Expert technical boxer Felix Sturm was a mainstay within the middleweight division for over a decade, successful three variations of the 160-pound title earlier than stepping as much as tremendous middleweight to develop into a two-weight titleholder.
Sturm’s dad and mom emigrated from Bosnia and Herzegovina to Germany within the early Seventies. Sturm, whose birthname is Adnan Catic, was their solely little one and was born within the small metropolis of Leverkusen, Germany on January 31, 1979.
When Sturm was 11 he took up boxing and it shortly grew to become the focus in his life.
“The most effective half about Leverkusen was the boxing faculty,” Sturm informed The Ring. “My previous coach realized boxing in Cuba. I realized a lot from this previous coach.
“I skilled almost day-after-day after faculty, from 5 p.m. till 8:30. Practically each weekend we had been in a combat. I by no means had time to do silly issues. I used to be by no means considering smoking, alcohol, or celebration. For me, it was solely boxing… concentrate on boxing.”
Sturm excelled as an novice. He was the European junior champion in 1997 and as a senior claimed the highest prize on the 2000 European championships. In between he gained two German nationwide titles and fought on the 1999 World Championships earlier than showing on the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
“The Olympics are particular,” stated Sturm. “I misplaced to [future undisputed middleweight titleholder] Jermain [Taylor in the quarter-finals]. Irrespective of, it was a fantastic expertise. It doesn’t matter in case you are a boxer or in one other sport, it’s an enormous dream to go to the Olympic video games.”
Sturm, who had 186 novice fights, successful roughly 175 of them, turned skilled in early 2001.
The younger fighter’s profession moved easily and following 18 straight wins, he was supplied a life-changing alternative. Bert Schenk was injured simply 10 days earlier than his WBO middleweight title problem towards Hector Javier Velazco.
Sturm instantly stepped in to fill the void.
“On the Monday earlier than the combat they knowledgeable me that I can combat for the middleweight title,” he recalled. “They requested me if I’m prepared and I stated, ‘Sure.’ I had simply three weeks preparation.
“The man was robust. It was a fantastic combat and within the final two rounds I simply tried to outlive, however it was my first world championship. It was a little bit bit unusual since you put together for an eight-round combat and then you definitely combat a world championship combat – it’s like a dream. It was an enormous likelihood, and I gained the world title (through 12-round cut up choice).”
After one title protection he was supplied the chance to face the then five-weight world champion and boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya in June 2004.
“At the moment he was the most important star in boxing,” acknowledged Sturm, who acquitted himself extraordinarily properly however dropped a extremely controversial 12-round unanimous choice.
“This was construct up for a combat with [Bernard] Hopkins [for the undisputed middleweight championship.] De La Hoya thought it was a straightforward combat for him as a result of I used to be a younger child.
“I got here to Las Vegas to win, to indicate the folks I’m ready for giant fights. It’s nonetheless my largest and finest combat. It was a pleasure to combat in Las Vegas and share the ring with Oscar. For me, inside and out of doors the ring, it was a fantastic expertise.”
Sturm (left) misplaced the WBO middleweight title to Oscar De La Hoya. Picture by Jed Jacobsohn/ Getty Photos)
Unperturbed by the setback, Sturm harnessed that have to win 4 fights earlier than relieving Maselino Masoe of his WBA 160-pound title through 12-round unanimous choice in March 2006.
Sturm was on target to retain his title for the primary time towards former WBC junior middleweight titlist Javier Castillejo when the wily Spanish veteran got here from behind to cease him in Hamburg, Germany in July 2006.
However the former champ used this second profession defeat to provoke himself and rebounded to finest Castillejo in a rematch.
“When he beat me it was my fault,” defined Sturm. “After the primary spherical I assumed it might be a straightforward job. Within the second spherical I used to be on the ground. It was my first and solely time [that I was] knocked down after which I misplaced by TKO [in Round 10.] Javier was an excellent fighter – a really robust, skilled fighter. He was a really sturdy man, he was good and an influence puncher, tough to combat.
“It was an excellent expertise, generally a loss is value greater than a win. I’m grateful for this combat and because of God, I gained the rematch and have become a three-time world champion.”
Having regained his championship, Sturm went on to make 12 profitable defenses towards the likes of future IBF beltholder Sebastian Sylvester (UD 12), Matthew Macklin (SD 12) and Martin Murray (D 12).
When Sturm seems again on the fights together with his British challengers, Macklin and Murray, he is aware of they may have gone towards him.
“The Macklin combat was shut,” he acknowledged. “I gained – and I’m trustworthy – as a result of the combat was in Germany. Most likely in England I’d lose that combat.
“The Murray combat, it was an in depth combat, however I gained the rounds with cleaner photographs. It was a little bit bit unusual that it was a draw however it’s OK.”
Sturm tried to unify with IBF titlist Daniel Geale however misplaced a 12-round cut up choice in Oberhausen, Germany in September 2012.
“It was an in depth combat however I misplaced,” admitted Sturm. “I used to be very disenchanted as a result of we had a fantastic coaching camp and nice preparation. [But] two weeks earlier than the combat I had some issues. I didn’t wish to flip down the combat. I [thought], ‘I can beat him ailing.’ It was a fantastic efficiency by Daniel.”
After two fights, Sturm claimed the IBF title when he beat Darren Barker on an harm earlier than surprisingly shedding the belt to Sam Soliman in Might 2014.
Sturm (left) mixes it up with Sam Soliman.
Throughout his championship tenure Sturm was criticized in some quarters for not going through Gennadiy Golovkin.
“I like his type, however there have been greater and higher fights for me,” he stated. “I had completely different plans. It was completely different for him to be a star in Germany and that’s why he went to the U.S. and have become an enormous star and a fantastic fighter.”
Sturm elected to maneuver as much as tremendous middleweight, the place he fought Robert Stieglitz to a draw. He initially misplaced to WBA 168-pound beltholder Fedor Chudinov however gained the rematch.
“The second combat I gained on factors and have become a five-time world champion,” Sturm stated proudly. “It was one thing nice for me and a day that I’ll always remember. Each single title win was one thing particular. To return again after a loss is at all times one thing particular. Each loss is motivation and I got here again stronger.”
The German encountered some out the ring points which meant he didn’t combat for nearly 5 years.
“I used to be nine-months in jail for tax evasion,” Sturm stated overtly. “At the moment I’m a lot smarter. I’ve a really, superb lawyer. Up to now there was some issues with my tax advisor. They arrested me for tens of millions however it was a million. I used to be 9 months in jail. On the finish of the day, what occurred, occurred and I realized from that. Now all the things is nice. I don’t look again, I solely look ahead.”
Since leaving jail, Sturm has resumed his boxing profession with two wins and isn’t completed but.
“I’m simply going combat to combat,” defined Sturm (42-5-3, 18 knockouts). “I’m 30 years in boxing. Hopefully all the things can be high quality and there can be three or 4 extra fights, then I’ll step again for the youthful era. I’m just like the final warrior right here in Germany.”
Sturm, 42, is married and has two kids. He lives in Koln and has enterprise pursuits.
He graciously took time to talk to The Ring about the most effective he confronted in 10 key classes.
BEST JAB
Oscar De La Hoya: I used to be at all times the man with the most effective jab. [Out of my opponents] I’d say Oscar. He threw quite a lot of combos and he ready all the things with the jab.
BEST DEFENSE
Maselino Masoe: He was a harmful power-puncher together with his left hook and proper hand, and he additionally had an excellent protection. It was robust as a result of he was harmful. He was small for a middleweight and that additionally makes it robust to land a clear punch.
BEST HANDSPEED
De La Hoya: My handspeed is excellent, I’m quick, however his pace was actually quick. You needed to put him below strain to take management of his pace and energy. That was the important thing to beat Oscar De La Hoya. He wants strain from the skin, from distance, not inside. His pace was superb, he was very, very quick.
BEST FOOTWORK
De La Hoya: Masoe was good. Oscar after all.
SMARTEST
De La Hoya: Oscar was intelligent. From the ring IQ, I’d say Oscar.
STRONGEST
Robert Stieglitz: Stieglitz was bodily sturdy; it was my first combat at 168. He tried to place strain on. His downside was he didn’t wish to combat a man who boxed, who moved and used his jab.
BEST CHIN
Stieglitz: He took quite a lot of good punches.
BEST PUNCHER
Masoe: I by no means felt energy like Masoe. His energy was like a practice. He was very harmful. One time, he landed a left hook within the second or third spherical – I didn’t need any extra. I fought from the skin.
BEST BOXING SKILLS
De La Hoya: Oscar was particular together with his boxing expertise. The whole lot was good: his pace, mixture, energy punches, all the things.
BEST OVERALL
De La Hoya: He was an Olympic gold medalist, he had quite a lot of expertise. It was my first massive combat, my second title protection. He had fought so many nice fighters. He had nice trainers. Like I stated, his jab, his pace, his energy punches, his motion; that makes him a particular fighter. While you put all of it collectively, that makes him almost a whole fighter.
Questions and/or feedback may be despatched to Anson at [email protected] and you’ll comply with him on Twitter @AnsonWainwright
