Boxing official Raiko Morales wants to become the new president of the German Boxing Association (DBV) on September 27. So far, Farid Vatanparast has held this office on an interim basis.
Raiko Morales will be standing for the presidential election at the German Boxing Association (DBV) congress on September 27. The Hamburg boxing official made the announcement via social media. This comes as a surprise to many, as interim president Prof. Dr. Farid Vatanparast was previously also considered to be the future DBV president.
Another candidate alongside Vatanparast
The Münster native took over the office on a temporary basis at the beginning of June after the previous head of the association and former VW manager Prof. Dr. Jens Hadler was convicted in the wake of the “diesel scandal”. Vatanparast had already spoken at length to BOXSPORT about the situation in German amateur boxing and his goals as future president. Vatanparast, who is also the current President of the Westphalian Amateur Boxing District e.V., has now made his candidacy for the DBV presidential election public.
Now another candidate is standing for election alongside Vatanparast. Morales, who ended his involvement with the Hamburg professional boxing team P2M Box-Promotion some time ago , has repeatedly criticized the DBV and its structures in the past. The 42-year-old is Vice President of the Hamburg Boxing Association (HABV) and was nominated for the election at the association’s congress on September 27th in Pleinfeld (Bavaria).
“It can’t go on like this”
“I’m running to make a difference. It can’t go on like this,” Morales explained to the “Ostseezeitung” newspaper. Above all, he is standing up for the future of amateur boxing, said the former athlete. Morales was already Vice President of the DBV in 2019, but resigned in disappointment after only a short term in office.
“The journey didn’t just begin in the last few weeks and with the recurring events at DBV. The journey began much earlier,” Morales emphasized in a public statement. “It is now time to take responsibility.” Essentially, the official wants to “strengthen the grassroots”. The family man explained that he wants to actively support clubs, coaches and athletes as well as “relieve the burden on voluntary work”. Other points include promoting women’s boxing and strengthening the referee system.
Expansion of the German Boxing League
Morales sees the expansion of the German Boxing League as another key issue. Most recently, only three clubs participated in a mini-format of the league. “A strong Bundesliga is the key to everything in amateur boxing,” says Morales on his website “TeamAmateurboxen”. There, the presidential candidate calls for further reforms in the top German Olympic boxing association.
Text: Frank Schwantes