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Former champion Maske avenges Hill's 1996 victory

German boxer Henry Maske, right, celebrates with his coach Manfred Wolke after defeating Virgil Hill of the US in their cruiserweight bout in Munich, Germany, on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

More than 10 years after his last fight, former WBA champion Henry Maske avenged his only defeat by beating Virgil Hill by a unanimous decision on Saturday.

Maske retired after losing his WBA and IBF light heavyweight titles to Hill in 1996, but after winning the rematch between the 43-year-olds, Maske received a standing ovation from the 12,000 spectators in Munich.

The fight may have swung in the eighth round, when their heads collided, sending Hill to the canvas. The American fought bleeding from a cut above the left eye for the rest of the bout.

The judges ruled it 117-110, 116-113 and 117-110 for Maske.

Maske put on a performance against Hill, whose WBA cruiserweight champion wasn't on the line, that even his German countrymen didn't expect. He'd come under fire for climbing back in the ring after a decade running McDonald's franchises.

But Hill wasn't surprised by Maske, who trained almost a year for the fight.

"I was forewarned," Hill said. "Henry had everything to gain and nothing to lose. I was in good shape -- but he pulled it off."

Hill said he wanted a rematch.

"Let's talk about it in 10 years, Virgil," Maske said.

Maske said his comeback was inspired by watching Hill gain his fifth world title at age 42 last year.

"I have to thank him. That's when it began to itch -- I thought if he could do it, then I could too," Maske said.

Yesterday he ruled out a permanent return to the ring.

"As I said before, I came back for just one fight and nothing has changed," Maske said on television channel RTS.
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