By Jake Donovan

Confirming a story reported earlier this month on BoxingScene.com, Sauerland Event formally announced on Monday its having renewed its promotional contract with Arthur Abraham. The new deal in place will keep the reigning super middleweight title under its banner through end of year 2017. 

A deal was already agreed to in principle prior to his fourth fight with Robert Stieglitz. Abraham closed out the series at 3-1, scoring an emphatic 6th round knockout for the 4th successful defense of his second tour as a super middleweight titlist.

“Weeks before my last fight, it had already been agreed with a handshake that I would be extending my contact until the end of 2017,” Abraham (43-4, 29KOs) revealed. “But before signing, I wanted to prove to my team and my fans that I can still perform at the highest level. I proved that by beating Robert and now my signature is on the contract.”

The latest win over Stieglitz was Abraham’s most convincing of the series, enough to convince his promoter that there is plenty left to accomplish in his career.

“With his brilliant knockout against Stieglitz, Arthur has shown that he is still one of the best super middleweights on the planet,” said promoter Kalle Sauerland. “The hunger is still there and now it's time for him to cement his legacy.”

Abraham’s two super middleweight title reigns began with wins over Stieglitz, having scored a 12-round decision win in Aug. ’12, and then a split decision last March to avenge a 4th round injury stoppage in March ’13. 

The initial win of the series helped resurrect Abraham’s career, one believed to have been left in ruins after suffering three losses in the span of four fights. 

The Armenia-born boxer—who relocated to Germany in 1995 at age 15—was an unbeaten former middleweight titlist at the start of the Showtime Super Six World Boxing Classic. He entered with a bang, knocking out Jermain Taylor in the closing seconds of the 12th and final round of the very first fight of the 2 1/2-year long round robin tournament. 

It was believed to be the last great moment in his career by the time he dropped a 12-round decision to Andre Ward in May ’11. By then, Abraham had already suffered a disqualification loss to Andre Dirrell—his first defeat as a pro—and wound up on the wrong side of a lopsided decision in in his Nov. ’10 clash with Carl Froch. 

“The Super Six tournament may have come a little too early for me,” admits Abraham, who was the only fighter in the tournament who wasn’t actively campaigning as a super middleweight at the time. “But now, I have without a doubt arrived in the super middleweight division. I love challenges and I want to test myself against the very best. 

“My ultimate aim is (title) unifications. I want to prove that I’m number one in my weight class.”

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox