Eckhard Dagge

Dagge was born in Probsteierhagen, Germany, near Kiel in 1946. He learned to fight in the bars and taverns of Hamburg. He would later embark on an amateur career, in which he won 66 out of 80 bouts, before falling short of making the 1972 Olympic Team.

Dagge would win the German Middleweight title, in his 6th bout. Dagge would follow up with wins over notable, but faded fighters Denny Moyer and Manuel González. In 1974, Dagge challenged Jose Manuel Duran for the European Light Middleweight title, losing by 11th-round TKO. He came back the next year however, and stopped Duran in the 9th round, to win the title. He would defend this title once, before he lost it by decision to Vito Antuofermo.

Dagge earned a title shot against WBC Light Middleweight champion Elisha Obed on June 17, 1976. Dagge pulled off a stunning upset of Obed, winning by 10th-round TKO, to win the title in Berlin. Dagge then successfully defended his title against faded former champion Emile Griffith, winning a majority decision. He followed this up with a draw over England's Maurice Hope, a future world champion. Dagge then faced Australia-based Italian Rocky Mattioli on August 6, 1977, and was knocked out in the 5th round. Dagge would win six more bouts over lesser opposition until he was stopped by Brian Anderson in 1981.

Dagge had a reputation as a wild man during his career and afterwards, as he struggled with alcoholism. Dagge worked with Universum after his pro career ended, training Dariusz Michalczewski, Michael Loewe, and Mario Schiesser. However, he was fired from his job as a manager in 1994, due to absenteeism and his problems with alcoholism. Dagge died on April 4, 2006 in Hamburg, Germany, after a battle with cancer.

• List of World Boxing Champions
• List of WBC world champions

• Career boxing record