Age is just a number: Biggest success for Wegner to date
This is a first! Since last Saturday, Coach Ulli Wegner has four world champions in his training group. Arthur Abraham’s successful bid for the WBO Super-Middleweight Championship at the o2 World Berlin, Germany, added a record winning fourth belt to the already existing three champions Cecilia Breakhus (WBC-, WBA-, and WBO- Welterweight Champion), Marco Huck (WBO Cruiserweight Champion) and Yoan Pablo Hernandez (IBF Cruiserweight Champion). All won their belts under Wegner’s guidance.
Never before has a German boxing coach been that successful at the age of 70. For Wegner, who has been in this business for 41 years, it is a real highlight in his illustrious career. But if it is up to the trainer himself, voted coach of the year nine times in a row by “BoxSport” magazine, there are still a few titles to come. “In Dominik Britsch, Robert Helenius, Eduard Gutknecht and Karo Murat I have some more potential world beaters in my group,” said Wegner.
The secret of his success: He is able to get his prodigies to perform at the top of their game when it matters. “It is also important to be highly organized,” according to the coach. “When you have a lot of top-notch athletes in preparation for their next fights, you need a team around you, you can trust. I have such a team in my assistant coach Georg Bramowski and our Physiotherapist Ralf Lewandowski who support me where they can.”
On September 15, Wegner and one of his boxers will do everything they can to keep the record of four world champions alive. IBF Cruiserweight Champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez will try to defend his title at the Stechert Arena in Bamberg, Germany. This time the Cuban will face off with mandatory challenger Troy Ross from Canada.
“Yoan Pablo showed great skill during his two victories against Steve Cunningham. His attitude towards training is immaculate. Ross is a tough opponent but I am convinced, that with the help of the audience, he will win this difficult fight,“ said Wegner.
