A further seven fights without a loss, including a draw with Johnny Williams, led to a challenge for the EBU European heavyweight title held by Karel Sys in March 1952.
[2] In March 1953, Neuhaus was rated by American magazine The Ring as 6th best heavyweight in the world, rising to fourth in November 1954.
[3][4] He made a further defence of the European title against Sys in August 1953,[5] but lost for the second time in his career in November that year when he was knocked out in the fourth round by Niño Valdés.
[8][9] He lost the European title in his fifth defence, beaten on points by Franco Cavicchi in June 1955 in front of 60,000 spectators at the Palazzetto dello Sport, Bologna.
[13] In 1958 he fought a draw with Henry Cooper,[14] beat Joey Maxim, and lost to Ingemar Johansson,[15] before attempting to regain the German title in September.