by James Slater – Dominican Republic-born Giovanni Lorenzo, 29-2(21), makes his second trip to Germany on September 4th, and when there the New York-based 29-year-old will challenge Felix Sturm for the WBA middleweight title.
Last September, Lorenzo fought a desperately close 12-round split decision with Sebastian Sylvester, in a fight that contested the vacant IBF 160-pound belt. This time, the warrior who has never once tasted the canvas feels his trip to Deutschland will be a highly successful one..
Very kindly taking a short break from training earlier today so as to speak about the upcoming fight with Sturm, 33-2-1(14), Giovanni (via his interpreter and trainer Ralph Paster) had the following things to say:
James Slater: It’s great to speak with you both ahead of the big fight. First of all, how has camp been, Giovanni?
G.L: I feel great, I had a great camp. I’ve had good sparring and now I’m ready – I’ve got to fight. I thank Sturm for this opportunity, but I will make the most of it.
J.S: Can I ask who you sparred with for this fight?
G.L: Some top amateurs, no big names. And then we finished working with Ishe Smith – you know him from “The Contender.” I’ve had around 80-rounds of sparring for this fight.
J.S: Have you and your trainer seen lots of Felix Sturm on tape? You know all about him and his style?
(trainer Ralph Paster): Well, I’ve looked at the Sturm- Javier Castillejo fight (from 2006- their first fight), where Sturm got stopped in the 10th-round; and that fight showed a lot. Felix Sturm is a good champion, and he got up in that fight, but still he got stopped. He showed a lot [of heart and desire] though. Sturm has also fought [Sebastian] Sylvester, and he beat him; so Sturm has shown consistency. To me, he has only lost once, to Castillejo. I feel Sturm beat Oscar De La Hoya, and that was back when De La Hoya was De La Hoya! So I, as a trainer, have a lot of respect for Sturm.
J.S: Are you and Giovanni happy to be going back to Germany, seeing as how you lost the last time over there, by very close split decision to Sylvester?
R.P: This fight is different to that, because the Sylvester fight was for the vacant title – it was up for grabs. Sturm is the [WBA] champ now, so we have to take it from him. He’s a busy fighter, more so than Sylvester. But we’ve been there already [fought for a world title before] and Giovanni is so ready for this.
J.S: You have no concerns about the judges in Germany favouring Sturm? After all, a lot of people thought Giovanni deserved the win over Sylvester.
R.P: I think the judges will do the right thing. Giovanni likes to go to Germany, because he and I like the crowd over there. Also, if you win the title in Germany – a place that is out of your comfort zone so to speak – you get the respect you deserve when you bring the title back. People know you earned it and is says a lot about you.
J.S: When will you leave for Germany?
R.P: This Thursday, so we will get there on the Friday a – a full week before the fight.
J.S: As you know, Sturm has been out for well over a year. Do you think ring rust will be a problem for him? And, without giving too much away, will Giovanni jump right on him so as to not to let him feel his way back in?
R.P: You’ll see two well-conditioned fighters in there. The inactivity could be a problem for Sturm, but we won’t see that until the fight progresses. Maybe Sturm will say things along those lines if he loses; that the layoff was too long and was the reason why he lost. So, yes, it could be a problem. But some fighters, after a long rest, it does them good.
J.S: Can you ask Giovanni what he thinks of Sturm’s “I hope Lorenzo last six-rounds” comment? I mean, Giovanni has never been stopped, yet Sturm has been stopped.
G.L: It’s easy to talk with your mouth, but the fight could last six-rounds, eight-rounds, twelve-rounds. We’ll both get in there and see who’s who, and what’s what. No way can you say how long the fight will last. It could last less than six-rounds – but of course, I believe that if it does, it will be in my favour. But he will say the same thing. We will see on the night.
J.S: Do you expect a KO, one way or the other?
R.P: I’m expecting a very hard fight. Condition-wise, Sturm has always been great. As for his chin, going by the Castillejo fight, he can be stopped, so his chin may be questionable. But Giovanni has never been stopped or even dropped, so on paper, Giovanni has the stronger chin. But we never know what will happen until the night.
J.S: It’s been great speaking to you both. Finally, how do you see the fight shaping up – do you see a chess-match or a “war” type of fight?
R.P: I don’t think it will be a chess-match. I believe the fight will catch fire inside a few rounds and whoever has the most fire will burn the most wood. I don’t really see too much of a technical fight. If Sturm gets in trouble I believe he will move a lot, but otherwise he will stand his ground. I think it will be a tremendous fight for the fans. Also, this is a tremendous opportunity for us, and it is one we will capitalise on. We will make the most of this opportunity.