Before I get started, I’m really glad you’re here to read my column. It’s going to be chaotic, funny, but mainly 100 percent real. I’ll be sharing lots of anecdotes and experiences from the world of boxing, but also giving you some exciting insights into my everyday madness. And now it’s time to clear the ring!
On April 26, 2025, the time will finally come: Together with my parents, I’m organizing the first “Fight Night” in my hometown. An event that didn’t just come out of nowhere, but was a heartfelt wish that arose during my active kickboxing career. Back then, we often thought about organizing our own tournament. But the right opportunity never came along, as the effort required for such an event was simply too great and often couldn’t be integrated into my busy schedule. You don’t plan a show like this in just a few months, it takes at least six months to find the right partners and prepare everything perfectly: from choosing the location to catering and security to fire safety.
If not now, then never!
Then, last October, I injured my hand, which forced me to take a break from training. And it was precisely during this rest period that I had the idea of defending my WBF title right here in Meckenheim. This idea was not only supported by us as a family, but also by my home town, with whom I entered into a dialog when I made an entry in the Golden Book. You could tell how much it would mean to the town to experience such an event right here.
“If not now, then never!”, we thought to ourselves and set everything in motion. Just a week after the initial discussions, we had already visited the perfect location: a modern hall that was only built in 2017. As a kickboxer, I’ve spent enough time in old gyms – you could say I have a real “gym trauma”. So I’m all the more pleased that I can now fight in a modern event hall with sophisticated technology. My father, who looks after all the event technology, is also happy that he no longer has to use old, error-prone equipment.
Between joy and nervousness
We have put around 350 tickets on sale for the first Fight Night – and it looks promising that all tickets will be sold. The fight card will be varied and feature local fighters from different disciplines: In addition to three kickboxing fights, a K1 match and some gala fights, the professional boxing fights will take center stage – of course with my WBF title defense as the crowning finale.
Even though I’ve often fought in Cologne and the surrounding area, this event feels special. The hall is only five minutes away from my parents’ house and I will be surrounded by many familiar faces: Family, friends, colleagues from the psychiatry department, my doctor and many more. On the one hand, it is overwhelming to see so many people from my personal environment on this special evening. On the other hand, it also makes me nervous that so many familiar eyes will be on me.
So that I can concentrate fully on the sporting part, I will largely be holding back on the organizational part of the event. I will let my parents take care of this, as they have already put an incredible amount of work into organizing it. It’s going to be a unique event – and I’m really looking forward to it.