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René Weller

Not to be confused with Ronny Weller.

René Weller (21 November 1953 – 22 August 2023) was a German boxer. He competed for West Germany in the men's featherweight event at the 1976 Summer Olympics, defeating Serge Thomas of France before losing to Gheorghe Ciochina of Romania.[1] In 1979 he was runner-up at the European Amateur Championship, losing the final against Viktor Demyanenko from the USSR.[2]

Weller became professional in 1981 and won the German pro title in the lightweight class. He also won the European lightweight title in 1983 and 1988.[2]

Outside of his sport career, he also appeared in some German boxing films such as Macho Man and Ebbies Bluff. He also produced a line of belts and jewelry and modeled for nude photographs in multiple magazines. He also appeared in multiple television shows and had a successful career as a singer. In 1999 was sentenced to seven years in prison for cocaine dealing, dealing stolen goods, and forgery, but was released early in 2003.[2]

Weller went on to found a boxing gym in his hometown of Pforzheim. He developed dementia in 2014[2] and died on 22 August 2023 at the age of 69.[3]

References

  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "René Weller Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Olympedia – René Weller". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 13 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Boxen: Früherer Box-Europameister René Weller ist tot" [Boxing: Former European boxing champion René Weller is dead]. Zeit (in German). 23 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.