Tweet
Sturm to fight WBA champ Masoe!
Monday, January 2 2006
By Flattop
Former WBO middleweight champion Felix Sturm will challenge “world” WBA titleholder Maselino Masoe in early 2006. In December, Sturm rejected a potential fight with undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor. Sturm beat Jorge Sendra in June 2005 to win the WBA title eliminator; a mandatory defense by Masoe was scheduled on November 26th but Sturm suffered an injury to his left elbow. Sturm hopes to capture the WBA title to make a fight with Taylor – the “super” champion - not only an unavoidable mandatory but a showdown with more financial potential. Sturm is best known for losing his WBO title in a controversial decision to Oscar De La Hoya in June 2004. All three American judges scored the fight 115-113 for De La Hoya, although much of the American media had Sturm winning an equally close decision. With Taylor holding the WBC, WBA and WBO belts, plus the eminent retirement of long time king Bernard Hopkins, it becomes apparent that the 26 year old Sturm (24-1, 11 KOs) plus the newly crowned IBF champion 25 year old Arthur Abraham (19-0, 17 KOs) are the top challengers from the new generation, while the 34 year old Winky Wright – a 15 year veteran and two time world champion – is the most dangerous man at middleweight. Wright decisioned Sam Soliman in a competitive bout in December 2005 to win a WBC and IBF title eliminator, thus becoming a mandatory for Taylor. Shortly after Wright’s victory, the WBC instructed the camps of Taylor and Wright to begun negotiations. If no agreement is reached, the WBC will order a purse offer to be held on January 20th. Rumors are that Taylor could fight on HBO in April against Roman Karmazin or Sam Soliman before meeting Wright in a pay-per-view event in 2006.
Monday, January 2 2006
By Flattop
Former WBO middleweight champion Felix Sturm will challenge “world” WBA titleholder Maselino Masoe in early 2006. In December, Sturm rejected a potential fight with undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor. Sturm beat Jorge Sendra in June 2005 to win the WBA title eliminator; a mandatory defense by Masoe was scheduled on November 26th but Sturm suffered an injury to his left elbow. Sturm hopes to capture the WBA title to make a fight with Taylor – the “super” champion - not only an unavoidable mandatory but a showdown with more financial potential. Sturm is best known for losing his WBO title in a controversial decision to Oscar De La Hoya in June 2004. All three American judges scored the fight 115-113 for De La Hoya, although much of the American media had Sturm winning an equally close decision. With Taylor holding the WBC, WBA and WBO belts, plus the eminent retirement of long time king Bernard Hopkins, it becomes apparent that the 26 year old Sturm (24-1, 11 KOs) plus the newly crowned IBF champion 25 year old Arthur Abraham (19-0, 17 KOs) are the top challengers from the new generation, while the 34 year old Winky Wright – a 15 year veteran and two time world champion – is the most dangerous man at middleweight. Wright decisioned Sam Soliman in a competitive bout in December 2005 to win a WBC and IBF title eliminator, thus becoming a mandatory for Taylor. Shortly after Wright’s victory, the WBC instructed the camps of Taylor and Wright to begun negotiations. If no agreement is reached, the WBC will order a purse offer to be held on January 20th. Rumors are that Taylor could fight on HBO in April against Roman Karmazin or Sam Soliman before meeting Wright in a pay-per-view event in 2006.
As I have posted in another thread, this is a good one. The winner gets a shot at Taylor and the loser goes back to limbo. Two birds in one stone for Taylor, means he doesn't have to fight both, only the winner. 
And I'm praying that MASSOE knocks the hell out of Sturm. By then he'll probably realize what he has done to his career by refusing to fight Taylor now. 
to your mom..
Comment