Boxing for a good cause: stars in the ring for families in need!

Boxing for a good cause: stars in the ring for families in need!

On April 26, 2025, a special boxing event will take place in the Graz-Liebenau ice stadium, introducing the new concept of industry boxing. This initiative offers local personalities the opportunity to fight in the ring. According to Krone, the participants trained for months under the guidance of professional boxing trainers to prepare for their fights.

The main fight of the evening promises a lot of attention in advance. Mario Haas, a 50-year-old former storm kicker, meets Elmar Zach, a 57-year-old AHS teacher. This duel will certainly attract a lot of spectators. Part of the proceeds from the event go to families in need, which further adds to the event's appeal.

Fights and participants

There are also interesting personalities to be found among the other fighters. Alex Ettinger, 27 years old and beekeeper, meets Luca Hasenhütl. Ettinger already brings four kickboxing matches into the ring, which makes the fight even more exciting. David Berger, a businessman from Berger Erdbau, is also in the ring. He will compete against graffiti artist Stefan Ehrenreich, following in the footsteps of his late brother Patrick.

Niklas Stopper, 48 years old and boss of the Römerhof, will compete against Tadej Fras, a truck driver who supplies the Römerhof. This shows how locally rooted the event is and how it brings different professional groups together. The event is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and a live stream will be available for PLUS subscribers on krone.at.

Boxing as a health-promoting activity

While industry boxing is the focus in Graz, Dortmund's Boxing 20/50 shows that boxing brings people of all ages together. The oldest boxing club in Dortmund has a senior group that has existed since 1996 and meets regularly. More than 200 members, including women and men between the ages of 30 and 80, come together twice a week in the Helmut Körnig Hall for training, which includes sandbag training, sparring and push-ups. According to Lokalkompass, boxing is viewed here not only as a sport, but also as a health-promoting activity that trains concentration, stamina, coordination and agility.

Trainer Francesco Solimeo leads the sessions and emphasizes how important boxing training is for stress relief and overall performance. The association is also socially committed, supports underage refugees and organizes holiday camps for young people. Managing director Mathias Burchardt emphasizes the club's cosmopolitan community, which is strongly promoted by chairman Dieter Schumann, who has been active since 1972.

The senior boxers in Dortmund are actively working to convey a positive image of boxing and show that this sport is not just about aggression and violence. The club's close-knit community and social initiatives are another sign of how sport can connect and empower people.