Manfred WOLKE

Welterweight boxer Manfred Wolke won the gold medal for East Germany at the Mexico Olympics in 1968, by beating Joseph Bessala from Cameroon in the final, by a 4-1 decision. Four years later, Wolke was his country’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony but, sadly, did not retain his title after suffering a defeat in round three, when the referee stopped the fight after Wolke suffered an eyebrow injury against the Cuban Emilio Correa, who went on to win the gold medal. Wolke retired immediately after the Games.

Wolke won the East German welterweight title in 1967-70, and in 1971 was the light-middleweight champion. Shortly after his retirement from the ring, Wolke started a very successful coaching career, and coached some well-known boxers, including Rudi Fink, Henry Maske, Axel Schulz and Danilo Häußler.