Quebec boxing loses one of its great pioneers

The Quebec boxing world lost one of its greatest pioneers to Hans Karl Muhlig.

The Interbox founder died Sunday of cancer, and allowed the sport he cherished to shine in Belle County for a few years before the turn of the millennium, having produced two world champions, among other things.

Of course, there was Leonard Doreen, between 2002 and 2004, who was the WBA lightweight world champion, but before that, there was also Eric Lucas, the WBC world lightweight champion, between 2001 and 2003.

Interbox was not even five years old when it produced its first world champion Lucas, while Mühlegg founded this promotional company in 1997.

From the beginning, the group targeted many Quebecers to join its ranks, including Stéphane Aulé, Jean-François Bergeron and Lucas.

“The fact that he came into the world of boxing, that he decided to leave the Interbox group with all the guys who were part of his team – there is Yvonne Michel and many others – ended up taking boxing in Quebec to a world level and today, boxing in Quebec is still at that level and there is part of it. [du mérite] who belongs to him,” fired Lucas, who reached him at the end of the line.

The 51-year-old has nothing but fond memories of the former promoter.

“He’s a nice guy. I rubbed shoulders with him a little bit during my years with Interbox, from 1998 to 2004 I added the former world champion. We met at dinner a few years ago and he was really human.

“The word that comes back to me is that he is a really wonderful and very kind human being.”

A different and innovative way to do things

Upon launching Interbox, Mühlegg committed to a very unusual practice. Contrary to what we are witnessing today, the athletes in his group, such as the staff, were paid for training, in addition to benefiting from the housing and car provided, among other things.

“Never before in the world of boxing, does a promoter start a boxing business and pay his athletes before he earns a dollar. Boxing has always been a success. [de la même façon]. Boxers were boxing and their promoter took a percentage of their wallet. We were not the same.

“It allowed me to have all the tools needed for the athlete. When we started with Interbox, we didn’t have to worry about the money, because we got a salary to train him, and the vehicles were provided. We are talking about physical goods, but also everything that surrounds training. Physical trainers and trainers. As psychologists, we had everything at our disposal.

“It is thanks to this gentleman and all the investments he has made. For my part, it has served me very well, I have been able to put all my energy into my boxing career and that has led me to the World Championships. A huge part of it I can say goes to too.”