Sturm v Macklin - Who won?

[J_C]

Simple poll, it will give a more true opinion of the Saddo community if only people vote on the poll who scored the fight properly round by round as the fight progressed. Thats how fights are scored by the judges ringside so thats how we should score it too.

I had it 118-110 Macklin, I only gave Sturm rounds 10 and 12 and I thought it was a disgusting decision. I want to know if my opinion is bakced up or refuted by the fans in the know.

[Kev]

It was a very close and competitive fight. 118-110 Macklin would certainly have been a disgusting decision imo. He fought well and outworked Sturm, especially early, but all the accurate and powerful shots came from Sturm and he finished well on top imo. I thought Macklin was really fading down the stretch although it was still very close as I felt Macklin had built up an early lead. But for me the superior fighter got the decision. He started slowly, but got into the fight as the rounds went on and he was blocking most of Macklin's output. I imagine the punch stats probably show Macklin throwing several hundred more but only landing the same as Sturm. Certainly Sturm landed all the eye catching stuff. He got the nod in his home town and I didn't see it as any more controversial than Froch-Dirrell, or Kessler-Froch. just a very close (and good) fight that went to the defending champion in his home country, the way close fights usually do.

[Violent Demise]

116-112 Sturm. Fight was competitive. Most rounds were close. Still thought it was clear-cut win for Sturm

[Kev]

116-112 Sturm. Fight was competitive. Most rounds were close. Still thought it was clear-cut win for Sturm

The last couple rounds I thought Macklin was going to get knocked out. He may have built up lead by punching Sturms gloves and arms a lot but if you are scoring boxing and accurate punches landed, damage done etc it's hard to argue against a Sturm win imo.

It was clearly going Sturm's way by the end of the 12th and so he deserved to keep his belt. Gallant effort from Macklin but I believe you have to take the title from the champion and as he was almost out on his feet by the end clearly he didn't do that. Good effort though.

[Violent Demise]

116-112 Sturm. Fight was competitive. Most rounds were close. Still thought it was clear-cut win for Sturm

The last couple rounds I thought Macklin was going to get knocked out. He may have built up lead by punching Sturms gloves and arms a lot but if you are scoring boxing and accurate punches landed, damage done etc it's hard to argue against a Sturm win imo.

It was clearly going Sturm's way by the end of the 12th and so he deserved to keep his belt. Gallant effort from Macklin but I believe you have to take the title from the champion and as he was almost out on his feet by the end clearly he didn't do that. Good effort though.

Well said. Macklin was certainly the busier fighter. And he won some rounds by pretty much out working Felix. But pretty much all the best punches were landed by Sturm. I give Mack credit. He was game. He fought a good fight. Should leave the sport on this high note.

[Riggs]

116-112 Sturm. Fight was competitive. Most rounds were close. Still thought it was clear-cut win for Sturm

The last couple rounds I thought Macklin was going to get knocked out. He may have built up lead by punching Sturms gloves and arms a
lot but if you are scoring boxing and accurate punches landed, damage done etc it's hard to argue against a
Sturm win imo.
It was clearly going Sturm's way by the end of the 12th and so he deserved to keep his belt. Gallant
effort from Macklin but I believe you have to take the title from the champion and as he was almost out on his feet by the end clearly he didn't do that. Good effort though.

Totally agree, although Sturm never won it by 4 rounds tho - you have to do more to take the champs title wherever the fight is. Brings me on to Haye / VT - he's gonna have to knock him out methinks - can't wait!

[Fenster]

116-112 Sturm. Fight was competitive. Most rounds were close. Still thought it was clear-cut win for Sturm

The last couple rounds I thought Macklin was going to get knocked out. He may have built up lead by punching Sturms gloves and arms a lot but if you are scoring boxing and accurate punches landed, damage done etc it's hard to argue against a Sturm win imo.

It was clearly going Sturm's way by the end of the 12th and so he deserved to keep his belt. Gallant effort from Macklin but I believe you have to take the title from the champion and as he was almost out on his feet by the end clearly he didn't do that. Good effort though.

That's the most pathetic notion in boxing.

The champion doesn't get a head start. He fights under the exact same rules as the challenger. If you are naturally favouring the belt holder your scoring is clearly flawed/worthless.

And if you think Macklin was hitting just gloves and arms, checkout the left side of Sturms body. It was red raw after just a few rounds.

[ono]

116-112 Sturm. Fight was competitive. Most rounds were close. Still thought it was clear-cut win for Sturm

The last couple rounds I thought Macklin was going to get knocked out. He may have built up lead by punching Sturms gloves and arms a lot but if you are scoring boxing and accurate punches landed, damage done etc it's hard to argue against a Sturm win imo.

It was clearly going Sturm's way by the end of the 12th and so he deserved to keep his belt. Gallant effort from Macklin but I believe you have to take the title from the champion and as he was almost out on his feet by the end clearly he didn't do that. Good effort though.

That's the most pathetic notion in boxing.

The champion doesn't get a head start. He fights under the exact same rules as the challenger. If you are naturally favouring the belt holder your scoring is clearly flawed/worthless.

Yeah i've never understood that. It's like giving Barcelona a 1 goal head-start.

[Kev]

116-112 Sturm. Fight was competitive. Most rounds were close. Still thought it was clear-cut win for Sturm

The last couple rounds I thought Macklin was going to get knocked out. He may have built up lead by punching Sturms gloves and arms a lot but if you are scoring boxing and accurate punches landed, damage done etc it's hard to argue against a Sturm win imo.

It was clearly going Sturm's way by the end of the 12th and so he deserved to keep his belt. Gallant effort from Macklin but I believe you have to take the title from the champion and as he was almost out on his feet by the end clearly he didn't do that. Good effort though.

That's the most pathetic notion in boxing.

The champion doesn't get a head start. He fights under the exact same rules as the challenger. If you are naturally favouring the belt holder your scoring is clearly flawed/worthless.

And if you think Macklin was hitting just gloves and arms, checkout the left side of Sturms body. It was red raw after just a few rounds.

I don't literally mean that the champion should be judged differently from the challenger I'm simply being realistic regarding the subjective nature of scoring in boxing, and the influences put on the judges.

If you are going into a champions backyard, against both him and his fans you really have to prove yourself the better fighter to get the nod. That's just the way it is. Macklin for me didn't do that. Sure he started well and was up at the halfway stage you would have to imagine but he faded down the stretch as Sturm came on.

If you look at the fight under the following criteria I think Sturm deserved the win.

Accurate punching and boxing skills, Sturm
Most damaging shots, Sturm
Who was winning and would likely have won had the fight continued, Sturm

Now, scoring on a rbr Macklin "may" have won the fight, I didn't score rbr so can't comment. I felt Wtt's card of 114-114 apiece was about right. But looking at the flow of the fight and who "won" just by watching the overall flow of the fight I felt Sturm won it as he finished clearly on top and Macklin had very little left.

If he would have got the nod it would been a somewhat controversial win in my eyes as I felt Strum displayed the better boxing skills, was more accurate, and beat up his opponent by the end. On a rbr maybe Macklin won more rounds if I added them up (I cannot be botherd though) but I fwlt the better boxer and true winner got the decision.

Kind of like Matthyse's losses to Judah and Alexander but in reverse. For me he won both of those fights because he landed clearly the more hurtful shots and finished on top, looking like the boss, but rbr scoring led to him losing them both rather unjustly in my eyes.

Sturm's result went in his favour as he's the hometown fighter and champion for sure, but I think he deserved it and would favour him again in a rematch.

[Taffturner]

I didnt think sturm won by 4rounds it was alot closer if not a macklin win imo, strum was lazy and dissapionting for all but the last few rounds, he looked like he cudnt be arsed! I think we all thought macklin stood little chance of a ko so it was gona be up to a high work rate which he achived, i agree strum threw more hurtful/powerful shots but bar the last round or so he didnt throw many, strum was very dissapointing if he'd of put the effort in like the last round he'd of probley got an early -mid fight ko,macklin was clearly up for it and did land alot of shots, probley more noticeable to the body, think mackin should hav got a draw at the very least, either way he did himself and britain proud!

116-112 Sturm. Fight was competitive. Most rounds were close. Still thought it was clear-cut win for Sturm

[porkypara]

Vey close,hard to score fight.Think Macklin nicked by a round but it could have gone the other way.

Macklin threw and landed more but Sturms work was better and he seemed to be the stronger fighter in the last few rounds.I think if the fight lasted 20 seconds more Macklin would have been put down.


Great fight and I dont think anybody would say no to a rematch.

[Kev]

Vey close,hard to score fight.Think Macklin nicked by a round but it could have gone the other way.

Macklin threw and landed more but Sturms work was better and he seemed to be the stronger fighter in the last few rounds.I think if the fight lasted 20 seconds more Macklin would have been put down.


Great fight and I dont think anybody would say no to a rematch.

Sturm will, that was way out of his comfort zone.

[rjj tszyu]

Personally I thought Sturms clean effective shots won it for him in the end. After 10 rounds I had it even with Sturm taking the last 2!

[Prosinecki]

I had Macklin winning 115-113 due to his incredible work-rate throughout the first seven rounds, of which I gave him six. After that his pace understandably slowed down and Sturm came on strong with increased moments of quality but I felt Macklin had done enough after a good ninth round. The final bell certainly came at the right time for Macklin who had put so much into the fight.

It's unbeliveable how two judges only gave him four rounds in the fight, but yet depressingly believable given the location. Given those scorecards I think it's fair to say that Macklin didn't stand a chance without the stoppage. He was never going to completely dominate Sturm for the full twelve rounds, which he seemingly required for a decision.

At least Macklin is receiving plenty of praise for his efforts and his worldwide reputation is today enhanced despite the loss. In an ideal world I would like to see an immediate rematch but I would advise him against going back to Germany. He would need a stoppage, unlikely as Sturm looked very durable and took Macklin's pressure without wilting. No doubt Sturm would reject a rematch at a neutral venue, so I hope Macklin looks for a different route to the top, with perhaps a rematch down the line.

Cracking fight, best I've seen so far this year. Shame about the outcome.

[YIDDLE]

macklin won by clearly winning more rounds in a close fight , the best sturm could of hoped for was a home town biased draw . but instead we got a decision which does nothing to encourage boxers going to germany for a tittle fight against a german boxer