Finally, a new trainer has been announced for the Netherlands’ hard-punching heavyweight Richel “The Dutch Sonny Liston’ Hersisia and it is renowned German coach Torsten Schmitz. The new team started working out at the Universum Gym in Berlin on Monday, it was confirmed. For the Dutchman’s manager Olaf Schroeder of Fight Production, the engagement of Schmitz means a real coup, because without a doubt the 42-year-old is one of Germany’s young top trainers, who has had success at the highest level already. Both Bert Schenk and Armand Krajnc were guided by Schmitz to the WBO “world’ middleweight title and he has trained female stars Regina Halmich and Michele Aboro for many “world’ championships. Interestingly, Schmitz currently trains WBO # 1 heavyweight Luan Krasniqi, with whom Schroeder worked at the start of the adopted Germans career. Earlier this year, there were newspaper reports about a possible clash between Krasniqi and Hersisia, 27-1 (21 KO’s), but whatever the truth was in that, this new constellation seems to rule out any thoughts of a meeting between two men now sharing a trainer.

That trainer, Torsten Schmitz, was a successful amateur boxer by all standards. From 250 contests, Schmitz scored 215 wins and his collection of medals includes six German championships, a silver medal each in the world and European championships amongst many more. He retired as a 29-year-old in 1993 and three years later started life as a trainer with Universum Box-Promotion, the German promotional powerhouse who now have Richel Hersisia under contract.

Schmitz is also happy to start working with Hersisia: “I can see there are many things that Richel never really learned. I only want to work with winners and it seems Richel brings the right determination and attitude to learn, so obviously I am convinced we will have success together.” As of writing, manager Olaf Schroeder is working with Universum’s Dietmar Poszwa on a date for the Dutch and Benelux (and former WBF “world’) champions’ first outing with Schmitz. That is naturally supposed to be a non-title fight, also given Hersisia’s recent injury-induced inactivity. The 32-year-old from Den Haag (born on Curacao) last fought in January, winning a decision over the recently murdered Brazilian Rogerio Lobo, before undergoing shoulder surgery and rehabilitation.

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