25.01.07 – Sauerland Event have added the vacant IBF super-middleweight clash between Robert Stieglitz and Alejandro Berrio to their March 3 fight card after winning one of the closest purse bids of all time. Sebastian Sylvester will also take on Amin Asikainen in a re-match for the European middleweight title, while German heavyweight Timo Hoffmann returns to action for the first time since his impressive victory over Cengiz Koc last November..
26-year-old Sylvester (24-2, 11 KOs) can´t wait to get back in the ring with unbeaten Asikainen (19-0, 14 KOs), who stopped the German talent in the eighth round of their fight last June. “Ever since this loss I have just had one single goal: I want to make up for this defeat. I can´t forget this day. I want to and I have to redeem myself,” Sylvester vowed.
The “Hurricane” has wasted no time to put his career back on track. He defeated Frank Mezaache to win the WBA Intercontinental Title and also stopped Peter Mitrevski Junior in round eight with a thunderous right. “I am ready for Asikainen,” said Sylvester.
Also in Rostock, Robert Stieglitz (29-0, 19 KOs) will be looking to stop Alejandro Berrio for a second time. Back in December 2005, he scored an 11th-round TKO-victory over his hard-hitting opponent (25-4, 24 KOs). This time, however, it will be for the vacant IBF super-middleweight title which Joe Calzaghe had vacated last November. “I know what I have to do,” Stieglitz said. “Winning the first fight is certainly an advantage. I want to stop him again.”
Team Sauerland had edged Universum Box Promotion by just $1.638 to win the purse bid by the closest of all margins ($614.444 vs. $612.806). “I am very happy that the fight will be staged in Germany,” said Magdeburg-based Stieglitz.
The “German Oak” Timo Hoffmann will also make his first fight in the new year in Rostock. The heavyweight last November redeemed his career with a clear points victory over Cengiz Koc.