German TV presenter Stefan Raab is stepping back into the ring with the German boxing champion who broke his nose in a previous encounter 23 years ago.
Raab, a former talkshow host and creator of international format Beat the Stars, will face off against Regina Halmich in an inter-gender fight on German network RTL, which has secured live rights to the celebrity exhibition rematch.
Dubbed ‘The Clark Final Fight’, the event will take place on September 14 at Düsseldorf’s PSD Bank Dome. Inga Leschek, who was recently promoted to Program Director at RTL and RTL+, said it would be a “spectacular moment in television history.”
In their first encounter in 2001, Halmich broke Raab’s nose, before a rematch in 2007 saw the professional boxer win again after delivering a punishing beating. This final encounter will be Raab’s final appearance in the ring and potentially his final TV outing.
Halmich, who was among the most successful female boxers of all-time before retiring in 2007, said: “When Stefan has an idea, he is passionate about it. Then he is persistent. When he tackles something, it is a hit. He knows how good entertainment works. And the fact that RTL will be showing the ‘event of the decade’ is fantastic.
“I will show that I can still give him a good beating… And it will hurt again. I promise! Anyone who underestimates me has already lost. Raab will deliver a mega show, according to all the rules of the art. And I will really heat him up.”
Raab has had a long career in front of and behind the cameras. One of Germany‘s most powerful media figures, is best known locally as the creator, host and producer of late-night talkshow TV Total, Schalg den Raab (the original version of Beat the Stars) and Bundesvision Song Contest. He led TV producer Brainpool, which is now part of Banijay, but exited in 2015 — the same year he ended his on-screen career. Since then, he has focused on behind the camera production, with the fight being billed as his final small screen appearance.
Leschek said: “The dream of many millions of TV viewers and my own personal dream is finally coming true: Stefan Raab is stepping back into the spotlight and we will prepare the perfect stage for him. Boxing on RTL is a perfect fit for Stefan. We are delighted that RTL is covering the night of nights live — and we are looking forward to a spectacular moment in television history.”
