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What made
you decide to get involved with
the World Boxing Federation back
in 2009, and take on the
position of Vice President?
Well, after I finished my
contract with Universum Box
Promotion I wanted to still be
involved with boxing, but at the
same time not have to travel too
much and spend many weeks away
from home.
When I met Howard Goldberg in
2009 in Dessau, we had a nice
discussion and decided to do
something positive for boxing,
and the Federation looked honest
to me, and the potential also
looked very interesting.
So, it was a good fit, and we
build up the organization with
the promise of always being
straight forward and honest.
Having been involved with so
many title fights and
organizations throughout the
years, how do you see the WBF
being different from other
sanctioning bodies?
As I see it, the other
organizations have changed in
the last twenty years or so.
Now, money is more important and
rules are not really worth
anything. With the World Boxing
Federation, our main interest
will always be the sport ahead
of money.
Being based in Germany, are
you satisfied with the progress
the WBF has had in Europe since
the reestablishment in 2009?
The WBF has definitely made a
lot of progress in Europe, and
from my point of view the
progress will only continue. We
work very well with the
promoters and local federations,
and they like working with us. I
am sure the WBF will continue to
grow, not only in Europe but the
whole world.
What is the most satisfying
part of your involvement with
professional boxing today?
The most satisfying part of my
involvement with professional
boxing today is without a doubt
the fact that the World Boxing
Federation is so different to
most other organizations. My
heart is with the WBF, and with
the team of very good people we
have around the world.
What do you find most
frustrating, working in this
sport?
Mismatches, dishonesty,
incorrect behavior and people
who are involved with other
organizations without any
know-how. I find all of these
things very frustrating.
What would you like to say to
those who say there should only
be one world champion in each
weight class?
Yes, it would be good if there
was only one world champion per
weight class, but the politics,
money, bad matchmaking and
manipulated rankings will never
allow this.
It is often claimed that too
many sanctioning bodies is the
biggest problem in professional
boxing today. I think we can all
agree that there are too many,
but is this really the sports
biggest problem in your opinion?
Again, if we had one sanctioning
body which sole concern was the
welfare of the sport, making the
best fights possible and
consequently getting the best
champions possible, then we
would only need one sanctioning
body.
But this is just not possible,
and in the long run people need
to decide who is honest and who
is not honest. And if everyone
could find a way to work
together ins a sporting, fair
way it would also help a lot.
How do you see the state of
the sport today, compared to 10,
20 and 30 years ago?
The quality is going down, I’m
afraid, because money is getting
too big in other sports. Before
the Berlin wall fell, there was
very good schooling for boxing,
but now the good trainers are
too old or dead.
The new young trainers are very
limited, and I am worried that
in another twenty years time
only very few major talents will
be in the sport.
If you were to single out the
biggest moment for you during
your long career in professional
boxing, what would that moment
be?
There has been so many big
moments, meeting great boxers,
trainers and managers around the
world.
Boxers such as Muhammad Ali,
Marvin Hagler, Max Schmeling,
Mike Tyson and Sugar Ray
Leonard, and trainers and
managers such as Angelo Dundee,
Mickey Duff, Terry Lawless,
Johnny Boss and so many others.
I worked with most of them, and
it gave me the experience I have
today...
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