It's a big night at the fights at the Koenig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen tonight as two world title fights and a massive Argentine puncher headed for the world stage are on tap.

Headlining bout is a massive German showdown between WBA Middleweight Champion Felix Sturm, 30-2-1 (13), defending against current European Champion Sebastian Sylvester, 29-2 (14).

Griefswald based Sylvester lost his first pro bout but then stormed to 21 straight wins and the European title before being stopped by undefeated Finn Amin Asikainen in 2006. Sylvester got back on the horse to win a brace of regional belts before regaining the European crown by stopping Asikainen just over a year since their initial contest.

Since that time the 28 year old "Hurrikan" has defended the Continental trophy three times, knocking out former world light middle and middleweight champion Javier Castillejo in the final round in April during a WBA title eliminator.

Sylvester will be giving up four inches in height to the nearly six foot tall Sturm but may face an even larger gulf to cross in terms of experience. Sturm has the WBO Middleweight titlist in 2003-2004, only losing the belt in controversial fashion to Oscar De La Hoya.

The 29 year old Sturm returned in 2006 to outbox slugger Maselino Masoe for the WBA title, only to lose it on a first defense when stopped in the 10th round by Castillejo. Sturm took a close decision to regain the title a year later in a rematch with the veteran Spaniard.

Sturm has retained the WBA belt four times during his second reign, including a draw against and decision over America's Randy Griffin, but will have to be in top fitness to stick and move for what will likely turn out to be 12 fast paced rounds against the swarming Sylvester.

WBO Light Middle kingpin Dzinziruk, 35-0 (22), will also have a height advantage over his challenger, Joel Julio, 34-1 (31), the WBO Latino supremo, and like Sturm, is the favorite to retain his title.

32 year old Dzinziruk held the European title for two defenses before shocking WBO Light Middle Champion Daniel Santos in late 2005, dropping the fellow southpaw in the eighth before winning a decision.

Since then the Hamburg based Ukrainian hasn't been the busiest of champs but has defended the belt four times, most recently win a difficult majority decision win over Lukas Konecny in April.

Miami based Colombian Julio first came to notice during a tough loss to future WBO Welter Champ Carlos Quintana during a WBC/WBO Latino title clash in 2006. The 23 year old slugger has since racked up seven straight victories including hard fought wins against Cosme Rivera, Ishe Smith and Jose Varela.

Like his stablemate Sturm, Dzinziruk will have to avoid trench warfare during this title defense but unlike his stablemate, Dzinziruk faces a much bigger puncher and must avoid trading with Julio.

Argentine light welterweight Marcos Rene Maidana, 24-0 (23), also makes an appearance, staying busy against Mexican veteran Silverio Ortiz, 19-11 (9). The 25 year old from Buenos Aires is nearing a world title shot and will be fighting in Germany for the fifth time over the last 16 months.

Share/Save | (0) comments | Add your comments
Click to read more boxing articles by Hermann Helmut

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Boxing In Germany: Sturm, Dzinziruk Retain World Titles

  On a big night at the fights at Koenig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen last evening, Felix Sturm and Segiy Dzinziruk handled dangerous opponents and retained world titles. Sturm, 36-0 (22), >
  
  

• European Boxing News: Sturm Defeats Griffin In Rematch, Retains WBA Title

  By Per Ake Persson WBA Middle Champ Felix Sturm retained the title with an impressive display of slick, sharp boxing against American challenger Randy Griffin in the headliner of Universum´s show >
  
  

• Boxing In Germany: Sylvester Regains European Title In Zwickau

  In a rematch to their riveting first fight a year ago, middleweights Amin Asikainen and Sebastian "Hurrikan" Sylvester went at it hammer and tongs last night at the Stadhalle in >
  
  

• European Boxing News: Chagaev, Valuev, Murat, Sylvester, Solis, Hide

  By Per Ake Persson Sauerland Event have acted quickly to the news that WBA Heavyweight Champ Ruslan Chagaev is injured and are asking for either Chagaev to be stripped of the >
  
  

• Boxing Result: Sturm Draws With Griffin To Keep WBA strap

  WBA Middleweight Champion Felix Sturm had a close call last night at Gerry Weber Stadium in Halle, Germany as challenger Randy Griffin pushed the popular Hamburg man hard for twelve >
  
  

• Sturm Set for March Fight.

  Former WBO middleweight world champion Felix Sturm is set to return to the ring in March against an opponent yet to be determined at the Wilhelm-Dopatka-Halle, Leverkusen, Küppersteg in his >
  
  

• Boxing Result: Sturm Squeeks Past Gevor In Close WBA Title Fight

  WBA middleweight champion Felix Sturm once again had a subpar performance in a title defense and was lucky to walk out of Nuerburgring Race Track with his world title still >
  
  

• Potential Boxing Showdown: Sergiy Dzinziruk vs. Wayne Alexander

  WBO Light Middle Champ Victorious Saturday, May Face Wayne Alexander Next Sergiy "Razor" Dzinziruk disposed of Russian opponent Alisultan Nadirbegov last Saturday at the Brandeberge Arena in Halle, Germany via >
  
  

• European Boxing News: Solis, Yefimovich, Kessler, Baysangurov, Moore, Piccirillo

  By Per Ake Persson Cuban heavy Odlanier Solis face American Chauncy Welliver for the vacant WBC Int´l title October 11 in Berlin in a supporting bout to Klitschko vs Peter. The >
  
  

• Trinidad-Sturm on the Horizon.

  "Be careful what you wish for, because you might just get it." Words that can be duly applied to the current life and times of German middleweight Felix Sturm. Sturm >
  
  

---

Boxing News Tags: , Dzinziruk, Felix Sturm, Joel Julio, Sebastian Sylvester