This content is protected The card is scheduled for 8pm-midnite tomorrow. (7pm-11pm UK, 2pm-6pm EST) Weigh-ins should be in a few hours. This is an IBF World Middleweight Title Eliminator, for next crack at Daniel Geale. For Sturm, it would be a rematch of his surprisingly exciting and bitterly close unification loss to Geale last September. (The IB card actually had Sturm narrowly edging it 115-113, although it wasn't a robbery in the fashion of Sturm vs. ODLH by any means) For Soliman, it would mean a massive domestic showdown at home in Australia (though probably in Geale's state of NSW rather than Sam's native Victoria). He would have the opportunity to cap off a nice run of steadily increasing quality - wide decisions over Singh, shot Albert, Wood, and Lorenzo with Sturm hypothetically added on - with a long-sought defining victory, easily the biggest of his career if he could out-work the work-horse and beat the man who beat The Man that thrice beat Soliman. (confused? :yep) In fact, Soliman is undefeated in the last five years since his third loss to Mundine. If Sturm doesn't end his renaissance the task will fall to Geale and it's sure to generate a lot of interest and money down under, despite the challenger being on the doorstep of 40 and long considered a solid & game combatant who always falls short of world class. No previous Geale opponent in a championship match will be coming off as fine a run of form as Soliman would supposing he eliminates Sturm.
Felix Sturm 159.84lbs Sam Soliman 159.84lbs (spooky!) This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected
I hope Soliman sends Sturm into retirement, no guy should be allowed to duck a mandatory for 2 ****ing years, disgraceful stuff. I guess if he was to regain the IBF they would be far tougher in forcing him into matchups that he wouldnt take if given the choice.
I dont think Soliman has a chance, he may make it difficult but i cant see him win like or hate him, Sturm isnt going anywhere just yet he will win tomorrow and plant himself back in the middleweight picture id like a Martinez fight
I am going for sturm to force a stoppage at some point after the 9th, I am thinking sturm may want to show he is still a force and soliman may be just getting to that stage of his career when a top ten middle has enought to get the early win
I know that but I always wanted to see how Sturm would fair vs the RING champs that he for one reason or never another got to fight Taylor Pavlik and Martinez all were the man during Sturms long time as the WBA king pin I wanted to see what he had vs the best all that BS aside I thought Geale won the first time in a fight that was very competitive and I thought was exciting With Sturm's history of getting the nod (minus Oscar) I was shocked when Geale got the win when other guys had done about as much and hadnt Geale to me improves every time out but if its close again who knows who gets the call this time
To be fair, Abraham also held a MW title during the Taylor/Pavlik reigns and didn't unify with them either. As to your other point, yeah, I don't think Geale necessarily did much better against Sturm than Macklin or Murray. It was a bit surprising to see him get it. (especially where I had it slightly in Sturm's favor anyway)
i always hoped Sturm and Abraham would square off in a German megafight and the winner would fight the Champion I cant remember the politics of why neither FS or AA never came here to face the Champs I thought Sturm won vs Murray and in a funny way was hosed by the judges many thought gave him gifts vs Macklin and Ghevor I dont remember my Geale score but I was rooting for Geale and thinking "oh **** he has left it too close"