Not your typical negotiations

Beating up your business partner may seem an unusual way to begin a prosperous commercial relationship, but Pavel Zahradník, owner of a company that imports food oil from Asia, thinks otherwise.

"Through boxing, I successfully strengthened some of my business relationships," Zahradník said.

In fact, the 32-year-old businessman is king of the Czech Republic's Business Managers' Boxing League.

In late March, Zahradník defended his title in the heavyweight category, and his record now stands at six wins and zero losses. Despite destroying many of his opponents in the ring, Zahradník insists participation in the league helps in finding new business contacts.

"It's a good ice-breaker," he said. "We talk to each other. There is no envy or anything. No money - only glory - is at stake, so we don't intimidate each other. We go into the ring, throw a few punches ... and then we get along quite well again."

The Business Managers' Boxing League started in late 2009 and was modeled on similar groups in places like the United Kingdom.

In the fall of 2009, managers from pharmaceutical companies agreed to create a boxing night, and began training three times a week before or after work. The first tournament drew 500 people, said league president Petr Saglena.

This unexpected success sparked enthusiasm for more regular tournaments. Last year, there were seven regional tournaments staged throughout the country from which fighters qualified for the December finals.

"I never expected the project to grow to such dimensions. I'm excited about it," said Marek Šimák, a former international boxer who now works as a co-organizer.

The group now boasts about 70 registered boxers from various companies.

"A top manager from ČSOB bank, some company owners, general managers of pharmaceutical companies and others [participate]," Saglena said, adding that the sport is open to anyone, even if they are not from the upper ranks of their respective company. "We cannot control whether everyone is an owner or manager of a company. If a company decides to nominate a fighter and pays the entry fee, he can compete."

Amateur fighters interested in taking part in the managers' league should not have more than five previous bouts under their belt.

Zahradník says bouts in the ring can also shed light on managers' qualities.

"Managers can get used to punching and also receiving punches. Such managers are usually well-tempered," he said. "However, there have also been some who entered the ring only to withdraw after losing. It's obviously more difficult to get along with such people, even professionally."

Although many of the managers work with money on a daily basis, finance is a limiting factor in the future development of the league.

"Most of the participating managers are from Prague. If more money comes in, we'll be able to travel around the country, and we could attract more managers, as well," Zahradník said.

Although money is not at stake in the league, the otherwise money-oriented businessmen still treat the competition seriously.

"It would have to be a big business deal to force me to withdraw from a tournament. I know about the tournaments two months ahead," Zahradník said. "If someone wanted to schedule a business meeting at that time, he would have to wait. We'd meet another day."

František Bouc can be reached at
fbouc@praguepost.com