Jamie Pittman: "I Will Dethrone Felix Sturm"

The boxing highlight of this event will be the battle of WBA middleweight world champion Felix Sturm who will be challenge by the unbeaten Australian WBA #13 middleweight contender Jamie Pittman. After an 8 months injury break the WIBF world champion Julia Sahin returns to the ring for another title defence. She will face the Puerto Rican Yahaira Martinez.
 
Felix Sturm (28-2-1 (12) is a busy man when it comes to boxing in the last year. He dethroned the Spaniard Javier Castillejo in a Rematch in April 2007 and secured the WBA belt for the second time before risking it again just eight weeks after in Stuttgart against the unbeaten Noe Tulio Gonzalez Alcoba of Uruguay. The thrilling battle of Felix Sturm with his mandatory challenger Randy “The Gentleman” Griffin in Halle/Westfalen in October 2007 fascinated the crowd. In front of 5100 spectators at the Gerry-Weber-Stadion and over 6.5 viewers on TV this encounter ended in a draw after 12 spectacular rounds.
 
After a 5 months break Sturm is now ready to return and have his first fight in Düsseldorf where he will risk his belt once again. With the Australian Jamie Pittman (16-0-0 (7)), also known as „Mr. Business“, he faces a southpaw and it will certainly be another tough challenge. The 26 year old WBO Asia-Pacific Champion and WBA will have his first fight in Europe after a winning streak in his native home of Australia.
 
Sturm, Pittman and the other featured fighters spoke at today's prefight press conference.
 
Felix Sturm: "I've had three months preparation and feel excellent. With Pittman, I have a top opponent before me who is also very big and a southpaw. In any case, as always, I am prepared to go twelve rounds. The people who have a ticket for this nearly sold out promotion will see a great performence from me. We've incorporated something new in the preparation and my motivation could't be greater. I'm fighting for my team and my large family. Becoming a world champion is easier than always having to defend it against hungry challengers."
 
Trainer Michael Timm: "As always, it was nice to work with Felix. He is always improving and gets the most out of his body. He is fully focused and will fight professionally. We've battened down the hatches and have not had any distractions."
 
Jamie Pittman: "I've already been in Germany four times at amateur tournaments. I have great respect for Felix as a world champion, but I am hungrier than Felix. My passion is boxing and with fitness, a lot of heart and hunger, I will dethrone Felix. My nickname 'Mr. Business' comes from my very professional attitude which I bring to my business of boxing." 

Julia Sahin is looking forward to her "hometown crowd"
 
WIBF world champion Julia „Sunshine“ Sahin (19-0-0 (2)) has defended her belt for the last time in July 2007 in Düsseldorf and had to undertake a longer break. Sahin, who was given a leave of absence from her job with the Cologne Rapid Transit, will be returning after recovering from operations on both knees. After a series of operations she is now back and preparing for her third title defence.
 
Her opponent Yahaira Martinez (7-1-0 (4)) comes from Puerto Rico and will be a tough challenge from Central America. She also fights in the unusual southpaw style. Düsseldorf is always in good memory for Julia Sahin. She was celebrated by the crowd in January 2007 when she claimed the WIBF belt at jr. flyweight and in her last fight in Düsseldorf when she defeated Anstasia Toktaulova.
 
Julia Sahin: "I'm looking forward to Dusseldorf, particularly because of the good memories of my fights that I had here. My fitness is complete again. Among other things, I had two good sparring partners and a very realistic fight preparation."
 
Trainer Michael Timm: "Julia is a great fighter. She survived two operations with a lot of fighting spirit."
 
Yahaira Martinez: "I haven't had a big preparation as I have been boxing my whole life. I will take the title and send Julia Sahin into a well-deserved retirement. Then she can return fulltime to her employer."
 
Jürgen Brähmer will feature in a light heavyweight bout
 
Also, #1 rated super middleweight Jürgen Brähmer (30-1, 24 KOs) will face Frenchman Karim Bennama (17-9-2, 4 KOs).
 
Jürgen Brähmer: "I'm having a fight at light heavyweight to see how I feel there. So this time I don't need to concentrate on making the weight."
 
In other action, German super welter titleholder Maurice Weber (10-0, 3 KOs) faces Daniel Käfer (8-3-2, 4 KOs) in a rematch. Weber previously won a decision over Käfer.
 
Also scheduled are unbeaten middleweight Gennady Golovkin (10-0, 9 KOs) against Ian Gardner (20-3, 8 KOs), unbeaten heavyweight Vladimir Tereshkin (8-0, 5 KOs) has his toughest opponent in Adnan Serin (19-8, 7 KOs), cruiserweight Patrick Dobroschi (4-0, 1 KO) goes against Stefan Stanko (5-54, 5 KO), local heavyweight Markus Tomala makes his pro debut against Marek Zelo (2-17-4, 1 KO) and the comeback of Manuel Charr (7-0, 4 KOs) begins against Aleksandrs Selezens (1-2). Charr is now being trained by Fritz Sdunek.
 
Except for a few single tickets, the event is sold out.