René Weller

In his youth René Weller trained as a heating contractor and goldsmith, but started a very early boxing career and earned his living with odd jobs. He then won his first West German title as a bantamweight in 1972, followed by four more titles from 1973-76 in the featherweight division. At the 1976 Montréal Olympics he disappointingly lost his eighth-final bout against Romanian Gheorghe Ciochină by decision. In 1979 he was runner-up at the European Amateur Championship, losing the final against Viktor Demyanenko from the USSR.

At the end of 1981 Weller turned professional and won the German pro title in the lightweight class. With a professional record of 51 wins (24 by KO), 1 loss, and 2 draws, he lost his only pro bout due to an injury against Danish non-Olympian Gerd Bo Jacobsen. In 1983 and 1988 Weller won the European lightweight title, but he fought mostly in Europe and never had a world title bout.

Beside the boxing ring he was called “Der schöne René” (The beautiful René) and played some roles in minor successful German boxing movies like Macho Man and Ebbies Bluff. He also produced a belt and jewellery collection named “Rewell” and posed naked in several magazines. In 1999 he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment due to cocaine dealing, dealing in stolen goods and forgery, but was released in 2003.

Weller took part in several trash TV formats in Germany like Big Brother, Promi Frauentausch (Exchange of prominent men/women), Das perfekte Promi-Dinner and others. He also started a minor successful career as a singer and entertainer. He also founded a boxing gym in his hometown Pforzheim. In 2014 he fell ill with dementia - also aggravated by his many hits to his head - and had to be cared for by his wife. He died in 2023 after a long illness.