Next month’s clash between former two time World Boxing Organization super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz (47-4, 27 KOs) and former IBF/WBA middleweight title holder Felix Sturm (39-4-2, 18 KOs) on November 8th will determine which of these two fighters will be getting a world title shot against WBO super middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (41-4, 28 KOs) in 2015.
Abraham will likely be fighting a needless rematch against British fighter Paul Smith next to clear up the controversy surrounding their fight last September in Germany. Abraham won that fight by a 12 round unanimous decision, but Smith and many of his boxing fans felt that he’d done enough to deserve a win or a draw. Having seen the same fight, I don’t think Smith did nearly enough to get a win in that fight.
Hearn’s promoter Eddie Hearn appealed to the WBO to get Smith installed as the mandatory challenger for Abraham so that he can get an immediate rematch. However, Abraham’s promoter Kalle Sauerland is already in negotiations with Hearn to schedule a rematch between Abraham and Smith. That fight will likely take place in early 2015.
It’s a no brainer for Abraham, because it gives him another title-milking fight and keeps him from having to fight someone that could potentially beat him like Gilberto Ramirez. Smith will likely lose again, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s knocked out.
The Sturm-Stieglitz fight will take place at the Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
Abraham has made it clear that he wants to fight the 35-year-old Sturm next. Abraham has already fought Stieglitz three times so there’s nothing new he can gain from fighting him yet again. The two of them have been going around and circles with back and forth fights for the past two years, it’s already become forlorn. However, the chances are extremely high that Abraham will end up facing Stieglitz again rather than Sturm because Sturm appears to be a shot fighter. His losses to Sam Soliman have kind of proven that.
“I want to meet Felix Sturm at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. That’s what I am dreaming of,” Abraham said to ESPN.com.
Sturm still has a good jab and decent power, but his stamina and work rate are horrible. He’s definitely not going to beat Stieglitz unless he suddenly improves in those two areas. Stiegltiz might be a mediocre fighter, but he’s got more than enough skills to beat an old shopworn fighter like Sturm.
