The “Erdinger Boxnacht” came to an end with the acclaimed success of Simon Zachenhuber. In front of about 1500 spectators, the 24-year-old junior world champion of the world association IBF defeated the 29-year-old Frenchman Mbemba Miesi in the middleweight fight after ten rounds on points: The champion “Zache”, who came from trips to the community of Eitting, received the title of the international German champion. The Erdinger kickboxer Tatjana Obermeier had less success in the early evening. She lost on points against Zsanett Szegfi from Budapest.
It all started on the Volksfestplatz with a boxing match in the Herbstfest marquee
“It was awesome how you supported me here in Erding, so a big thank you for that,” said a visibly moved Simon Zachenhuber after the award ceremony in the ring towards the grandstand, which was packed with his fans and family members. Many spectators appeared in “Matador-Zachenhuber” T-shirts and created a great atmosphere in the Stadtwerke Arena on Saturday night with frenetic cheers, chants (“Get up if you’re for Simon”), horns, drums and horns. What a career that began across the street at the boxing match in the Herbstfest tent on the Volksfestplatz. Now the “Zachi” International German Champion. A “really great boxer”, as former heavyweight boxer Axel Schulz says, who fought boxing legend George Foreman in the USA in 1995 for the world championship crown. “It’s great what this likeable athlete is doing,” said Erding’s Mayor Max Gotz in the ring at the award ceremony well after midnight. The Erdinger boxing night was “advertising for the sport”.
The Erdingerin kickboxer Tatjana Obermeier (left) had less fighting luck. She lost on points against Zsanett Szegfi from Budapest.
(Photo: Renate Schmidt)
Already on Friday afternoon at the weigh-in in front of the beautiful tower and the backdrop of the Swedish games, the boxers had the chance to get to know the ducal city briefly as part of the old town festival. Some of the Swedish Games performers in historical costumes – led by the Third Mayor Harry Seeholzer – accompanied Zachenhuber spectacularly to the weigh-in and meeting with the French Miesi with noise, spectacle and samples from their repertoire. Also present was the President of the IBF World Boxing Federation, Daryl Peoples, who walked with promoters and boxers through the old town via Schrannenplatz and Langezeile. The American “enjoyed” the boxing night and the old town festival weekend.
“I have to let that sink in first and I’m a bit disappointed,” said Obermeier
The spectacle in the well-attended ice rink included several boxing matches on Saturday. However, it started in the afternoon with full-contact kickboxing and the encounter between Tatjana Obermeier, a kickboxer from Erding, and Zsanett Szegfi from Budapest. The second in the world rankings, Obermeier, had already said at the weigh-in on Friday that she had narrowly won the most recent tough fight against the Hungarian, but had to give everything to repeat the success in front of her home crowd. It was then the expected hard fight in full contact kickboxing with hands. When the two world-class kickboxers met, hard punches were dealt, braided pigtails twirled through the ring after impact hits. In the end, however, the referees saw the Hungarian in front. “I have to let that sink in first and I’m a bit disappointed,” said the visibly marked 28-year-old former world number one Obermeier with an ice pack on her shoulder. At home she would have liked to win. However, the audience showed with the applause that the commitment of the tough 163 centimeter tall athlete was appreciated.
In the first two rounds, both boxers tactically and waited
In terms of sport, there is a lot at stake – namely the chance to fight for the title against the Mexican boxing world champion and superstar Carnello Alvarez – stood between two undefeated boxers in the evening: the Russian Evgeny Shvedenko and the Cuban William Scull. The elegant, casually nimble dancing scull prevailed. And then, just a few minutes before midnight, the time had come: the local hero’s main fight, which many visitors were looking forward to and looking forward to, was imminent. Ring announcer Ronny Leber – dressed like the referees in a bow tie and jacket – celebrated the presentation of the actors. Zachenhuber strolled safely to the ring in a glittering red outfit, tested by the 2021 appearance on the TV dance show “Let’s Dance”. Accompanied by frenetic applause, drums, wildly photographed by fans. In the wake, his Junior World Champion belt was proudly held in the air. National anthems were played in the ring on the covered (ice) surface otherwise used by the Gladiators’ ice hockey players. “Are you ready?”, Referee Egidio Riseddo wanted to know before the “Ring free”. And then it started – without a gong, but with the start signal hammered by an official with a hammer. In the first two rounds, both boxers tactically and waited. In the middle and near the end of the fight it got more intense.
Against the 29-year-old Frenchman Mbemba Miesi (right), it was the expected difficult fight for Simon Zachenhuber.
(Photo: Renate Schmidt)
Miesi danced, was on her feet. But Zachenhuber, who was born in Landshut, was not deterred and remained focused. Towards the end of the fight, however, the 185 centimeter tall athlete was showing the strain. Shortly before the end of the fight, after a punch by the Frenchman, the mouthguard whirls through the air with lots of sweat spatter. The finish was intense. Coaches and “cut-men” had their hands full during the breaks to motivate and treat minor wounds. There was a lot of gesturing in the corner. But from “Zachis” point of view everything went smoothly. After the tenth lap, well after midnight, he threw up his arms, visibly exhausted but happy and relieved. He had delivered, all the tension seemed to drop with the final lap. The audience applauded – especially after the referee’s verdict was announced. victory on points. The Frenchman seemed to be able to get over the defeat and seemed content, he became a father shortly before the fight.
Around 1,500 spectators supported their local hero “Zachi” in the Stadtwerke Arena Erding, which has been converted into a boxing arena and is actually primarily an ice rink.
(Photo: Renate Schmidt)