How do Sturm and Abraham get away with such shitty title defenses?

Sturm's opponents must be the worst of any fighter from a known division. Has anyone ever even heard of Randy Griffin, Noe Tulio Alcoba, Gavin Topp, Maseline Masoe and Jorge Sendra?

He's fucking useless and should be stripped of his title for bringing the WBA into disrepute.

And Arthur Abraham isn't much better. Since his war with Edison Miranda he's made it perfectly clear he intends to just sit on his belt for as long as possible by fighting club fighters. I mean come on, Alvin Ayala, Wayne Elcock, Koren Gevor. At least Sebastian Demer's was unbeaten at the time I guess but still this is poor opposition, not as bad as Sturm but it still sucks.

How in the world does he think he can get away with Alvin Ayala? At least Cotto and Calzaghe took on Contenders who did well on the show. Ayala didn't even make the series and lost twice to David Banks before earning a draw against Mora, who fought a career worst performance that night.

This must be the first time I can recall a man winning a world title shot off the back of two defeats and a draw.

It's not even like Ayalah is a name, it's just a bizarre choice of opponent.

Why not fight Sebastian Slyvestor or each other? These two belt holders, they cannot be called champions, are just dead wood in the middleweight ranks. They will never fight Kelly Pavlik, they will most likely never even fight each other.

They just contribute nothing to the middleweight division In Sturm's case I can understand as he's shit and will lost the second he fights a top 10 ranked guy but Abraham is talented. He could make some good money stateside and give Pavlik a hell of a fight.

But instead he wants to stay fighting in Europe against nobodies.:(

Because they earn great dough in Germany.. which obviously means they don't have to travel

Sturm has let his career faulter and has never really realised any potential. Since Castillejo KO'ed him, he has seemed too cautious and is scared to commit. He has talent, but I think he lacks confidence now.

Abraham will step up. He's pretty much the #2 in the division right now and has stated he intends to unify this year. He's mentioned Pavlik at the end of the year so here's hoping something materialises.

Well... I'm a fan of both guys,but that doesn't mean that I'm happy with the choice of opponents they fought...Both have the stuff to be worthy champions,its just a shame that their management isn't as confident as I am about that...and so they let them fight one voluntary defense after another...Thats not exactly true,Sturm fought Randy Griffin and AA fought Khoren Gevor last year and both were mandatory...
But there is a ray of hope...Sturm will face next the winner of Castillejo vs Sylvester(and yeah I know Casti again ?!?But lets not forget even being old as he is...he is a highly ranked middleweight and rightly so...)and its looks like AA will fight on 7th of june already again in Madison Square Garden...


And to be fair,who besides Pavlik has covered himself with glory in the middleweight division lately...?!?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JohnnyKickAss

Well... I'm a fan of both guys,but that doesn't mean that I'm happy with the choice of opponents they fought...Both have the stuff to be worthy champions,its just a shame that their management isn't as confident as I am about that...and so they let them fight one voluntary defense after another...Thats not exactly true,Sturm fought Randy Griffin and AA fought Khoren Gevor last year and both were mandatory...
But there is a ray of hope...Sturm will face next the winner of Castillejo vs Sylvester(and yeah I know Casti again ?!?But lets not forget even being old as he is...he is a highly ranked middleweight and rightly so...)and its looks like AA will fight on 7th of june already again in Madison Square Garden...


And to be fair,who besides Pavlik has covered himself with glory in the middleweight division lately...?!?

---

I guess but at least Pavlik and Taylor before him were fighting relevant fights. Say what you like about Taylor but that guy did take on all comers.










Most think he lost to all of them but that is besides the point ;D

I was thinking the same thing when I was selecting the (STAR) fight this week. I almost put it on Ouma Vs. K-9 but couldn't bring myself to do it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BoxingGorilla

I was thinking the same thing when I was selecting the (STAR) fight this week. I almost put it on Ouma Vs. K-9 but couldn't bring myself to do it.

---

Yeah it will take a brave man to put anything other than Abraham KO in that fight. I guess the interesting part will be to see how many people have a go at picking the round.

It's a horrible star fight imo as someone is bound to get a 30 point haul out of it but I realise you had no other choice.

I've got a sneaking feeling that this will be the week that Welsh Devil bounces back with a 60 point haul.

Both Abraham and Sturm have said for about a year that they will fight in the US.... Well? :-\

If they are happy fighting over there then so be it. But it's hard to be recognized as a major star and or the legit champion of a div. when your oppostion is made up of un-rated fighters and no-names....

To be fair, why the fuck would Sturm wanna go back to the US for a fight?

And who's gonna pay him to get shafted.. again?

It's pretty simple why Abraham and Sturm go out there way to avoid live threats. They fight live threats, they lose there titles.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bilbo

Sturm's opponents must be the worst of any fighter from a known division. Has anyone ever even heard of Randy Griffin, Noe Tulio Alcoba, Gavin Topp, Maseline Masoe and Jorge Sendra?

He's fucking useless and should be stripped of his title for bringing the WBA into disrepute.

And Arthur Abraham isn't much better. Since his war with Edison Miranda he's made it perfectly clear he intends to just sit on his belt for as long as possible by fighting club fighters. I mean come on, Alvin Ayala, Wayne Elcock, Koren Gevor. At least Sebastian Demer's was unbeaten at the time I guess but still this is poor opposition, not as bad as Sturm but it still sucks.

How in the world does he think he can get away with Alvin Ayala? At least Cotto and Calzaghe took on Contenders who did well on the show. Ayala didn't even make the series and lost twice to David Banks before earning a draw against Mora, who fought a career worst performance that night.

This must be the first time I can recall a man winning a world title shot off the back of two defeats and a draw.

It's not even like Ayalah is a name, it's just a bizarre choice of opponent.

Why not fight Sebastian Slyvestor or each other? These two belt holders, they cannot be called champions, are just dead wood in the middleweight ranks. They will never fight Kelly Pavlik, they will most likely never even fight each other.

They just contribute nothing to the middleweight division In Sturm's case I can understand as he's shit and will lost the second he fights a top 10 ranked guy but Abraham is talented. He could make some good money stateside and give Pavlik a hell of a fight.

But instead he wants to stay fighting in Europe against nobodies.:(

---

You pull no punches here Bilbo....but maybe you are pulling punches. Just imagine what Miranda would be saying about them if he was still in the Middleweight division!hehe I chuckle just thinking of the possibilities. ;D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deanrw

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bilbo

Sturm's opponents must be the worst of any fighter from a known division. Has anyone ever even heard of Randy Griffin, Noe Tulio Alcoba, Gavin Topp, Maseline Masoe and Jorge Sendra?

He's fucking useless and should be stripped of his title for bringing the WBA into disrepute.

And Arthur Abraham isn't much better. Since his war with Edison Miranda he's made it perfectly clear he intends to just sit on his belt for as long as possible by fighting club fighters. I mean come on, Alvin Ayala, Wayne Elcock, Koren Gevor. At least Sebastian Demer's was unbeaten at the time I guess but still this is poor opposition, not as bad as Sturm but it still sucks.

How in the world does he think he can get away with Alvin Ayala? At least Cotto and Calzaghe took on Contenders who did well on the show. Ayala didn't even make the series and lost twice to David Banks before earning a draw against Mora, who fought a career worst performance that night.

This must be the first time I can recall a man winning a world title shot off the back of two defeats and a draw.

It's not even like Ayalah is a name, it's just a bizarre choice of opponent.

Why not fight Sebastian Slyvestor or each other? These two belt holders, they cannot be called champions, are just dead wood in the middleweight ranks. They will never fight Kelly Pavlik, they will most likely never even fight each other.

They just contribute nothing to the middleweight division In Sturm's case I can understand as he's shit and will lost the second he fights a top 10 ranked guy but Abraham is talented. He could make some good money stateside and give Pavlik a hell of a fight.

But instead he wants to stay fighting in Europe against nobodies.:(

---

You pull no punches here Bilbo....but maybe you are pulling punches. Just imagine what Miranda would be saying about them if he was still in the Middleweight division!hehe I chuckle just thinking of the possibilities. ;D

---

Yeah say one thing about Miranda, he may not ever be a belt holder but he's a champion, he'll fight anybody anywhere.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fenster

To be fair, why the fuck would Sturm wanna go back to the US for a fight?

And who's gonna pay him to get shafted.. again?

---

Fens if that was the case then they need to grow some balls.

Sturms not the 1st fighter to loose a fight in that manner and he wont be the last. He doesn't hurt me or the sport I don't think anyone missing out on Sturm not fighting again out here. If he's making good money out there then good for him. But he wont get recognition fighting only out there and that type of opposition.

Some people think Miranda got jobbed but I bet you Miranda would jump allover if Joe gave him a shot at the titles in Wales.
Cause that's what fighters do they fight. ;)

I have a funny feeling that Bute is going to be going the same thing. Fighting mainly in Montreal against fringe guys. I don;t blame the fighters, but their handlers simply look at them as an investment they need to protect. It is a shame really.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deanrw

I have a funny feeling that Bute is going to be going the same thing. Fighting mainly in Montreal against fringe guys. I don;t blame the fighters, but their handlers simply look at them as an investment they need to protect. It is a shame really.

---

Butes a good fighter and if the fight comes off he better be ready for Librado Andrade.

This past weekend after Andrade got the stoppage Andrade smilied to the camera looked into it and said: "Hello to Canada, I love you" ;D

Already knowing and willing to travel for the fight. You gotta love that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deanrw

I have a funny feeling that Bute is going to be going the same thing. Fighting mainly in Montreal against fringe guys. I don;t blame the fighters, but their handlers simply look at them as an investment they need to protect. It is a shame really.

---

Butes a good fighter and if the fight comes off he better be ready for Librado Andrade.

This past weekend after Andrade got the stoppage Andrade smilied to the camera looked into it and said: "Hello to Canada, I love you" ;D

Already knowing and willing to travel for the fight. You gotta love that.

---

I hope Andrade wipes the floor with Bute. No adoptive Canuck pride here. I would be shocked if the fight happened though. Bute's camp seems really protective. I mean they have to be after re-animating Joppy's corpse for a fight.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deanrw

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deanrw

I have a funny feeling that Bute is going to be going the same thing. Fighting mainly in Montreal against fringe guys. I don;t blame the fighters, but their handlers simply look at them as an investment they need to protect. It is a shame really.

---

Butes a good fighter and if the fight comes off he better be ready for Librado Andrade.

This past weekend after Andrade got the stoppage Andrade smilied to the camera looked into it and said: "Hello to Canada, I love you" ;D

Already knowing and willing to travel for the fight. You gotta love that.

---

I hope Andrade wipes the floor with Bute. No adoptive Canuck pride here. I would be shocked if the fight happened though. Bute's camp seems really protective. I mean they have to be after re-animating Joppy's corpse for a fight.

---

Oh! shhit I didn't notice you were Canadian... :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deanrw

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Butes a good fighter and if the fight comes off he better be ready for Librado Andrade.

This past weekend after Andrade got the stoppage Andrade smilied to the camera looked into it and said: "Hello to Canada, I love you" ;D

Already knowing and willing to travel for the fight. You gotta love that.

---

I hope Andrade wipes the floor with Bute. No adoptive Canuck pride here. I would be shocked if the fight happened though. Bute's camp seems really protective. I mean they have to be after re-animating Joppy's corpse for a fight.

---

Oh! shhit I didn't notice you were Canadian... :)

---

You know what I am hoping for? An Andrade/Miranda fight. Oh man that would be a great one. I respect the hell out of both of them. Both of them do not even know what fear is. It's guys like those two who keep me hanging on as a fan of the sport.

With all the bullshit ducking, money hoarding, scripted bullshit that much of Boxing has become, there are still some fighters out there who are truly old school and fight mainly for the opportunity to kick someones ass.

Sturm has taken on some pretty risky opposition.
Risky in that, most of the boxing world haven't heard of them, but they are quite good fighters. Meaning he could lose to them and end up looking like a worse loss than it was in actuality.

As for Abraham, I had high hopes for him, but he's dropped the level of competition since miranda.
It's possible that they got a fright in that fight, but saw it as proof enough of his quality, Allowing him to coast.

Randy Griffin and Koren Gevor were manditories. They get passes on those fights. Still, AA fighting Ayala is criminal. Abraham and Sturm need to fight in Germany. No excuses about getting jobed. They need to unify the European half of the belts, at least. It's bad enough they won't fight over here, but they should at least make a German superfight.

It ain't gonna happen. Abraham is clearly using Ottke's career as a template, so he's never going to fight anybody quality out of his backyard and he's going to take the easiest defenses he can get away with. He's a good fighter and beltholder, but he is no champ.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RozzySean

Randy Griffin and Koren Gevor were manditories. They get passes on those fights. Still, AA fighting Ayala is criminal. Abraham and Sturm need to fight in Germany. No excuses about getting jobed. They need to unify the European half of the belts, at least. It's bad enough they won't fight over here, but they should at least make a German superfight.

It ain't gonna happen. Abraham is clearly using Ottke's career as a template, so he's never going to fight anybody quality out of his backyard and he's going to take the easiest defenses he can get away with. He's a good fighter and beltholder, but he is no champ.

---

Abraham and Sturm really should be trying to fight each other. Failing that Slyvestor and Asikainen would make for decent all European title defenses.

I actually really like watching Abraham but he seems to have lost his balls since the Miranda fight. Sturm I don't think ever had any balls to begin with, and imo is 50/50 for losing his title no matter who he faces.

It honsestly wouldnt suprise me if Sturm gave Yory Boy Campas a shot following his impressive defeats to Asikainen and Matthew Macklin. :rolleyes:

And if he did he'd probably only barely escape with a razor close split decision win ;D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fenster

To be fair, why the fuck would Sturm wanna go back to the US for a fight?

And who's gonna pay him to get shafted.. again?

---

Fens if that was the case then they need to grow some balls.

Sturms not the 1st fighter to loose a fight in that manner and he wont be the last. He doesn't hurt me or the sport I don't think anyone missing out on Sturm not fighting again out here. If he's making good money out there then good for him. But he wont get recognition fighting only out there and that type of opposition.

Some people think Miranda got jobbed but I bet you Miranda would jump allover if Joe gave him a shot at the titles in Wales.
Cause that's what fighters do they fight. ;)

---

I agree Mickey.

Sturm will never be star boxer anywhere but Germany. Why would US promoters want him and why would he go if he doesn't need too.

Contrary to what most fans believe fighters that are willinging to face ANYONE, just to further their standing in boxing, are in a slim minority.. most are pretty smart or have smart advisers at least ;)