Karl-Robin Sauerland (born 14 April 1977) is an Anglo-German boxing promoter and the Global Head of Boxing at Wasserman.[1] Sauerland has been the promoter for many British boxers including David Haye, Chris Eubank Jr and Derek Chisora.[1][2]
Kalle Sauerland | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 April 1977 Wuppertal, Germany |
| Known for | Boxing promotion |
| Title | Global Head of Boxing of Wasserman (company) |
| Parent |
|
| Website | wassermanboxing |
Early life edit
Sauerland was born in Wuppertal, Germany but grew up in London, England.[3] He is the son of Wilfried Sauerland, a German International Hall of Fame boxing promoter.[3]
Career edit
Sauerland began his career as an intern at International Management Group, a sports rights agency, where he handled the commercial rights for around 300 footballers including Zlatan Ibrahimović, Teddy Sheringham and Paolo Maldini.[3]
In 2003, Sauerland launched his own sports agency, Kentaro, which went on to acquire the broadcast rights to the Greek football team ahead of its UEFA Euro 2004 win and represent the Brazilian football team.[3][4]
In 2008, Sauerland joined Sauerland Event, the boxing promotion company founded by his father Wilifred Sauerland.[3]
In 2009, Sauerland launched the Super Six World Boxing Classic, which saw the six best super middleweights compete against each other in a single tournament.[5][6] It was covered by US television channel Showtime and saw Andre Ward beat Carl Froch in the final to unify the WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine titles.[6][7]
In July 2011, Sauerland promoted the world heavyweight title fight between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko.[8][9]
In March 2017, Sauerland was appointed Chief Boxing Officer at the Swiss company Comosa AG, where he launched the World Boxing Super Series.[10][11] Described as the ‘Champions League of boxing’, the tournament launched with $38 million in prize money.[5] The first season culminated in Oleksandr Usyk becoming undisputed cruiserweight world champion and Callum Smith becoming unified super middleweight champion.[12]
In March 2021, Wasserman acquired Sauerland's promotion firm Team Sauerland to create Wasserman Boxing.[1][13] Sauerland and his brother Nisse were appointed heads of global boxing.[13] Since launch, Wasserman Boxing has promoted fights on Sky Sports, Sky Sports Box Office, DAZN and Channel 5.[14][15]
In 2022, Wasserman Boxing, KSI and Proper Loud launched Misfits Boxing, a crossover boxing promotion where celebrities and influencers compete in the boxing ring, including Logan Paul, Tommy Fury and Dillon Danis.[15] In January 2023, Misfits Boxing signed a five-year deal with DAZN to broadcast all Misfits Boxing events.[16]
Personal life edit
Sauerland lives in London and supports Tottenham Hotspur F.C.[17] Sauerland has a brother, Nisse Sauerland, who is the Managing Executive of Global Boxing at Wasserman.[13]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Wasserman Boxing will massively attack the boxing market after launching new promotional company, says Kalle Sauerland". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "World Boxing Super Series: The Muhammad Ali Trophy and $50m up for grabs". BBC Sport. 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ a b c d e Williams, Max (2022-05-10). "Kalle Sauerland: meet the orchestrator of controlled violence". Square Mile. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "Sauerland: "Beim Boxen gibt es oft Ignoranz und Unkenntnis" - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). 2017-08-23. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ a b Dawson, Alan. "'Like a gladiatorial dating game': One of boxing's biggest promoters says his new $50 million boxing competition will unearth the next Manny Pacquiao". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ a b "Plans for World Boxing Super Series on tap". ESPN.com. 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ Fuller, Justin. "Ward vs. Froch: Why the Super Six Final Proves Boxing Is Leagues Behind the UFC". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "Haye still intent on securing Klitschko bout - Promoter". ESPN.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ Jackson, Jamie (2011-07-03). "David Haye loses big fight to Wladimir Klitschko but blames broken toe". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "WBSS: Kalle Sauerland on the future of the tournament | Sporting News". www.sportingnews.com. 2019-02-22. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ Coppinger, Mike. "World Boxing Super Series tournament promises jolt to sport with $50M in prize money". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ "World Boxing Super Series: Oleksandr Usyk beats Mairis Briedis on points in semi-final". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ a b c Dixon, Ed (2021-06-07). "How Kalle Sauerland and Wasserman are planning to build a new boxing superpower". SportsPro. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ Dixon, Ed (2022-03-02). "Wasserman Boxing and Channel 5 strike FTA broadcast rights deal". SportsPro. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ a b "DAZN & MISFITS BOXING LAUNCH MF & DAZN: X SERIES". DAZN. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ Roff, Ed (2023-02-09). "DAZN & MISFITS BOXING ANNOUNCE HISTORIC FIVE-YEAR PARTNERSHIP FOR MF & DAZN: X SERIES". Misfits Boxing. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
- ^ Jensen, Björn (2013-04-27). "Kalle Sauerland:". www.abendblatt.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-04-19.