Felix Sturm Retires After Granit Stein Wins Split Decision

The former five-time world champion closed his 25-year career with a hard-fought defeat after Stein controlled the pace in Stuttgart

Felix Sturm’s 25-year professional career ended Saturday night with a split-decision defeat to Granit Stein in Stuttgart. Stein’s pressure and sustained work rate denied the former five-time world champion a winning farewell in the final fight of his career.

The event, promoted as “One Last Dance,” served as Sturm’s promised farewell after more than two decades as one of Germany’s most successful fighters. It also showed the difference between the champion who once competed with the world’s best and the veteran who stepped into the ring for the final time.

Sturm moved more deliberately than he had during his championship years and wasn’t able to match Stein’s pace over long stretches of the fight. Stein took advantage from the opening bell.

The 33-year-old pressure fighter denied Sturm the space needed to establish his jab, staying in front of him with steady pressure, body work, and combinations that forced the former champion to fight at a higher pace than he preferred.

Sturm still showed flashes of the technique that carried him to multiple world titles. He landed counters at times, but Stein continued moving forward and throwing enough punches to keep Sturm from settling into a consistent pattern.

Neither fighter scored a knockdown, and the fight went the scheduled 10 rounds before going to the judges.

Stein’s activity, however, consistently forced Sturm to work, making it difficult for him to control the pace.

Two judges scored the contest 95-94 and 96-95 for Stein, while the third favored Sturm, 96-93, awarding Stein the split-decision victory.

The win improved Stein to 21-2-1 (11 KOs) and marked the biggest victory of his career after entering the bout off a split-decision defeat in his previous outing.

Sturm retired with a final record of 45-7-3 (20 KOs) after winning world titles across multiple reigns and becoming one of Germany’s most recognizable boxing champions. Following the decision, the hometown crowd remained on its feet, applauding him as he left the ring for the last time.

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