Emanuel Odiase wants to fight his way to the top of the heavyweight division – with toughness, attitude and a clear goal: the 2027 World Championship title. BOXSPORT met the ambitious athlete in Hamburg.
Drops of sweat are pouring from every pore, the upper body is soaking wet. “Wow, what a dramatic show!” can be heard loudly backstage at the Altona Fish Auction Hall in Hamburg. An imposing brick building with a glass dome and arched windows right on the harbor. Inside, a three-aisled room, supported by filigree steel – today a boxing arena with rough, maritime charm. Ideally suited for the kick-off of the “Ringside Series 2026” on Friday evening, March 20. A fight night with Nina Meinke’s main event for the IBF and IBO featherweight world championship. Ringside Zone wants to shake up the German professional boxing scene – and has been on the market for less than a year.
Harder than expected
The charismatic, atmospheric fighter with a penchant for drama also wants to shake things up: Emanuel Odiase (10-0, 8 knockouts). The heavyweight from Heidelberg has just completed his duel against Ukrainian Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko under the spotlights of the dome. The verdict was unanimous: three times 80:72. Unanimous, but laborious – a victory that felt tougher than the scorecards suggest.
An eight-round fight for the 27-year-old – over the full distance. He talks to BOXSPORT directly after the fight. Did the game plan work? Odiase says that he “worked a lot on the jab”, repeatedly tried to …
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