F. HUNDERTWASSER
Henry Maske was the first German professional boxer to have his boxing robes designed by international artists to enter the ring. This gave him the opportunity to combine his sports ambitions with social commitment, because the boxing robes soon became coveted objects for auctions, the proceeds of which Henry Maske donated to charity.
The first such action took place at the end of March 1994, when he defended his title for the third time in the fight against Ernesto Magdaleno (USA). For this encounter in Dortmund, which was Maske’s 23rd professional fight, the American artist James Rizzi designed a boxing robe on which parts of the New York skyline could be seen. After Maske’s victory by technical knockout in the 9th round, the boxing robe was auctioned for the benefit of Unesco, and Ute Ohoven could look forward to proceeds of 17,000 DM.
A few months later, on October 8, 1994, Maske was in the ring against Iran Barkley (USA). This time the boxing robe causes a special stir. Maske enters the hall in a white cape, adorned with verses by Wolf Wondratschek. After the technical knockout in the 9th round, the now mandatory auction takes place, which turns into a real bidding battle. The money raised will go to Bitterfeld in the state of Saxony Anhalt and will be used to plant new trees in the deserted landscape. The boxing gloves will also be auctioned for the benefit of a database of bone marrow donors.
For the fight against Egerton Marcus on February 11, 1995 in Frankfurt / Main, Henry Maske wins the Bonn artist Albert Münch as a boxing robe designer. After Maske’s points victory over the Canadian, the boxing robe was auctioned for the benefit of the “Artists for Nature” and brings the non-profit organization an income of 53,000 DM.
A year later Graciano Rocchigiani got his second chance in Munich against Henry Maske, who had beaten him on points a few months earlier. The boxing robe, designed by Dinkelsbühl artist Thomas Weisenberger, is only finished a few days before the fight and shows a chess piece, the bishop. The auction after winning the points brings in a record sum of 70,000 DM, which Maske donates for needy children.
At the end of May 1996, Maske's 10th title defense is due. He meets the American John Scully in Leipzig, who loses on points.
In Henry Mask's last world championship match in November 1996, the 32-year-old also scores another striking visual hit. The boxing robe the boxer wears in the sold-out Olympic Hall in Munich was designed by Gunter Sachs, who had made an international name for himself as a photographer in recent years
On the cape there is a picture of a unicorn, a pendulum and an hourglass.