After Stefan Raab’s boxing match: Trainer praises his “natural talent”

Fight with Regina Halmich
After Stefan Raab’s boxing match: Trainer praises his “natural talent”

Although he survived all six rounds, he had little to oppose the 46-time boxing world champion Regina Halmich, 47: Stefan Raab, 57, lost to the former professional boxer for the third time on Saturday. His coach Nelvie Tiafack, 25, defended the entertainer's condition and also emphasized that he could have achieved victory with a little more professional training.

The German boxing star with roots in Cameroon supported Raab before his TV comeback and was also in his corner during the show fight, which was broadcast by RTL and RTL+. Commentator Frank Buschmann, 59, saw Raab “pumping” in the first round during the broadcast and said in the second round: “He already looks worn out.” In the “Bild” interview, however, Tiafack emphasized: “He was only really tired after the fourth round. That is my perception.”

Stefan Raab has “only taken one effective hit”

According to his own statements, Stefan Raab had initially spent months preparing for the rematch against Halmich on his own. “He only trained on the punching bag,” confirmed Tiafack. The entertainer also did a lot of strength training to be fit for his comeback after almost ten years. It was not until August 23rd – not even a month before “The Clark Final Fight” – that the first contact was made. “One of Stefan's employees contacted me on Instagram. She told me that he wanted to talk to me. A few minutes later he called me anonymously.” On the phone, the entertainer told him that he wanted him in his corner. Tiafack won bronze at the Olympic Games, which Raab watched with interest on television.

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Three days after the phone call, the two met. “Stefan spoke with great enthusiasm about the fight against Regina. He didn't even need me to convince him. I had already agreed on the phone.” As “Bild” reports, there was only one real training session, which took place on September 3rd in an empty room at Raab Entertainment. “We did sparring for the length of the fight, six rounds of two minutes each. I defended a little, but otherwise just let him do his thing.”

Tiafack has a lot of praise for his short-term protégé: “He is a natural talent and learns quickly. He implemented the things I told him during the breaks between rounds. He only took one effective hit in the fight. A punch to the chin in the fifth round.

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The plan was not to go too fast at the beginning. “It worked, even if many people see it differently,” says Tiafack. “In the first three rounds I didn't get the impression that he was about to collapse.” He is also sure “that Stefan would have won the fight with a little more conditioning training and working with a boxing trainer over three or four months.”

Both want to stay in touch after the TV date. “He said he would like to come to a fight.” Nelvie Tiafack had just failed in his career transition from amateur to professional. Working with Stefan Raab was “a great recognition for my success at the Olympics.” After all, Raab “could have chosen any other boxer.”

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He also emphasized this in an Instagram post. “What a spectacle! Thank you, @therealstefanraab You could have had anyone by your side, but you chose me.” He feels honored and proud. “When decades of work finally pay off.”

The entertainer is currently getting ready for his on-screen comeback. Immediately after the boxing match, he announced his new streaming show “Du gewinnst hier nicht die Million bei Stefan Raab”, the first episode of which will be recorded on Tuesday. From September 18, it will be broadcast every Wednesday from 8:10 p.m. on RTL+.

Transparency note: The star belongs to RTL Germany.

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