Eric Seelig (July 15, 1909, in Bromberg, now Bydgoszcz – January 19, 1984) was middleweight boxing champion in Germany in 1931 and their light-heavyweight champion in 1933. Because he was Jewish, he was stripped of his titles, and, in July 1933, the Nazis threatened that if he dared fight another match to defend his titles he would be killed. Seelig fled to France, though his stripped titles were never restored. He had a successful boxing career in America from 1935 to 1940.
Early life and amateur boxing career
Eric Seelig was born on July 15, 1909, in Bromberg, Germany. When he was nine, his family moved to Berlin and in the period before Hitler, he became Germany's Amateur Middleweight Champion.
Professional boxing career
Seelig won his first twelve professional matches in Germany, from February 1931 to March 1932. This period included his winning the German national middleweight title.
German BDB middle and light heavy champ 1931, 1933
On November 12, 1931, Seelig took the German middleweight championship in a twelve points decision against Hans Seifried at Zircus Busch in Mitte, Germany.
On February 26, 1933, Seelig defeated Helmut Hartkopp in a twelve-round points decision at the Flora Theatre to take the German BDB Light Heavyweight Title.
Stripped of titles by Nazis, 1933
Seelig, was stripped of his titles by the Nazi controlled German Athletic Commission in April 1933 due to his Jewish heritage. Barred by the Nazis from defending his title and threatened with death if he fought to defend them, Eric and his parents then fled to France. Seelig competed in France for a few years, also boxing in Belgium and England. He emigrated to the United States via Cuba in 1935. In his remaining career, he fought nearly every top middleweight contender of his era. He enjoyed success in the U.S. compiling a career record of 57 bouts, 40 victories (9 KOs), 7 draws, and 10 losses, and he would fight against several champions including reigning IBU world middleweight champion Marcel Thil, former world middleweight champion Freddy Yarosz, world middleweight champion Fred Apostoli, and reigning world middleweight champion Al Hostak. One of his highest rankings in The Ring was #6 in 1938, though he would climb as high as #5 between 1935-40.
On May 22, 1933, Seelig fought an important bout against IBU world middleweight champion Marcel Thil at the Palais de Sports in Paris, losing in a twelve-round points decision. Thil was also the former holder of the NBA world middleweight title, and would later hold the European light heavyweight title in 1934. By a few accounts, Seelig's May bout with Thil was for the world title, but the boxers were overweight according to Le Petit Parisien. On January 29, 1934, Seelig fought Marcel Thil again in Paris, losing in a twelve-round points decision.
European middleweight title attempt, 1934
Seelig competed unsuccessfully for the EBU European Middleweight Title on March 17, 1934, against Gustave Roth, losing in a fifteen rounds points decision in Brussels, Belgium. He would lose again to Roth at the Palais de Sport in Brussels on October 31, 1934, in a twelve-round points decision.
Seelig won a ten-round points decision against black Cuban boxer Kid Tunero on September 28, 1934, at the Salle Wagram in Paris. Tunero had attempted to take the IBU world middleweight title in October 1933 against French champion Marcel Thil, and would again try for the title against Thil in July 1935.
Highlights of bouts with top contenders in America
In his first fight in American on September 11, 1935, he knocked out Italian Al Rossi in the eighth round at St. Nicholas Arena. Seelig blasted Rossi around the ring for seven rounds with both lefts and rights, backing him into the ropes, and landing dangerous hooks. Fifty-five seconds into the eighth, Seelig threw his signature overhand right to the jaw of Rossi and ended the bout. Lacking boxing science and appearing wild at times when he took head shots while wading in, Seelig continued his attack, nonetheless, and rocked Rossi with hooks to the face and damaging blows to the midsection.