When I watched then WBC champ Markus Beyer, 17-0 going in, knockout Swedish challenger Leif Keiski with a devastating left hook to the body back in 2000, I was sure I had seen the next super star in super middleweight division. Beyer, short for his weight division, worked behind a tight guard, used a precise southpaw jab and had a powerful left left. He picked his shots well, showing perfect timing against a good opponent.
Five months later, Beyer, the superior boxer, fell apart against Brit Glenn Catley, stopped in the final round in a major upset. Always in top shape, Beyer didn’t lose due to lack of stamina. It was a mental breakdown and it would take years for the former champion to regain his confidence. Exactly what led to his downfall was a matter of many rumors and much speculation. |
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He was, after all, no newcomer, although relatively new as a pro, who had fallen apart. Beyer, born in 1971, began boxing as an eight-year old in what used to be East Germany. He fought 210 times as an amateur, participated in the ‘92 and ‘96 Olympic Games (where he reached the quarter finals), won Silver in the ‘96 European championships and Bronze in the ‘95 World Championships, all at light middleweight.
Beyer turned pro in ‘96 with Wilfried Sauerland and kept busy with a steady diet of various opponents. A win by points again veteran Kevin Pompey in late ‘97 showed he was for real. Markus won the German super middle title early ’98, but was then forced to a lengthy layoff due to an injury. In June of ’99, Beyer won the IBF I/C title at 168 with a points win over decent Colombian Juan Carlos Viloria.
Manager Wilfired Sauerland gambled big-time when he sent Beyer to the UK to challenge WBC champ Richie Woodall. It was close to a big success as Markus floored the Brit three times in the early rounds and at one time, it looked as if the fight had been stopped and Beyer´s handlers, including Sauerland, rushed into the ring to celebrate.
But, no, it wasn’t over and the fight resumed. Woodhall came back later in the fight, but Beyer kept himself together for a unanimous points win, and took the title with him back to Germany. But then came Catley
The build up after the loss to Catley was difficult, Beyer won alright, but against Glenn Odem, a decent journeyman, he looked like he wanted to be elsewhere, and if Odem had a real will to win he might have pulled it off. Markus won the WBC Int´l title and later again got the chance to fight for his old belt. Beyer beat Canadian Eric Lucas on a split decision in April of 2003 and was again the champion.
His first defense was against Australian Danny Green, who floored Beyer in the first and second rounds in August of 2004. Beyer came back, but he was badly cut, and when Green lost his temper and head-butted the champion, Green was disqualified when Beyer´s cuts made it impossible for him to continue. It was a controversial win. Some argued that the cut caused by Green´s head-butt was only very small, while the big cut was caused by a punch; others had it reversed and pointed out how Beyer had gotten back into it after the knockdowns.
In 2004, Beyer lost the title to Italian Cristian Sanavia on a split decision after a flat performance. Sanavia, who previously had campaigned at middleweight, came back to Germany and Markus regained the title with a sixth round knockout. The right-left combination that took Sanavia out came out of the blue and Beyer was back.
The Beyer-Green rematch restored much of the German´s credibility; Markus outsmarted the Australian for a close, but deserved victory on points.
In his last outing Beyer, now 34-2-1, got a technical draw against Sakio Bika after a clash of heads opened a bad gash on the champion’s right cheek.
Against Mikkel Kessler, Beyer begins as an underdog, but it would be wrong to underestimate him. During his boxing career he has seen it all. He has been down, but always gotten up. He has overcome the problems that made him lose to Catley and showed mental strength to come back and outscore Danny Green, when most had expected the end of Beyer´s reign. Fighting away from home won’t be a problem for an experienced fighter like Markus, who overcame that obstacle when he beat Richie Woodall.
A big plus for Beyer is trainer Ulli Wegner, who has been with Markus since his days on the German national team. Wegner is a master tactician, excellent picking out mistakes made by opponents.
Outside of boxing, Beyer owns, along with his girlfriend, Daniela Haak, a marketing company for athletes and artists, 12rounds. For now, 12rounds works mainly with boxers and many of Markus´ stablemates at Sauerland Event are clients. Check out 12rounds.de for more info (only in German).
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