Erich SCHOPPNER

German light-middleweight boxer Erich Schöppner from Witten lost his quarter-final bout at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He qualified for the games after winning the West German national title. In 1955 he won his second national title, this time at light-heavyweight, and the same year he beat East German Ulli Nitzschke in a classic duel to win become the European Champion. Schöppner then turned professional and three years later he was the German professional champion, beating compatriot Willi Hoepner for the title. Only a few months later he won the European title after again beating Hoepner, and he held the title until 1963, when he lost it to the Italian Giulio Rinaldi. He won his second national professional title in 1961 when he was the heavyweight champion. After retiring from boxing he was employed by the municipality in Dortmund and also owned a hotel with his family in the city.