Agreement reached for Felix Sturm vs. Ronald Hearns Febuary 19th, Germany

[TigerFan]

I'm not picking on his opponent as much as I'm picking on him never leaving Germany. He has had 2 fights outside of Germany....out of 37 total.

Sturm...like most fighters...fights where he can make the most money and that's in Germany. There he's a major draw. His last fight against Lorenzo sold over 18,000 tickets. Compare that to guys like Berto who can't draw flies to shit(roughly sold 900 tickets in his hometown) yet will probably fight his whole career in one country with no complaints.

[Conrad]

I guess some people are perfectly content with being King Turd Of Shit Mountain!

[Rantcatrat]

Actually for Sturm this is a tough fight. Ronald Hearns isn't a third of the fighter that his dad was, but he's going to give Sturm hell. I think it could be an exciting fight.

You do recall that this is the same Ronald Hearns that got knocked the f*ck out by Harry Boy Yorgey? I like Yorgey and all, but I mean, neither of them are competitive with Sturm even in a Sturm in bad form.

I'm not picking on his opponent as much as I'm picking on him never leaving Germany. He has had 2 fights outside of Germany....out of 37 total.

Sturm...like most fighters...fights where he can make the most money and that's in Germany. There he's a major draw. His last fight against Lorenzo sold over 18,000 tickets. Compare that to guys like Berto who can't draw flies to shit(roughly sold 900 tickets in his hometown) yet will probably fight his whole career in one country with no complaints.

Was this Sturm's mandatory? If not, Shame on Sturm for this one.

I agree with Tiger about the Germany call. Sturm should fight where he'll make the most money. However, bigger challenges mean bigger money, even in Germany. If he can fill stadiums in Germany against lesser fighters, imagine how he would sell against a legit threat. Just because he makes more money fighting in Germany, doesn't mean he shouldn't take challenges there is my point. Sturm reminds me of Zsolt Erdei a lot these days, but at least Erdei moved up in weight, and then moved to the USA, got an American advisor etc., to attempt to get good challenges.

I've spoken to Lou Dibella on twitter and he said he spoke with Sturm's people about a unification fight with Martinez on HBO in the fall. But, who knows what will happen. I'm sure Martinez would prefer Cotto any day of the week.

[skel1983]

Didn't Yorgey then get ktfo by Angulo in about two rounds?

Joke fight this.

[No Contest]

I think he's more afraid of not getting close rounds, he has got a few homecooked scorecards, like that Griffin draw. Any close round goes to Sturm in Germany. What are you on about Berto, he fights all over the US, he's from Florida and has fought in NV, CA,TN, NJ, CT, WA, OK,.....Germany is alot smaller than the United States.

[TigerFan]

I'm not picking on his opponent as much as I'm picking on him never leaving Germany. He has had 2 fights outside of Germany....out of 37 total.

Sturm...like most fighters...fights where he can make the most money and that's in Germany. There he's a major draw. His last fight against Lorenzo sold over 18,000 tickets. Compare that to guys like Berto who can't draw flies to shit(roughly sold 900 tickets in his hometown) yet will probably fight his whole career in one country with no complaints.

Was this Sturm's mandatory? If not, Shame on Sturm for this one.

I agree with Tiger about the Germany call. Sturm should fight where he'll make the most money. However, bigger challenges mean bigger money, even in Germany. If he can fill stadiums in Germany against lesser fighters, imagine how he would sell against a legit threat. Just because he makes more money fighting in Germany, doesn't mean he shouldn't take challenges there is my point. Sturm reminds me of Zsolt Erdei a lot these days, but at least Erdei moved up in weight, and then moved to the USA, got an American advisor etc., to attempt to get good challenges.

I've spoken to Lou Dibella on twitter and he said he spoke with Sturm's people about a unification fight with Martinez on HBO in the fall. But, who knows what will happen. I'm sure Martinez would prefer Cotto any day of the week.

I agree with you there. Sturm deserves all the shit he catches for fighting Hearns type opponents. Hell, I'd rather he fight Yorgey Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't he sign a 10 fight deal with a new tv network. I doubt he'll fight a serious threat in what would be his second fight with the network. Plus Felix said in a interview that the new network wants him to fight in Germany for the time being but he'd be willing to come stateside in a year or two.

I think he's more afraid of not getting close rounds, he has got a few homecooked scorecards, like that Griffin draw. Any close round goes to Sturm in Germany. What are you on about Berto, he fights all over the US, he's from Florida and has fought in NV, CA,TN, NJ, CT, WA, OK,.....Germany is alot smaller than the United States.

I brought up Berto because there's plenty of US boxers who never leave their country yet receive no criticism. If Berto were to fight his mandatory from Turkey, Aydin...doesn't matter what state they fight in...Berto will likely get the benefit of the doubt if the fight was close. Personally I think Berto would win easily but that's not the point.


On Sturm
I don't understand how people can be surprised or shocked that a guy who 1.) was born and raised in Germany 2.) represented Germany at the Olympics 3.) had/is a German promoter...has the majority of his fights in Germany

He's fought 4 times outside of Germany. With the exception of Steve Cunningham that's more than most American fighters.

[No Contest]

I'm not picking on his opponent as much as I'm picking on him never leaving Germany. He has had 2 fights outside of Germany....out of 37 total.

Sturm...like most fighters...fights where he can make the most money and that's in Germany. There he's a major draw. His last fight against Lorenzo sold over 18,000 tickets. Compare that to guys like Berto who can't draw flies to shit(roughly sold 900 tickets in his hometown) yet will probably fight his whole career in one country with no complaints.

Was this Sturm's mandatory? If not, Shame on Sturm for this one.

I agree with Tiger about the Germany call. Sturm should fight where he'll make the most money. However, bigger challenges mean bigger money, even in Germany. If he can fill stadiums in Germany against lesser fighters, imagine how he would sell against a legit threat. Just because he makes more money fighting in Germany, doesn't mean he shouldn't take challenges there is my point. Sturm reminds me of Zsolt Erdei a lot these days, but at least Erdei moved up in weight, and then moved to the USA, got an American advisor etc., to attempt to get good challenges.

I've spoken to Lou Dibella on twitter and he said he spoke with Sturm's people about a unification fight with Martinez on HBO in the fall. But, who knows what will happen. I'm sure Martinez would prefer Cotto any day of the week.

I agree with you there. Sturm deserves all the shit he catches for fighting Hearns type opponents. Hell, I'd rather he fight Yorgey Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't he sign a 10 fight deal with a new tv network. I doubt he'll fight a serious threat in what would be his second fight with the network. Plus Felix said in a interview that the new network wants him to fight in Germany for the time being but he'd be willing to come stateside in a year or two.

I think he's more afraid of not getting close rounds, he has got a few homecooked scorecards, like that Griffin draw. Any close round goes to Sturm in Germany. What are you on about Berto, he fights all over the US, he's from Florida and has fought in NV, CA,TN, NJ, CT, WA, OK,.....Germany is alot smaller than the United States.

I brought up Berto because there's plenty of US boxers who never leave their country yet receive no criticism. If Berto were to fight his mandatory from Turkey, Aydin...doesn't matter what state they fight in...Berto will likely get the benefit of the doubt if the fight was close. Personally I think Berto would win easily but that's not the point.


On Sturm
I don't understand how people can be surprised or shocked that a guy who 1.) was born and raised in Germany 2.) represented Germany at the Olympics 3.) had/is a German promoter...has the majority of his fights in Germany

He's fought 4 times outside of Germany. With the exception of Steve Cunningham that's more than most American fighters.

Well, he does have a legit gripe about travellng because he did get kind of robbed against De La Hoya. Although I hate seeing home town decisions, they do happen in US, just it seems like its more frequent in Germany.

[Rantcatrat]

Tiger, you can quote me on this: if Sturm fights Pirog, Martinez, or Golovkin this year, I'll stop hating on him regardless of the outcome of the fight.