After all the fuss of the past years, Felix Sturm wants to become boxing world champion for the sixth time. But against a Hungarian, the career-ending gong could also strike.
Felix Sturm stared at his smartphone as the five-time boxing world champion strolled onto the podium in a black T-shirt.
The 43-year-old appeared composed and relaxed at the press conference before these all-important twelve rounds on Saturday. Either Sturm’s great career will be over for good, or he will reach for a world championship belt once more after all this time in court and in custody.
Boxing: Felix Sturm wants to know it again
“If you have the chance to fight for the world championship afterwards – I am 43, Istvan is almost 40 – you will be more motivated than ever before in your life. That’s why I take the subject extremely seriously. He is the most important opponent for me at the moment,” Sturm said about his heavily tattooed opponent.
The winner of the fight is scheduled to meet British IBO world champion Lerrone Richards in late summer.
The Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, where Sturm could crown himself champion for the sixth (!) time in his 21-year professional career, is being traded as the venue for the super-middleweight world championship duel.
“We train to win, that’s what we live for,” said Sturm, whose assault on the title certainly drew doubters.
Criticism and doubts – because of Sturm’s age
“You can’t do that at this age. It has nothing to do with boxing,” former world champion Dariusz Michalczewski told Bild.
One thing is certain: Both aging fighters are unlikely to get such an opportunity again – even if it is “only” for the title of the smaller IBO federation.
Memories of drama against Oscar de la Hoya
But at least it should feel a bit like it once did in 2004, when Sturm dominated the world championship duel against US star Oscar de la Hoya, losing unhappily but winning hearts.
Yes, back then boxing had a different status in Germany, to which Sturm contributed significantly in the years that followed. But he still wants to try again, even at an advanced age.
Dark chapter with arrest at fitness fair
Almost exactly three years ago, when Sturm was arrested at the FIBO fitness trade fair in Cologne, nobody would have given a thought to another world championship fight.
The gifted technician was in custody for over eight months on suspicion of tax evasion. Added to this were doping allegations linked to Sturm’s last fight for the time being in 2016 against Russian Fedor Chudinov, in which he regained the WBA title.
After that, Sturm had tested positive for the anabolic substance hydroxy-stanozolol. Sturm was sentenced to three years in prison in April 2020 for this anti-doping violation, which also earned him a charge of assault, as well as tax evasion.
In the meantime, the sentence has been reduced to two years and four months. It is not yet clear when he will have to serve it. Until then, Sturm will box. And possibly win title number six.
