From the Olympic podium to the professional ranks: Nelvie Tiafack not only wants to impress on the sporting front, but also put German boxing back in the spotlight. He reveals in BOXSPORT how this can be achieved.
It was one of those magical moments in the summer of 2024 when Nelvie Tiafack stood in the ring in Paris with a bronze medal in his hands. After a decade of hard work at amateur level, he had achieved what many only dream of: a medal at the Olympic Games. But for the 26-year-old, this was just the beginning. Now Tiafack is about to embark on a new chapter – the leap into the professional world.
“I’m looking forward to the big stages, the fans and the spectators,” says Tiafack in an interview with BOXSPORT. He already felt how the atmosphere inspired him at the Olympic Games. “This backdrop, the emotions – that’s exactly my element.” For the (super) heavyweight, the step into the professional ranks is a logical consequence. In future, he not only wants to conquer titles, but also revitalize German boxing. The switch to the professional game brings with it many changes. From the shorter amateur fights with three rounds of three minutes each, there are now up to twelve rounds in the ring. But it’s not just the duration of the fights that is changing for the Olympic hero. A lot will also change in terms of preparation. Tiafack is relying on a hybrid training concept that combines tradition and modernity.
New doors open
“My coach Lukas Wilaschek will remain part of the team. We continue to work on the basics in Cologne,” explains Tiafack. However, he travels abroad for fine-tuning and the final touches before competitions. Training camps in England or other boxing strongholds are firmly planned. “That’s an ideal combination. My team is well connected and works closely together. So I can benefit from both worlds.” His close connection to Wilaschek – himself a former boxing pro – gives Tiafack a sense of security. At the same time, the international training opens the door to new techniques and strategies. At the same time, the focus of his life remains in Germany: “I live in Cologne and will continue to spend my everyday life here.”
Nelvie Tiafack makes no secret of his disappointment with the current state of German boxing. “The biggest problem is the lack of visibility. There needs to be more boxing on free TV again and the stories of the fighters need to be told behind the scenes,” he emphasizes. He cites the Olympic Games as a positive example, where he had the opportunity to show his personality to a wide audience for the first time. “People were enthusiastic because they learned something about me. That’s something that’s missing in professional boxing in Germany.” He is calling for pugilism to become the focus of the media landscape again, similar to the USA or Great Britain. “There, the fighters are built up as personalities and the audience is taken along with them. In this country, many people miss the chance to see their stars or even hear about them.”
Even though the new pro is not yet revealing any details about his promoter, he makes it clear what is important to him: growth, trust and good conversations. “I want to keep improving and work in an environment that will help me progress in the long term.” Tiafack has one goal clearly in mind: he wants to establish himself in the top ranks of the heavyweight scene in the coming years. However, it is not only sporting success that is important to him, he also wants to strengthen German boxing as a whole. With his down-to-earth manner and passion for the sport, the likeable man from Cologne has what it takes to play a central role not only in the ring, but also away from it. Nelvie Tiafack wants to enter the big stages of boxing without losing sight of his goal. His journey has only just begun.
Text by Robin Josten