Rust, Germany, Friday 23rd October 2026 –Ringside Zone, Germany’s number one boxing promoter, today announces Symphony of the Ring, a stacked night of boxing at the Europa-Park Arena in Rust on Friday 27 November 2026. With two European heavyweight title fights at the top of the bill, the show opens the biggest weekend in the German boxing calendar, a day before Agit Kabayel defends his WBC heavyweight world title in Düsseldorf.
After a landmark Night of the Heavyweights at the SAP Arena in Mannheim in May and the signing of the Ademi brothers, Ringside Zone has become the home of German boxing’s new golden generation. Symphony of the Ring is its biggest statement yet.
Promoter Florian Winter said: “German boxing is back, and Ringside Zone is leading it. When we started, people said big nights in German boxing were a thing of the past. Mannheim proved them wrong, and Symphony of the Ring goes even bigger: two European heavyweight title fights, a former world title challenger in Mike Perez, and the next generation of German heavyweights on one card. The whole boxing world is coming to Germany that weekend, and we’re opening it in Rust. This is the night everyone will be talking about.”
In the main event, unbeaten German heavyweight Emanuel Odiase (12-0, 10 KOs) makes the first defence of his IBF European heavyweight title against Cuban veteran Mike Perez (32-3-1, 22 KOs) over 10 rounds. Odiase announced himself in May with a second-round knockout of Nick Webb at the SAP Arena to win the belt, followed up with another second round KO victory last week over Luis Jose Marin Garcia in Latvia. Perez, a former WBC cruiserweight world title challenger who has shared the ring with Alexander Povetkin and Mairis Briedis, is the most experienced opponent of Odiase’s career and arrives on the back of a points win at Co-op Live in Manchester in May.
Emanuel Odiase said: “Winning the European title in front of my home fans in Mannheim was a dream, but it was only the first step. Mike Perez has fought for a world title and shared the ring with Povetkin, and that’s exactly the kind of test I need. I don’t just want to beat him, I want to do it in a way nobody’s done before. Every fight now is about one thing: proving I’m ready for the world level.”
Mike Perez said:“Odiase is young, he’s unbeaten and everyone in Germany is telling him he’s the future. I’ve heard that about a lot of fighters. I’ve been in with world champions and I’ve been in the deep water, and he hasn’t. I’m coming to Rust to take that belt and remind everyone what experience means in this sport.”
In the co-main event, undefeated Labinot Xhoxhaj (22-0-1, 17 KOs) defends his EBU European heavyweight title over 12 rounds against Italian heavyweight champion Eduardo Giustini. Xhoxhaj has been European champion since November 2024, and his last defence ended with a fourth-round knockout of Pezhman Seifkhani in February. Giustini, a three-time Italian champion from Florence, gets his shot at European gold.
Labinot Xhoxhaj said: “I’ve been European champion for two years and nobody has found a way to beat me. Giustini is a proud champion and he’ll come to fight, but this is my title and my division. After this defence I want the big names, and I’ll show everyone in Rust why they need to be talking about me.”
Eduardo Giustini said:“This is the fight I’ve waited my whole career for. Xhoxhaj is unbeaten, but every record ends some time. I’m bringing the European title back to Italy, and I’m coming to Germany to do it in his backyard.”
Ukraine’s Karen Chukhadzhian (26-4, 14 KOs) returns over 10 rounds against unbeaten Argentine Luis Argañaraz (16-0). Chukhadzhian went the distance with Paddy Donovan in an IBF world title final eliminator at the SAP Arena in May and is looking to get straight back into world title contention.
Karen Chukhadzhian said: “Everyone saw what happened in Mannheim. I went 12 hard rounds and I’m still here. I’m not interested in easy fights, and Argañaraz is unbeaten, so this is how I get back to the top: by taking his zero.”
Slawa Spomer (22-1, 13 KOs) also features on the main card. Spomer arrives in form after forcing previously unbeaten Faisal Abubakari to retire after six rounds in September to win an Intercontinental title, his first fight under the Ringside Zone banner.
On the undercard, Ismet Ademi (1-0, 1 KO), the elder of the Ademi brothers, makes his second professional appearance at heavyweight following his headline-making signing with Ringside Zone. Unbeaten light heavyweight Altin Zogaj, Elvin Sope (2-0, 2 KOs) against Venezuela’s Jose Rivas (18-13-5) and featherweight Meryem Binbir (1-0) also feature, while Granit Sope makes his professional debut at heavyweight.
Symphony of the Ring is promoted by Ringside Zone and takes place at the Europa-Park Arena in Rust on Friday 27 November 2026. The event will be broadcast live on ARD in Germany, and on Boxing News around the world.
