Arminius Rolle: 15-year-old makes his debut as a professional boxer

15-year-old Arminius Rolle from Berlin is world chess boxing champion – and Germany’s youngest professional boxer. BOXSPORT spoke to the model pupil and father before the premiere in Nuremberg.

Fire flashes in the eyes of Arminius Rolle, he looks determined – with a clear message, a clear mission: “I am ready to make history. Let the campaign begin.” All accompanied by music, orchestral hymns with the composition “Lux Aeterna” from the movie “Requiem for a Dream”. That too: a mission, a vision.

The one posing in the “eternal light” on Instagram is from Berlin and 15 years old. And wants to be the youngest, the youngest German professional boxer to have ever climbed into the ring. In short, Arminius wants to go down in the annals of German boxing history. Not sometime, now. On May 31, the teenager will make his debut at the “Boxclub 1. FCN Warriors Night” in Nuremberg. With a special permit from the Association of German Professional Boxers (BDB).

Immediately into the professional camp

But why not start with a solid amateur career first, learning the basics from scratch? In his younger years as an athlete, his son had already developed a classic professional fighting style, says father Robert Rolle in an interview with BOXSPORT. For example, with a firm stance and enormous punching power, hard to the opponent’s body. “Arminius is physically, athletically, mentally and physically much more advanced than his peers.”

What’s more: In Olympic boxing clubs, the development of individual strengths often falls by the wayside, says Robert Rolle. Hence Arminius’ leap into the professional circus. “We don’t want to lose any time.” Blow by blow it should go. Literally. Incidentally, 42-year-old Robert Rolle (17-1-0, 13 knockouts) was IBF European light heavyweight champion in 2008 and, after completing a sports degree, has been his son’s trainer and mentor for years.

Checkmating your opponent

Arminius Rolle doesn’t just cut a fine figure in the rope square, however. The ninth grader at a grammar school with a math and science profile is also the lightweight world champion in chess boxing. He won the title in the junior class in Yerevan, Armenia, last October.

Chessboxing is a double discipline that was invented more than 20 years ago by Dutch performance artist Iepe Rubingh (1974-2020). Initially conceived as an art performance, it was later established as a competitive sport. “The rapid change between the two disciplines is very appealing to me,” the model student told BOXSPORT. Pulse up, pulse down. A rollercoaster ride. But whether in the ring or on the board, the Rolle pupil wants to checkmate his opponents.

Testing the waters

On May 10, Arminius Rolle stood on the ropes that will soon mean the world to him: At the fight night “Die Nacht, die kracht” in Halle an der Saale, organized by Uwe Schuster’s Commander Box-Promotion. A show fight that the high school student won on points. A trial run, a test of endurance.

But now things are getting really serious. No more exhibition matches. In Nuremberg, Arminius Rolle will have Constantin Albrecht in front of his fists; also a chess boxer, also a debutant in the professional camp. The difference: Albrecht is seven years older and ten kilograms heavier. No problem, because both sides can negotiate a weight limit in the so-called catch weight, which is outside the established limits and has been approved by the association.

So, only a few more days until the premiere. Logically, the tension is growing, but so is the anticipation, says Arminius Rolle. “I want to show everything I’ve got.” Even more, a “perfect victory” by means of a knockout. In other words: to strike sparks, light a fire, start a “campaign” in the professional business.

Text: Oliver Rast