20.02.04 – From sensational offer to fight date: The WBO middleweight championship of the world between titleholder Felix Sturm, 25, and superstar Oscar de la Hoya, 31, is set for June 5. No venue has been named yet. HBO will broadcast live, as well as ZDF TV as Universum’s partner in Germany.
Sturm, who had been in the training camp for his March 6 title fight against Kingsley Ikeke, immediately stopped his preparation and refocuses on de la Hoya. Said Sturm: “Oscar de la Hoya is my idol. I have seen so many of his fights on tape, but I will definitely show no respect in the ring. That’s what I promise. Let’s see if my best is good enough to fight the best.“ Trainer Michael Timm said: „What we need now is a little rest to digest this positive shock. Afterwards we will start a kind of work that will absolutely be the most wonderful in my career as trainer.”
The Universum fight night in Bochum on March 6 is cancelled. “It is sad, but with an offer like this we cannot take any risks”, said Jean-Marcel Nartz, Technical Director for Universum. “Due to the positive response and the huge interest we received from the people in Bochum and from our business partners we will definitely return to Bochum in the very near future with one of our events.”
In the U.S., Felix Sturm is hardly given any chance against de la Hoya. Although the technically skilled boxer with the smart moves is undefeated in 20 pro bouts (9 KOs) and has boxed 102 rounds, he is said to be the absolute underdog. Sturm won his title against Hector Velazco on September 13, 2003 in an undisputed unanimous decision – he took the fight on four days notice, although he was trained for eight rounds only. However, the planned fighter, Bert Schenk, had to pull out of the fight due to a biceps injury. Said Sturm: “I was very comfortable in this fight, because I didn’t have anything to lose. The late rounds were painful because my feet were bloody – but I took away Velazco’s title. I had not planned to fight for the title that fast, but sometimes you cannot choose.”
Trainer Timm said: “Felix is a title holder, now he’s becoming a real champion with the impressive title defense against Ruben Varon last December and his upcoming fight. He took a lot of pressure in an environment that is changing quickly and where old champions retire and the hunger for new faces forces talents to step in. He took responsibility for his colleagues in the Universum gym, too.”
Profile, record and photos of Felix Sturm on www.boxing.de