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

[Kev]

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.

[Fenster]

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

[bzkfn]

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.

[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...?!?

[Kev]

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

[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.

[Kev]

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.

[CutMeMick]

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....

[Deanrw]

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.

[Kev]

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.

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