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Two IBF title belts are on offer tonight at Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenburg as the middleweight and vacant cruiserweight crowns are fought over.
Former IBF cruiser king Steve Cunningham, 22-2 (11), of America, gets a chance at regaining his old title when he meets 34 year old Canadian southpaw Troy Ross, 23-1 (16), over 12 scheduled rounds.
Both fighters are of similar age, Cunningham is 33, and have nearly identical records on paper but that is where the similarities end.
Cunningham is far more experienced, having fought in four world title fights, winning two while losing two and is coming off a wide points verdict over ex-world champ Wayne Braithwaite a year ago.
Ross, a former Commonwealth and Canadian champ, has never been close to facing world class competition and most recently produced a first round KO of veteran Daniel Bispo in December.
The much shorter Ross, a former light heavyweight, must overcome Cunningham’s size and reach advantages by pressure and get on the inside if he is to walk away with the IBF title around his waist.
That could prove difficult to pull off as Cunningham has a decided edge in skills and will likely outbox his rival over the course of twelve rounds to once again wear the IBF crown.
Also on the bill, IBF middleweight titlist Sebastian Sylvester, 33-3 (16), faces the challenge of ex-IBF light middle ruler Roman Karmazin, 40-3-1 (26).
Sylvester is making the second defense of his title and is coming off a tenth round stoppage of American Billy Lyell in January.
Karmazin is far more experienced an opponent for Sylvester but at age 37, it’s open to discussion as to whether or not he still has enough in the tank to deal with the high volume tactics of the shorter, younger champion.
If Karmazin can keep distance and box, he could pull off the upset but if he runs out of gas against the “Hurrikan”, it looks like a failed title challenge.
