ACCUSED PAPKE SHOOTS BACK AT ABUSE ALLEGATIONS!

Exclusive Report & Interview by Olaf Schroeder

01.07 - Ever since the Berlin-published tabloid BZ headlined two weeks ago with rape and child abuse allegations against local boxing trainer Werner Papke, the German boxing scene is full of rumours and speculations about the case. While BZ followed up its initial story with almost daily reporting on the case, other media have surprisingly been rather reluctant to jump on the ship. Main accusers in this case are three former Papke-boxers, namely Mike Reissmann, the former German welterweight champion, and now-retired prospects Kevin Wieding and Thomas Lesnik, who, according to BZ, gave sworn affidavits to the Berlin general attorney about being sexually harrassed by the 71-year-old coach.

While the whole case was reported and subsequently discussed on this website, the man accused however retained a low public profile. However, it should not be forgotten that every person has the right to defend him- or herself regardless, that any offender is only guilty once a court has determined so. Here then, for the first time since the allegations, Papke now speaks himself about a stirring case that put him in the midst of the biggest controversy in German boxing in recent memory. What follows is the first in-depth interview with Werner Papke, which makes the whole case appear like a story straight out of hell.

When were you first aware that BZ had put you on its front page with huge letters screaming “Papke has raped”?

A reporter from BILD-Zeitung newspaper rang me hours before BZ was published and told me that something unbelievable was about to appear in BZ the same night. I thought not much about it, just thinking that some shit will be printed somewhere at the bottom of the sports pages. Then I left my flat to drive to the training and by coincidence met Thomas Lesnik, who lives nearby, while getting into my car. I called him over and asked what is going on. He just told me ‘You’ll be surprised. You destroyed boxing for us and now we’ll destroy you.’

Now what about the horrible accusations?

All I can say is that it is me who is the victim in this whole case, which is nothing but a press-supported plot initiated out of envy, greed and hate. And if anybody thinks that because I have not yet addressed this issue in public, I want to inform that this is just part of an agreement with the Berlin criminal police. In fact, these alleged victims and witnesses are quite probably instigated to give false testimony and are thus even more of a victim in this conspiracy than me.

All this nothing but a conspiracy?

Well, part of the initiators are known to me. Without success they have tried already in the past to shed a bad light on me and the people around me.

Mike Reissmann said that you forced anal sex upon him, that you took him as a teenager with you to Thailand and visited gay bars…

You know who Mike Reissmann is? That isn’t even is real name. His police record is real long and he used to work in a gay joint himself at the bar and he’s a know gay streetwalker. So much for his and his accusations’ credibility.

What about the on-going investigation in this matter from police and general attorney?

A few days after the accusations appeared in print, I went to the police with my lawyer – voluntarily. I answered for many hours all their questions and told them in detail about the plot against me. During that time, police searched my flat, my gym and my car and found no hints whatsoever to support the reported delicts. It all is simply without substance and untrue. The supposed victims’ reports are contradicting in many parts. Had I committed all the crimes that they write about, I would have had to be in several different places at the same time. The authorities will do their investigation in their own time and won’t let a newspaper dictate them.

Therefore, do you conclude that the leading BZ journalist Dietmar Kreft is part of that supposed plot against you?

My lawyer will deal with him separately, but it is a fact that Mr. Kreft knows me for years, and used me for years as a source for boxing informations. However, prior to the accusations being published, he never mentioned a word to me about anything. And I found it rather strange to receive, four days after the start of the BZ campaign, a voicemail from him, asking me to contact him because he could help me out of the situation again…Doesn’t that speak for itself?

And the German Boxing Federation? Do they take a stance? And what about your gym? Is it still open and do you still have boxers training there with you?

The BDB president, Dr. Bodo Eckmann, partly knows the people behind this plot from the past. Also, they know about my integrity and therefore stay neutral at the moment. As for my gym, yes, it works like normal with around 20 fighters training regularily. No one has left me on the basis of this case.