The verbal skirmish between WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm and mandatory challenger Sebastian Sylvester came to a head on Monday in advance of their grudge match on Saturday’s huge “Universum Champions Night” event at the König Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen. The psychological warfare continued during the third and final press conference at the Coca-Cola Oasis in the Oberhausener CentrO as once again the fighters refused to pose together for photographers or even shake hands..
This highly anticipated fight will headline the „Universum Champions Night“ on November 1 at the König-Pilsener-ARENA in Oberhausen. Universum world champion Felix Sturm said: „After six weeks of endurance training in Cologne and four weeks of technique training and sparring in Hamburg with my trainer Michael Timm, I can hardly wait to get in the ring to implement everything that we have trained to do.“ Sebastian Sylvester commented: „Everything is great with me. I have nothing to lose and look forward to the world championship fight. I believe in myself. He cannot run away for twelve rounds – sometime he’ll have to make a stand.“ Previously the world champion and his mandatory challenger had exchanged some biting commentary (for example, Sturm saying that Sylvester has neither the intellect or level to beat him).
The bout has ignited the interest of German fight fight fans as this will be the first world championship fight between two German boxers in over eight years (the last being in April 2000 when Dariusz Michalczewski stopped Graciano Rocchigiani). Of the 8,000 tickets originally available, only about 500 remain.
Felix Sturm, who finished off his sparring phase in Hamburg last week, received an additional praise by his coach Michael Timm: “During the preparations, everything was better than expected. Felix lives for the sport, and always wants to become better and fine tunes his technique meticulously again and again. He is in an extremely good state of fitness – better than ever before.” Sylvester-Trainer Hartmut Schröder: „We are delighted to become world champions on November 1! We want to win and will do everything we’ve been studying to fight against Felix, er Adnan.“
WBO world champ Sergej Dzinziruk defends his belt against Joel Julio of Columbia
Unbeaten Universum junior middleweight world champ Sergej Dzinziruk will feature in a second tantalizing world title fight, when he defends his title against KO artist Joel Julio (34-1, 31 KOs). WBO #2 rated Julio is seen as a tough challenge. The WBO-Latino-Champion lives and trains in the USA and has an incredible record for this weight division with 31 ko wins in 35 bouts. Sergej´s Trainer Michael Timm: „The record speaks for itself. This is a very difficult task, but Sergei is very highly focused.“
Other notables in action will be include the unbeaten spotlight boxing fighter Marcos Rene Maidana (24-0-0 (23)). The Argentinean junior welterweight is the current WBA #1 and underlines his amazing skills with a fantastic record of 23 Knockouts wins in 24 fights.
Highly touted spotlight boxing heavyweight Vladimir Tereshkin (8-0-1 (5)), now trained by Michael Timm, who will be making his tenth professional start. Rounding out the card are light heavyweight Patrick Dobroschi (7-0-0 (2)), heavyweight Christian Hammer who will have his pro debut and super featherweight prospect Jesus Marcelo Andres Cuellar (3-0-0 (3)).
The fight „Sturm vs. Sylvester“ will be shown LIVE on ZDF from 10.00 pm.
The final tickets for this „Universum Champions Night“ are available at:
Universum Ticket Hotline: +49 40-696 559 59
CTS-Eventim Hotline: +49 1805-570 000
or at www.boxing.de
Dunne set for acid test with world rated Garcia
World rated Eduardo “Bambino” Garcia has promised to derail Bernard Dunne’s world title ambitions when they clash on the Hunky Dorys Fight Night at the Breaffy House Resort, Castlebar on November 15th. The Mexican dangerman looks set to provide Dunne with an acid test of his world title credentials when they clash in County Mayo and Garcia is in no doubt about the outcome.
The 28-year-old said, “I have heard about Dunne and watched some of his fights on the internet. He is a good fighter but I believe I am simply better and I think he will be a great stepping stone for me to a world title. I want to join the list of great Mexican world champions and I know a win over Dunne should get me a world title fight.
“I was surprised to get the call for this fight because I have proved again and again in my career that I can travel to a fighters backyard and spoil the party. In fact in my last 3 fights I have upset the local fighter and I plan to do the same again this time.”
Certainly Garcia is not afraid to travel, two years ago he lost out on points in a bid for the WBA super flyweight title in Japan but he is unbeaten since then including impressive wins on the road in Canada and Russia.
Reflecting on his gallant but unsuccessful bid for Nobuo Nashiro’s WBA title in Japan in 2006 Garcia said, “I think that chance came too soon for me and my inexperience showed. I hurt the champion badly in the tenth but I ran out of time to finish him and the judges decision did not go my way. I was also struggling with the weight and am a lot more comfortable at super bantamweight. I’m 28 now and I think I’m at my peak and ready for any of the world champions out there.”
The Naucalpan native’s last outing in Canada saw him fight a controversial 10 round draw with local favourite Oliver Lontchi for the North American super bantamweight title. “I know I beat Lontchi,” said Garcia. “Even his own fans knew that I won the fight but the judges still scored it a draw but I believe everything happen for a reason and the bad decisions I have had in my career have only made me stronger and more determined to become world champion.”
Certainly the draw with Lontchi did not harm Garcia’s impressive world ratings. He’s ranked number 7 by the WBC and 15 with the IBF and he believes a win over Dunne will hand him a second world title opportunity.
“Dunne is also a world rated fighter so after I beat him I hope that will be good enough to make me a mandatory challenger for the world title. I know I won’t make any mistakes second time around.”
Promoter Brian Peters admits that Dunne’s encounter with Garcia is a high stakes gamble but he’s confident that the Dubliner is ready for it.
“It’s obviously a risk but we’re hoping that it will prove a calculated one because it is effectively a world title eliminator. We wanted a world ranked fighter for Bernard and we’ve got one and this guys are real live wire. If I’m honest he wouldn’t have been the first choice on our list but guys like Oliver Lontchi, Bryan Vazquez, Gary Stark, Sergio Medina and Ceferino Labarda all turned down the fight.
“This guy is the definition of a dangerman. He’s derailed quite a few fighters with world title ambitions so he’s going to be a real acid test for Bernard. If Bernard can come through this then I think he he’ll have proved beyond doubt that he’s ready for a World title fight.”
An action packed supporting lineup is headed by local hero Henry “The Western Warrior” Coyle who faces Birmingham’s Delroy “Sweet D” Mitchell while another intriguing matchup will see Lurgan welterweight Stephen Haughian look to avenge last years controversial IBF Inter Continental title defeat to Italy’s Giamario Grassellini.
Also in action is Galway born welterweight prospect John O’Donnell, as he looks to continue his impressive recent form. Tyrone’s Damian Taggart also features alongside Irish – Canadian lightweight prospect Logan McGuinness while Brendan Ingle’s latest protégé, Steve Barnes makes his pro debut.
Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night are on sale from Ticketmaster (phone 0818 719 300 or visit ticketmaster.ie). Tickets are also available from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.
Western Warrior set to go to war with Mitchell
Birmingham’s Delroy “Sweet D” Mitchell is promising an uncomfortable homecoming for Henry Coyle when the two clash in a Light Middleweight 10 rounder at the Breaffy House Resort, Castlebar, Co. Mayo on the Hunky Dorys Fight Night on November 15th.
Coyle, the “Western Warrior” from Geesala in County Mayo relocated to Chicago last year to launch his pro career having been Irish Senior Champion as an amateur. He returns to his native county on November 15th for his first professional fight on Irish soil as the chief support to Bernard Dunne who takes on world rated Mexican Eduardo Garcia.
Mitchell though is hoping to make it a night to forget for Mayo fans and spoil the homecoming for Coyle by defeating the local hero. Both men have similar records with Coyle having won all but one of his nine professional outings while Mitchell has eight wins from ten outings.
Coyle should have the edge in power having maintained an incredible 100% knockout ratio so far by halting all eight of his victims inside the distance. “Sweet D” will be hoping his boxing ability can shine through against Coyle. The Birmingham man is trained by former World super middleweight champion Ritchie Woodhall and he also trains alongside current Irish middleweight champ Matthew Macklin.
Macklin says he’s expecting fireworks on November 15th. “I think it will be a great fight. I’ve sparred them both and they are both excellent fighters. Henry’s very, very strong and he’ll obviously have great support with the fight being so close to home for him but Dee’s got great boxing ability and he can mix it up too when he needs to. I can’t really pick a winner but it should be a great scrap because they’re both exciting fighters.”
Another intriguing matchup on the card sees Lurgan welterweight Stephen Haughian look to avenge last years controversial IBF Inter Continental title defeat to Italy’s Giamario Grassellini.
Also in action is Galway born welterweight prospect John O’Donnell, as he looks to continue his impressive recent form. Tyrone’s Damian Taggart also features alongside Irish – Canadian lightweight prospect Logan McGuinness while Brendan Ingle’s latest protégé, Steve Barnes makes his pro debut.
Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night are on sale from Ticketmaster (phone 0818 719 300 or visit ticketmaster.ie). Tickets are also available from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.