In the second part of the interview, Florian Winter explains why Ringlife fits perfectly into the concept, what role Nelvie Tiafack and Viktor Jurk play – and why the ARD partnership is a real milestone for Ringside Zone.
Heavyweights Viktor Jurk and Nelvie Tiafack will also be in the ring in Mannheim.
Nelvie’s Olympic medal has brought him a lot of attention – and rightly so, as he is a very strong boxer. I’m particularly impressed by his discipline in training. Nelvie looks like an absolute model athlete and will certainly put on another strong show in Mannheim. I also think Viktor Jurk is an exceptional talent. Ulli Wegner has even described him as the talent of the century. With his size alone and as a right-hander, he poses major problems for many opponents. What’s more, Viktor is very calm and collected in his boxing and has enormous punching power. I am convinced that he will cause quite a stir. With every further fight and every clear victory, he is likely to become more and more visible internationally.
Boxing influencer Edmon Avagyan aka “Ringlife” will make his professional debut in the SAP Arena. How did this idea come about?
We already knew each other, and Edmon came up to me in Oberhausen at the Agit fight and said that only one of our events would be an option for him, if at all. It was immediately clear to me that we wanted to do it, also because I really like him as a person. Edmon has done a lot for martial arts with his YouTube formats and brought it closer to a wider public. What’s more: I also think he’s interesting as a boxer. He has an amateur past and will make his debut in Mannheim over four rounds at cruiserweight. I also found his attitude in his choice of opponent important. Patrick Fiala from the Czech Republic is a strong opponent, and that’s exactly how Edmon wanted it. He even turned down two proposed opponents because they were too weak for him. You don’t often see this mentality. It’s also clear that Edmon is already creating a lot of reach. Our boxers benefit from this, but so do we as a platform. That’s exactly why this debut fits very well into the overall concept of the event.
A “Final Eliminator” between the Ukrainian Karen Chukhadzhian, number five in the IBF rankings, and the Irishman Paddy Donovan, number three, will take place in Welter. Why is this fight taking place in Mannheim?
We have a good relationship with EMX Sports, Karen’s promotion in Riga, and we have been involved in this fight. Donovan is part of Eddie Hearn’s stable, but he lost out in the bidding process for the event. This welterweight final eliminator will be a twelve-round highlight and also the final fight of the evening.
Star comedian Bülent Ceylan will perform as the top show act. How did this engagement come about?
On the one hand, the region connects us with Bülent – he comes from Mannheim and is therefore a perfect fit for this event. Secondly, he has been one of the most influential and successful comedians in Germany for decades. There is also the special connection to Emanuel Odiase. The two get on extremely well and have a very good personal relationship. We were only recently at Bülent’s performance in Heilbronn, where we also went backstage together, ate together and realized how much we have in common. We are very proud that he is with us.
Surprising for many: For the first time, a Ringside Zone event will be broadcast live by ARD. How did this deal come about?
The deal came about after long and intensive discussions. There were several interested TV partners because many recognized the potential that boxing still has in Germany. For us, one point was paramount: the event should remain freely accessible. We don’t want to artificially capitalize on a niche sport, but rather bring a sport back to the big stage that once had enormous reach in Germany. At the same time, the TV landscape is changing massively. More and more content is moving into the streaming sector, and this is exactly where a major broadcaster needs to be present today. ARD is following this path and, with its media library, is opening precisely the door that was crucial for us.
Which target groups exactly do you want to reach with this cooperation?
For us, this partnership works very well in both directions: we bring a younger target group with us via social media and digital reach, while ARD in turn reaches an audience that we cannot reach via Instagram and our channels. ARD is therefore an ideal partner, especially for older boxing fans or viewers who watch boxing in a traditional setting. Of course, you have to use convincing arguments in such negotiations. But I believe that with our concept we were able to convey that this approach has a promising future. Our cooperation is also about working together in the long term. Accordingly, there is an option to also organize further events with ARD. It was also important to us that not just individual clips or the main fight are shown, but the entire event. The main focus is clearly on streaming, because that’s where the future lies in my view. Free TV can also help, but the ARD platform as a whole remains crucial for me – as a stage to draw more attention to boxing in Germany again.
Interview by Frank Schwantes