sandor Kunstzler. He remained undefeated over the next three years. Although he fought the majority of his early bouts in his hometown of Vienna
, he also travelled to Paris
and Prague
to compete. His undefeated streak was brought to an end in June 1935 when he lost to Adolf Witt over ten rounds.
He won the light heavyweight title in September 1935 after the champion, Merlo Preciso, was disqualified
in the thirteenth round. Following two successful defences of his title, against Rienus De Boer and Emilien Ollivon, Lazek was beaten by Gustave Roth via a fifteen rounds points decision in September 1936. All four of his light heavyweight title fights took place in Vienna. Having remained undefeated over his next nine bouts, Lazek was able to challenge the EBU heavyweight champion, Arno Koelblin, in March 1938. The fight, which took place in Berlin
, Koelblin's hometown, was awarded to Lazek after the champion was disqualified in the second round. Lazek returned to Vienna to successfully defend his title against Sante De Leo and Walter Neusel, both fifteen round points decisions, before a further defence in Berlin, where he beat Karel Sys over fifteen rounds. In March 1939 Lazek suffered a fifth round knockout
loss against Adolf Heuser, bringing his title reign to an end.
Although Lazek never fought for a European championship again, he won the German BDB heavyweight title in November 1940 and successfully defended it once before losing for a second time to Heuser. After a further loss to Gustav Thiess in March 1942, Lazek did not fight again until April 1947. In his first fight after an inactive period of five years he suffered a first round knockout loss to Olle Tandberg. Lazek fought for a final time in September 1950, losing via a second round technical knockout to Jo Weidin.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n professional boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. He fought 64 times between 1932 and 1950; winning 48 (21 by knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
), losing 8 and drawing 8. During his career Lazek won the EBU
European Boxing Union
The European Boxing Union is an organization that oversees competition in that sport over the continent of Europe.-History:The EBU started life as the International Boxing Union in Paris in 1910...
title at light heavyweight
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
and heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
.
Professional career
Lazek made his professional debut in June 1932, winning a four round points decisionPoints decision
A points decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking unlike normal decisions where there is three judges that agree on which fighter won the match the fight is scored by the...
against Sandor Kunstzler. He remained undefeated over the next three years. Although he fought the majority of his early bouts in his hometown of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, he also travelled to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
to compete. His undefeated streak was brought to an end in June 1935 when he lost to Adolf Witt over ten rounds.
He won the light heavyweight title in September 1935 after the champion, Merlo Preciso, was disqualified
Disqualification (boxing)
A disqualification is a term used when a bout is stopped short of knockout or judges' decision because, intentionally, one or both contestants have repeatedly or flagrantly fouled an opponent or violated other rules. The disqualified boxer automatically loses the bout to the opponent...
in the thirteenth round. Following two successful defences of his title, against Rienus De Boer and Emilien Ollivon, Lazek was beaten by Gustave Roth via a fifteen rounds points decision in September 1936. All four of his light heavyweight title fights took place in Vienna. Having remained undefeated over his next nine bouts, Lazek was able to challenge the EBU heavyweight champion, Arno Koelblin, in March 1938. The fight, which took place in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Koelblin's hometown, was awarded to Lazek after the champion was disqualified in the second round. Lazek returned to Vienna to successfully defend his title against Sante De Leo and Walter Neusel, both fifteen round points decisions, before a further defence in Berlin, where he beat Karel Sys over fifteen rounds. In March 1939 Lazek suffered a fifth round knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
loss against Adolf Heuser, bringing his title reign to an end.
Although Lazek never fought for a European championship again, he won the German BDB heavyweight title in November 1940 and successfully defended it once before losing for a second time to Heuser. After a further loss to Gustav Thiess in March 1942, Lazek did not fight again until April 1947. In his first fight after an inactive period of five years he suffered a first round knockout loss to Olle Tandberg. Lazek fought for a final time in September 1950, losing via a second round technical knockout to Jo Weidin.