By Ruslan Chikov

WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm (37-2-2, 16 KOs) is open to a unification bout with WBO beltholder Dmitry Pirog. (19-0, 15KOs). On Friday in Cologne, Sturm stopped former WBC champion Sebastian Zbik (30-2, 10 KOs) in nine rounds.

Pirog is scheduled to return on May 1 in Russia against Nobuhiro Ishida of Japan. Should Pirog win, he is possibly going to face IBF champion Daniel Geale on an August date in the United States.

"Dmitry Pirog is a high-class boxer. I wouldn't rule out a fight a with him," Sturm told Artem Sergienko.