Ringside Zone brings boxing spectacle to Mannheim’s SAP Arena on May 15 – Emanuel Odiase fights for the WBO European Heavyweight title.
Boxing fans in Germany can look forward to the biggest martial arts spectacle of the year: the big “Night of the Heavyweights” will take place around headliner Emanuel Odiase in Mannheim’s SAP Arena on May 15. The Heidelberg boxing promotion Ringside Zone, headed by Managing Director Florian Winter, promises a special experience for all martial arts and entertainment fans. There will be a total of nine fights, plus an equally top-class show program, including comedian Bülent Ceylan and band. The mega event starts at 18:00.
“Another milestone” towards the top of the world
“We want to take German professional boxing back to the top of the world with the Ringside Zone,” explains Florian Winter. “That’s our promise and this evening in the SAP Arena will be another milestone on our way there.” Winter and his promotion already celebrated a successful start to the “Ringside Series 2026” in Hamburg’s Fischauktionshalle a few weeks ago. Berlin’s Nina Meinke successfully defended her world title there.
Around 13,000 spectators are expected when the SAP Arena is transformed into a stage for top-class boxing and a varied show program on 15 May. The sporting highlight of the evening is the eagerly awaited European heavyweight title fight. Emanuel Odiase (10-0, 8 knockouts) from Heidelberg will face British challenger Nick Webb (19-3, 15 knockouts). This 10-round main event is for the WBO European title.
Peter Kadiru meets Senad Gashi
And the other fights between Germany’s top heavyweights in Mannheim are also very exciting. Peter Kadiru will face the experienced Senad Gashi, while Viktor Jurk and Nelvie Tiafack, the Olympic bronze medalist from Paris 2024, will provide further thrilling duels in the ring. “Our ‘Night of the Heavyweights’ makes it clear that German heavyweight boxing is on the brink of a historic era. We currently have the best four heavyweights behind Agit Kabayel with us and now want to lead the guys step by step to titles and thus to the top of the world in the long term,” promises Winter.
The evening gets off to a spectacular start with the professional debut of boxing influencer Edmon “Ringlife” Avagyan . The popular boxer and content creator is followed by almost one million fans on his YouTube and Instagram channels. “Ringlife’s” first professional opponent in the cruiserweight division is Patrick Fiala from the Czech Republic. The fight for the German championship between Alexander Okafor from Frankfurt and Elija Ülküseven from Heidelberg will be just as thrilling. A major sporting highlight is the IBF “Final Eliminator” in the welterweight division between Ukrainian Karen Chukhadzian (#5 in the world rankings) and Irishman Paddy Donovan (#3).
Show and stars in the SAP Arena
In addition to the sporting program, boxing fans can look forward to numerous top-class show acts. Star comedian Bülent Ceylan will provide the best atmosphere in the ring with a live performance. Comedians “GG&SukOne” and rapper “OG Keemo” will also be performing in the SAP Arena. Sports stars and celebrities such as Axel Schulz, Franziska van Almsick and Mario Barth will also be guests at the mega event.
“The Ringside Zone events are not classic boxing events. In addition to top sport, we offer fans top-level entertainment. This is how we want to get new and, above all, young target groups interested in boxing,” explains Florian Winter. He adds: “We want to win back the trust in boxing that has been lost in order to return to the days of Henry Maske and the Klitschkos in the long term.”
Text: Press release / Ringside Zone