By Mark Vester
The pressure in Germany is starting to build for a unification bout between WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm and IBF champion Arthur Abraham. Following last weekend's decision win over Sebastion Sylvester, Sturm and Universum head Klaus-Peter Kohl said they are ready for the fight if Abraham is. Kohl is not convinced that Abraham wants a piece of Sturm, basing that opinion on the amount of money they are being offered.
"Wilfried Sauerland [of Sauerland Event, Abraham's promoter] knows my telephone number. I wish Arthur Abraham all the best in his next fight. He should win it." Kohl told writer Thomas Dierenga.
An offer of $1.5 million Euro is on the table for Sturm to fight Abraham, but Kohl says the fight is worth a lot more money.
Abraham returns on November 8 in Germany, making a mandatory defense of his title against Raul Marquez. Before Kelly Pavlik was dominated by Bernard Hopkins on October 18, there was a lot of money in the United States for Pavlik-Abraham unification bout. At this point, a fight with Sturm in Germany is worth a lot more money than a fight with Pavlik in America.
Pavlik is scheduled to defend his WBC/WBO middleweight titles against Marco Antonio Rubio on February 21 and may take another fight or two before Abraham is in the picture. The winner of Abraham-Sturm would own half the belts in the division, setting up a major fight with Pavlik with all four titles at stake.
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com
