Emanuel Odiase: “I Want to Be World Boxing Champion in 2027” — Dreams, Setbacks and Heidelberg
Reza Mehman meets Emanuel Odiase, a professional boxer from Heidelberg aiming to become world champion in 2027. An in-depth conversation about growing up in Rohrbach, setbacks, self-belief and the landmark boxing event at Heidelberg’s S&P Dome.
Emanuel Odiase on his boxing ambitions
Emanuel Odiase is a proud son of Heidelberg pursuing a world boxing title. Reza Mehman meets him after his fight at the S&P Dome, a landmark event that took boxing to another level in the city. They discuss growing up in Rohrbach, setbacks as an amateur and believing in yourself. Emanuel also shares a quotation he attributes to Muhammad Ali that defines his mindset: “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.”
Historical context: this conversation was published on 13 August 2025. Fight records, ambitions and time references describe that period. Editorial correction: the German article names Tyson Fury as Usyk’s opponent at Wembley on 19 July 2025. Wembley’s official event listing identifies Daniel Dubois; that detail is corrected below.
Summary
In one sentence: Emanuel Odiase explains why he wants to become world boxing champion in 2027 and what carries him through setbacks.
In three sentences: Emanuel Odiase grew up in Heidelberg-Rohrbach, experienced setbacks as an amateur and asked himself: “Is boxing really my path?” His answer: “Deep down, my belief never wavered.” He describes his mindset through a quotation he attributes to Muhammad Ali: “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.”
In more detail: Emanuel Odiase was born in Heidelberg in 1998, grew up in Rohrbach and attended the IGH school. After setbacks as an amateur, he asked himself: “Is boxing really my path?” His answer: “Deep down, my belief never wavered.” He won his fight at the landmark S&P Dome event in Heidelberg on the same evening that Usyk fought at Wembley. His goal is to become world boxing champion in 2027. His mindset rests on the words he associates with Muhammad Ali: “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.”
Context: who, what and why
Who is speaking: Reza Mehman, the host, and Emanuel Odiase, a professional boxer from Heidelberg.
What it is about: Emanuel’s journey, the boxing event at Heidelberg’s S&P Dome, setbacks, mindset and his ambition to become world champion in 2027.
Why it matters: Emanuel is an exciting German boxing talent and a proud Heidelberg local. His story illustrates the importance of self-belief as a foundation for success.
Three central themes:
- Growing up in Heidelberg-Rohrbach and becoming a professional boxer.
- Setbacks as an amateur and how to deal with them.
- The mindset of an aspiring world champion: “Trust the process.”
Contents
- Introduction
- Summary
- Context
- Themes and perspective
- Key takeaways
- Frequently asked questions
- Highlights in quotes
- Full published conversation
- Keywords
- Names and terms
- Quotable passage
Themes and perspective
1. Growing up in Heidelberg-Rohrbach
Emanuel Odiase was born in Heidelberg in 1998, grew up in Rohrbach and attended the IGH. He is proud of his roots: “Heidelberg is simply home. It is my home, and it will always be my home.”
Keywords: Heidelberg, Rohrbach, IGH, home, growing up
2. The boxing event at Heidelberg’s S&P Dome
Florian Winter and Dominik Odiase organised a landmark boxing event at the S&P Dome, on the same evening as Usyk versus Dubois at Wembley. Reza’s verdict: “What you put together was mind-blowing.”
Keywords: S&P Dome, Heidelberg, boxing event, Florian Winter, Dominik Odiase, Usyk
3. Setbacks and self-belief
As an amateur, Emanuel lost fights and asked himself: “Is boxing really my path?” His answer: “Deep down, my belief never wavered.” He says he processes setbacks within a day, then moves forward.
Keywords: setbacks, belief, self-doubt, amateur boxing, processing defeat
4. Mindset: trust the process
Emanuel trusts his coach Joby, works to master his approach and wants to follow his own path. He sums up his outlook through the quotation he attributes to Muhammad Ali: “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.”
Keywords: trust the process, mindset, Muhammad Ali, coach, Joby
Key takeaways
- Emanuel Odiase was born in Heidelberg in 1998, grew up in Rohrbach and is proud of his city.
- He attended the IGH and was known for often arriving late.
- The landmark S&P Dome boxing event took place on the same evening as Usyk versus Dubois at Wembley.
- He lost fights as an amateur and wondered whether boxing was really his path.
- He processes setbacks within a day: “Head up, then keep going.”
- His mindset is to trust the process.
- Becoming world boxing champion in 2027 is his stated goal.
- His favourite mindset quotation, which he attributes to Muhammad Ali: “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.”
Frequently asked questions
Who is Emanuel Odiase?
Emanuel Odiase is a German professional boxer born in Heidelberg in 1998. He grew up in Heidelberg-Rohrbach, attended the IGH and had been boxing professionally for several years at the time of this conversation. The interview describes him as unbeaten in his professional fights, with the goal of becoming world champion in 2027.
What is Emanuel Odiase’s mindset?
Emanuel draws inspiration from words he attributes to Muhammad Ali: “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.” He trusts the process, follows his own path and works through setbacks quickly: “Head up, then keep going.”
What was the boxing event at Heidelberg’s S&P Dome?
Florian Winter and Dominik Odiase, Emanuel’s brother, organised the boxing event at Heidelberg’s S&P Dome. It took place on the same evening as Usyk versus Dubois at Wembley. Reza Mehman called their achievement “mind-blowing” and praised the event for taking professional boxing in Germany to a new level.
Highlights in quotes
“If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.”
— Emanuel’s favourite quotation, attributed by him to Muhammad Ali
“Deep down, that belief that I would make it never really wavered.”
— Emanuel Odiase
“Heidelberg is simply home. It is my home, and it will always be my home.”
— Emanuel Odiase
“If you do something, you have to do it properly. I have never started something just to do it half-heartedly.”
— Emanuel Odiase
“Trust the process — and be willing to follow that path and explore it for yourself.”
— Emanuel Odiase
Full published conversation
Introduction: one Heidelberg local meets another
Reza Mehman: That was incredible. On Saturday, you fought in Heidelberg at the S&P Dome. What you put together was truly mind-blowing for me. It was you, together with Florian Winter and your brother Dominik Odiase. The event was simply fantastic. Your fight was really beautiful. We will also talk about your style, which I thought was very nice, by the way. You are very light on your feet for a heavyweight, which is what you are.
Reza Mehman: I think it is brilliant, and I would like to divide our podcast up a little. First of all, you are from Heidelberg, a son of the city, just like me. I think you are a proud Heidelberg local too.
Growing up in Heidelberg-Rohrbach
Emanuel Odiase: I was born in 1998, in Heidelberg too, and grew up in Rohrbach, on Rastatterstraße. My parents still live there. When I come to visit, I am still in Rohrbach very often.
Reza Mehman: So you probably went to the IGH?
Emanuel Odiase: Yes, yes, the IGH, just a three-minute walk away. Very cool! But I still managed to be late very often. I was known for that. But yes, it was lovely. Heidelberg is simply home. It is my home, and it will always be my home.
Setbacks and self-belief
Reza Mehman: Your record — I am not even sure what to call it — is clean. I think you have had seven or eight fights and zero defeats. Have you had defeats, let us call them that, which you still need to process? Or setbacks along your journey?
Emanuel Odiase: Definitely. There have been setbacks. I lost a few fights as an amateur too. Sometimes I thought: is this really the right path for me? Is boxing what I should be doing? I questioned it completely. Yes, really. Is boxing truly right for me, or should I do something else now? Because if you do something, you have to do it properly. I have never started anything just to do it half-heartedly. I put my whole heart into it. After those setbacks, there were moments when I doubted myself. But not for long, really no more than a day. Then I processed it, held my head up and kept going.
Reza Mehman: How did you process it? What do you tell yourself in that moment?
Emanuel Odiase: I would say it is that belief deep in my heart that I will make it. That is the most important thing. It never really wavered. Of course, those doubts creep in sometimes. But deep down — that inner voice, right? Yes, it tells me: this is your path.
Trust the process: coaching and mindset
Emanuel Odiase: There are certainly things you could learn from other people that you do not learn from one particular person. But I would say my coach has the complete package overall, and I can learn a great deal from him. I have only been training with him for two years. That means we still have a lot to learn. First, I need to perfect his school of boxing, his approach. That is very difficult. Too many cooks spoil the broth. It is the same in boxing. There are many cases where people simply have too many coaches or too many voices in their corner. They end up just being confused. Instead, learn the style that suits you, and then you can climb mountains.
Reza Mehman: Yes, 100 per cent. I also believe in that saying: stick to the plan and trust the process.
The mindset quotation: Muhammad Ali
Reza Mehman: Which mindset has had the biggest and most important influence on your life?
Emanuel Odiase: I would say it is a quote from my idol, Muhammad Ali, where he says: “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.” In German, that means, essentially, if I can imagine it in my mind and believe in it with my heart, then I can achieve it. That is how I see every obstacle, or every — how can I put it? — everything that lies ahead of me in life. I approach it with this mindset: if I can truly believe in it, I can do it. I would recommend that to everyone. If you have a goal or a dream, that dream is in your heart for a reason. Find that dream, find your purpose in life, believe in it and work hard for it. You can achieve anything.
Keywords
Tags: Emanuel Odiase, world boxing champion, Heidelberg, Rohrbach, S&P Dome, Muhammad Ali, trust the process, mindset, setbacks, Reza Mehman, Project Mindset
Names and terms
Emanuel Odiase, Reza Mehman, Florian Winter, Dominik Odiase, Muhammad Ali, Usyk, Anthony Joshua (AJ), Joby (coach), S&P Dome Heidelberg, IGH Heidelberg, Rohrbach, world boxing champion, trust the process, Wall of Confidence, Project Mindset
Quotable passage
Emanuel Odiase on his mindset, quoting words he attributes to Muhammad Ali: “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it.”
On setbacks: “Deep down, my belief never wavered.”
His view of Heidelberg: “Heidelberg is simply home — it will always be my home.”
On his goal: “I want to be world boxing champion in 2027.”
For another conversation about sport and entrepreneurship, read episode 154 with Mo Idrissou.
[…] For the boxer’s perspective, read episode 150 with Emanuel Odiase. […]