Imagine planning a boxing event in Germany, where the competition is generally sparse, and then having to contend with one of the world\u2019s leading promoters.<\/p>\n
This, rather unfortunately, is precisely what has happened to Florian Winter, who could hardly have anticipated going head-to-head with Frank Warren\u2019s Queensberry Promotions next month.<\/p>\n
As far as he could tell, there would be no issue with staging a show at Europa-Park \u2013 one of Europe\u2019s biggest theme parks, no less \u2013 in southwestern Germany.<\/p>\n
Or at least, that\u2019s how it seemed prior to the announcement of Agit Kabayel vs Nelson Hysa, which takes place in Dusseldorf on the same weekend \u2013 albeit a day later \u2013 on November 28.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, the distance between there and Europa-Park means neither event should suffer any great loss in ticket sales. But still, it\u2019s hardly ideal when the world heavyweight champion \u2013 and an immensely popular Kurdish-German figure, at that \u2013 is fighting on the same weekend, in the same county, as your next major show.<\/p>\n
Speaking with Boxing News, Winter acknowledged the situation but, nevertheless, is choosing to view it through a positive lens.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not frustrating \u2013 I always say: You need to find a solution and think positively. For sure, it would be better not to have these events on the same weekend, but I think we can handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part of the reason for Winter not being overly miffed by the emergence of Kabayel-Hysa is that, while recognising Queensberry\u2019s UK clout, he believes his promotion, Ringside Zone, is cultivating a different kind of relationship with German fans.<\/p>\n
That is to say: rather than building an event around one specific fighter, Winter hopes to reach a stage where, regardless of who headlines, fans will immediately buy a ticket and expect to be thoroughly entertained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t do it like you do in the UK, with fighters [selling tickets], so we have to build Ringside Zone into a platform like the UFC.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen you go to a Ringside Zone event and know it\u2019s going to be good quality, with a lot of action and innovation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think this is the key to holding boxing in Germany. Before, we just built the Klitschko brothers [Wladimir and Vitali], and when Wladimir lost to Anthony Joshua [in 2017], German boxing went to sleep because there was no platform.\u201d<\/p>\n