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Sturm steering clear of Abraham
Tuesday, December 2, 2008 | Print Entry
Posted by Dan Rafael
For the past few years, one of the most obvious prospective matches in boxing is a fight between Arthur Abraham and Felix Sturm. Both fighters hail from boxing-mad Germany and hold middleweight belts. And they have intriguingly contrasting styles, Abraham being the puncher and Sturm the technician.
Every now and then, hopes build that maybe the two will meet to unify titles in what surely would be a major sporting event in Germany. But they're false hopes. Abraham fights for promoter Sauerland Event and Sturm is with Peter Kohl's Universum. Unfortunately, those groups get along about as well as Top Rank and Golden Boy did last year, when the promoters were suing each other for everything under the sun.
But earlier this month, Abraham's camp let the media know that it had offered Sturm 2.5 million euros (about $3.1 million U.S.) to make the fight for early next year. Abraham himself insisted that it wasn't a public relations ploy, that he really wanted the fight. "The offer is on the table," he said. "It was officially submitted in writing by our managing director [Chris Meyer]. This is as serious as it gets."
It's also a tremendous amount of money for Sturm, and it seemed like a legitimate first offer. But Kohl didn't see it that way, and he subsequently issued a statement dismissing the proposal:
"The questionable practice of Sauerland Event does not sit well with Universum Box-Promotion and Felix Sturm, and has not contributed to the realization of this explosive and complex fight," Kohl said. "For us it was not a serious offer, but an ultimatum.
"Therefore, we will initiate no negotiations with Arthur Abraham's team, particularly as the demanded basic conditions offer no possible alternative to our intention to promote this high-carat fight independently, if necessary."
Questionable practice? A company offers your client $3.1 million and it's a questionable practice? Kohl even admitted later in the statement that he wouldn't initiate negotiations. Why? If Sauerland Event offered $3.1 million, why not go back at them and at least ask for whatever it is that you want?
Because the truth is, the Sturm folks don't want the fight. Abraham is a great puncher with a tremendous chin. After watching Javier Castillejo, a non-puncher, knock out Sturm in the 10th round back in July 2006, Sturm's handlers should be wary of an opponent of Abraham's ability.
Kohl went on to say in the statement, "Unfortunately the fans have to wait a bit. We prefer instead a fight against Kelly Pavlik, who wears two world title belts. We have already made contact with his promoter, Bob Arum, and will first check our options for Felix in America."
First off, how long should the fans wait? How many years? Secondly, last I checked, Pavlik is supposed to make a mandatory defense against Marco Antonio Rubio in February. I am in touch with Pavlik's people regularly. Not once has Sturm's name come up as a legitimate and serious candidate to fight Pavlik.
I loved how Kohl ended his propaganda-like statement: "The fans know that Felix Sturm is the best middleweight in the world." That made me laugh. Sturm isn't even considered the best middleweight in his own country. That designation goes to Abraham.
Naturally, Sauerland Event had a response for Kohl. "I think it is a pity that there were no actions in support of Sturm's and Universum's big words," said Sauerland Event chief Wilfried Sauerland. "Our offer was serious and not an ultimatum. We submitted it in writing and stressed that there could be additional time for negotiations. It was our second official offer for Sturm -- the first one for 1.5 million euros has never been answered."
"We clearly showed which side wants to make this fight happen and which side is backing out," added Meyer, Sauerland Event's managing director. "The only thing that is not serious is the answer from Mr. Kohl, which came by press release and not by fax to us. He is kindly invited to make a counteroffer at any time. But that cannot really be expected. For us there is no doubt that Sturm is scared of King Arthur."
Sauerland and Meyer are right. They ended their response like this: "Team Sauerland wishes Universum and Felix Sturm best of luck for the negotiations with Kelly Pavlik's promoter Bob Arum."
The hilarious part is that Kohl and Sturm should know darned well that even if by some miracle they should land a fight with Pavlik, there will be nothing near $3.1 million in it for Sturm's side.
Their refusal to accept that kind of money for a fight that actually has been proposed just means they want no part of Abraham.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008 | Print Entry
Posted by Dan Rafael
For the past few years, one of the most obvious prospective matches in boxing is a fight between Arthur Abraham and Felix Sturm. Both fighters hail from boxing-mad Germany and hold middleweight belts. And they have intriguingly contrasting styles, Abraham being the puncher and Sturm the technician.
Every now and then, hopes build that maybe the two will meet to unify titles in what surely would be a major sporting event in Germany. But they're false hopes. Abraham fights for promoter Sauerland Event and Sturm is with Peter Kohl's Universum. Unfortunately, those groups get along about as well as Top Rank and Golden Boy did last year, when the promoters were suing each other for everything under the sun.
But earlier this month, Abraham's camp let the media know that it had offered Sturm 2.5 million euros (about $3.1 million U.S.) to make the fight for early next year. Abraham himself insisted that it wasn't a public relations ploy, that he really wanted the fight. "The offer is on the table," he said. "It was officially submitted in writing by our managing director [Chris Meyer]. This is as serious as it gets."
It's also a tremendous amount of money for Sturm, and it seemed like a legitimate first offer. But Kohl didn't see it that way, and he subsequently issued a statement dismissing the proposal:
"The questionable practice of Sauerland Event does not sit well with Universum Box-Promotion and Felix Sturm, and has not contributed to the realization of this explosive and complex fight," Kohl said. "For us it was not a serious offer, but an ultimatum.
"Therefore, we will initiate no negotiations with Arthur Abraham's team, particularly as the demanded basic conditions offer no possible alternative to our intention to promote this high-carat fight independently, if necessary."
Questionable practice? A company offers your client $3.1 million and it's a questionable practice? Kohl even admitted later in the statement that he wouldn't initiate negotiations. Why? If Sauerland Event offered $3.1 million, why not go back at them and at least ask for whatever it is that you want?
Because the truth is, the Sturm folks don't want the fight. Abraham is a great puncher with a tremendous chin. After watching Javier Castillejo, a non-puncher, knock out Sturm in the 10th round back in July 2006, Sturm's handlers should be wary of an opponent of Abraham's ability.
Kohl went on to say in the statement, "Unfortunately the fans have to wait a bit. We prefer instead a fight against Kelly Pavlik, who wears two world title belts. We have already made contact with his promoter, Bob Arum, and will first check our options for Felix in America."
First off, how long should the fans wait? How many years? Secondly, last I checked, Pavlik is supposed to make a mandatory defense against Marco Antonio Rubio in February. I am in touch with Pavlik's people regularly. Not once has Sturm's name come up as a legitimate and serious candidate to fight Pavlik.
I loved how Kohl ended his propaganda-like statement: "The fans know that Felix Sturm is the best middleweight in the world." That made me laugh. Sturm isn't even considered the best middleweight in his own country. That designation goes to Abraham.
Naturally, Sauerland Event had a response for Kohl. "I think it is a pity that there were no actions in support of Sturm's and Universum's big words," said Sauerland Event chief Wilfried Sauerland. "Our offer was serious and not an ultimatum. We submitted it in writing and stressed that there could be additional time for negotiations. It was our second official offer for Sturm -- the first one for 1.5 million euros has never been answered."
"We clearly showed which side wants to make this fight happen and which side is backing out," added Meyer, Sauerland Event's managing director. "The only thing that is not serious is the answer from Mr. Kohl, which came by press release and not by fax to us. He is kindly invited to make a counteroffer at any time. But that cannot really be expected. For us there is no doubt that Sturm is scared of King Arthur."
Sauerland and Meyer are right. They ended their response like this: "Team Sauerland wishes Universum and Felix Sturm best of luck for the negotiations with Kelly Pavlik's promoter Bob Arum."
The hilarious part is that Kohl and Sturm should know darned well that even if by some miracle they should land a fight with Pavlik, there will be nothing near $3.1 million in it for Sturm's side.
Their refusal to accept that kind of money for a fight that actually has been proposed just means they want no part of Abraham.
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