Michael Moorer regained the vacant IBF heavyweight title Saturday with a split decision over Germany's Axel Schulz.
Moorer dominated the first six rounds against a sluggish Schulz, who staged a comeback beginning with a flurry of punches in the seventh round of the 12-round fight.The judges ruled it 116-113 and 115-113 for Moorer and 115-113 for Schulz, who has lost three title fights in the last 14 months.
Moorer, 37-1 with 30 knockouts, was never threatened by the slower Schulz in the fight held before 21,000 in a soccer stadium.
The fighters ended the 12th round slugging it out in the center of the ring, but Schulz had already lost the fight by losing all the early rounds.
Moorer, who earned $3.6 million for the fight, weighed 222 pounds, while Schulz weighed one pound more and took home $1.7 million.
Even Schulz, who dropped to 21-3-1, believed his American opponent won the bout.
"I think the decision was OK," said Schulz, 27. "Moorer's one of the best around."
The fight, shown live in 40 countries, was the biggest boxing event held in Germany since Muhammad Ali fought Karl Mildenberger in 1966.