Schindler, Max

Max Schindler – (1991)

 

MAX SCHINDLER

Bavarian-born Maxie Schindler, nonchalant, unassuming bartender in his Dad’s Central Lorain tavern, made the sports page headlights of 1940.

At that time, Maxie was the only champion in Cleveland Golden Gloves history to repeat in the same class. He copped the 126-pound Open Division crown in 1939 and continued to hold it after 1940 competition.

In Cleveland’s 1940 finals, cool-headed Maxie survived a rushing attack by Tony Lanese at the sound of the opening gong. Max was backed to the ropes and battered by Lanese’s two-fisted body attack which momentarily draped the defending champ on the ropes.

However, it was only a spurt. Maxie shifted smartly about the ring, flicked a jab repeatedly to Tony’s head and the ring king started to roll along in his usual style.

Early in the second round, Max concentrated his attack with right hooks to the body. Lanese appeared in a wilting stage and Max crossed with a right to Tony’s chin. Result: Lanese took a nine-count and remained foggy for the remaining 45 seconds of the round.

The featherweight king had smooth sailing in the third round with the gallery howling for a knockout.

At the conclusion of the bout, the first one in the ring in Maxie’s corner was his 11-year-old sister, Rose, wearing a white fur coat and hat. Maxie wiped trickling blood from his nose and then kissed his sister.

Awards given Max, symbolical of the championships included miniature diamond-studded Golden Gloves, two pair of satin boxing trunks, a robe, and the gloves with which he won the fight.

Maxie was summoned to compete in the 1939 San Francisco Worlds Fair Tournament and in 1940 the National AAU in Boston and the Chicago Tournament of Champions. Though not complaining, Max “ran into a little bad luck” in Frisco with a hometown decision and in a Boston TKO from a head butt. The only bout he felt he should have lost was Chicago. After knocking out the 126 lb. tourney favorite, he was decisioned by a 6’1″ Sioux Indian who jabbed and ran like he was at Little Big Horn fighting Custer.

Maxie’s victories continued as he became a battler in World War II.

In March, 1945, Schindler became the Inter-Allied champion of 120-pounders. The Lorainite, assigned to U.S. Army, was one of seven Americans who won titles in tournaments conducted at Khorramshahr on the Persian Gulf. The other title winner was an Egyptian.

Schindler, in winning the title, defeated Hussein Toussi of Iran. He was also No. 1 in tournaments in Cairo and Teheran. In one bout, he kayoed the English champion.

Maxie’s last effort was in Italy when he tangled with a 135 lb. Irishman named O’Reilly. As Max describes it “I was beating him pretty good when suddenly the lights went out and the next I knew they were waking me up in the dressing room.” It was only his 25th loss in 300 fights. Always a crowd pleaser with an aggressive style — Max knew it was time to “hang ’em up”.

WELCOME MAXIE SCHINDLER TO THE LORAIN SPORTS HALL OF FAME