Odiase’s win signals rise of a new world heavyweight star

Before a record-breaking hometown crowd in Heidelberg, Emanuel Odiase delivered a powerful performance on Saturday, winning by knockout and claiming the title of German International Heavyweight Champion. The long-anticipated bout marked a significant milestone in the career of the 26-year-old German-Nigerian fighter, whose rising star is now shining even brighter on the national stage.

Our contributing editor, Che C. Chukwumerije, was at the ringside and provides a detailed account of the bout and what Odiase’s rise means for boxing in Germany and beyond

Boxing. That ancient pugilistic sport that continues to fascinate humankind and write fresh stories in every new era. That matching of strength and of will, of skills and of wits, of fears and of hopes, under the transfixed gaze of a numberless mesmerized public. A sport as primitive as it is present and perpetually popular. Its violent enchantment never wanes. The sport of loneliness, of adversaries trapped in a ring, locked in combat before the eyes of the captivated world.

Boxing still continues to write new stories and produce new stars. And on Saturday, 19th July 2025, in Heidelberg, Germany, the light of another potentially bright boxing star ascended one step higher in the fiery firmament of prizefighters. The gallery of gladiators has received another ice-cold combatant reaching for the ultimate crown of fisticuffs glory. His goal is the heavyweight championship of the world. His name is Emanuel Odiase.

Born 26 years ago as the fourth son of a Nigerian father and a German mother, Ema turned from football to boxing at the age of 16 under the influence of one of his older brothers. And since then, there has been no turning back. After an exciting amateur career, he was billed to fight his eighth professional boxing bout on July 19th. His record up to that point, 7-0-0. Six by KO.

Last Saturday evening, I took the lonely drive from Frankfurt to the SNP Dome in Heidelberg to watch the fight night organised by Ringside Boxing. And I was not disappointed. After a boisterous evening of watching the likes of Simon Zachenhuber, Paulinus Ndjolonimu, Devrim Goekduman, amongst others, as well as the successful professional debuts of Nelvie Tiafack and Alexander Okafor, I finally got the opportunity to watch live this rising new German-Nigerian heavyweight boxing hitmaster – Emanuel Odiase – and to observe his ring prowess for myself.

Under the flashing lights of a capacity-crowded dome, Odiase radiated calm, confidence and composure as he walked out of the dressing room. He raised his fist in a gesture of assured victory, made the sign of the cross, turned around and saluted his team, then walked to the ring like a man on business. His physical resemblance – in form, size, gait and white robe – to his friend and former 2-time heavyweight king Anthony Joshua, could not be missed. Ema Odiase seems to be a warrior who already feels at home in the heat of high stakes battle.

When the fight started, what caught my eye immediately was his ring intelligence. I saw a heavyweight boxer with good light footwork who works from behind a left jab and keeps his right hand up. I immediately gave him the pass mark in my head. This boxer is well-trained and disciplined.
But can he keep it up when the fight gets difficult?

The two fighters touched gloves. Then Ema immediately went into his stance. One jab. Second jab. Third jab. They all hit the glove of Srdan Govedarica, but sent the message. I’m here, hunting you. Only after the third jab, did Govedarica tender his first response, a hurried jab. Odiase parried it and immediately replied with two more, one of them slipping through Srdan’s gloves and snapping his head back, the other one changing altitude and connecting with his stomach. The fight was only a few seconds old, but it was already clear who wanted to take dominance and dictate the pace and the movement in the ring.

Ema immediately followed with two left hooks. Srdan put his gloves up to block them but Odiase slammed them all the same into Govedarica’s guards. All the while Emanuel kept advancing with mini steps forward which forced his opponent to retreat. Odiase had come here to dominate and to win. In the first thirty seconds of the fight, Odiase threw thirteen punches to Govedarica’s two.

But it wouldn’t be all smooth sailing. As Srdan warmed up and realised that Ema Odiase would not let up, he began to put up resistance. First with sudden short strong hooks that signalled to Odiase that Govedarica was here to fight back. After a while Srdan started to throw his own jabs too. Strong, heavy lunges that brought out Odiase’s footwork and forced him to cover up. But after each lunge, Odiase would go back on the pressure jabs, followed by wicked right crosses. Round one went clearly the way of Emanuel Odiase.

In the second round, Govedarica suddenly unleashed his bombs. Swinging, looping left-right caterwaulers that showed why most of his victories are by Knock-out! If any of those haymaking hammers land on a man’s skull, it’s lights out! Srdan was clearly fighting back. He knew he had lost round 1 and wanted to swing the momentum back to his side. This was clearly a phase where Odiase’s ring acumen would be tested. Would he allow Govedarica to reverse the tide and put him under pressure?

The second and third rounds were more evenly matched, with the two men pounding away at each other and trying to land head-bangers. Odiase remained the ring-general, controlling the fight-dance with his in-and-out footwork and his circular motions, above all with his constant jab and ever-present threat of dropping a chopping soberer, a right-hand sleeping tablet.

By the end of Round 3, Odiase had weathered and pacified Govedarica‘a push-back. In Rounds 4 and 5, you could see Srdan Govedarica begin to slow down and get tired. Odiase started to pin him to the ropes and the corners and to look for openings to end the fight ahead of time. Govedarica knew this, and would suddenly spring out of his defences and throw three or four wild in-swingers capable of instantly sending any man to sleep. The fight remained tense. One of these men was definitely going to knock the other one out. One way or another.

But probably Emanuel’s best weapon was a tactical hard low jab to the mid-section. You could see it take the air out of Govedarica anytime he tried to come forward and got stabbed in the guts by Odiase’s low stiff stomach jab.

By the end of the 5th round, I had the feeling that it wouldn’t be much longer before Odiase finished off his opponent. In my mind I tipped it to be the 8th round.

I was wrong. Just thirty seconds into the 6th round, Emanuel Odiase unleashed a short jab followed by a hard cross that sunk Srdan Govedarica to his knees. The referee counted to eight while Odiase waited in a neutral corner. Then he stepped up to his opponent and finished the job. Three iron jabs and a descending hook saw Srdan fleeing desperately to the other corner. Ema Odiase followed. One more jab and a thumping cross to the ear sent Govedarica down a second time. His corner had seen enough. They threw in the towel.

With this win Emanuel Odiase has become the BDB International German Heavyweight Champion. But he has said that his goal is to become the world heavyweight champion. His professional record currently stands at 8-0-0 ( 7 of the wins by KO).

He has the will, but does he have the skill, the speed, the heart to defeat the greats and become world champion? He has good defences, but does he have a good chin? Can he take a punch? All these questions will be answered in his subsequent fights.

From what I saw, he has what it takes to go far – if he stays focused, disciplined and hungry – to go all the way even to the top. Good luck to him!

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