This may come as news to some of you (it did to me) but the German all-heart stalwart has been soldiering on since getting stopped by his archrival in Abraham IV last July, quietly going 2-0 in the Czech Republic after moving up to light heavyweight for the first time since 2009. He is now positioned to challenge Mehdi Amar for the Euro title on Saturday, in Stieglitz's hometown of Magdeburg. Amar would be arguably make for Stieglitz's biggest triumph since he stopped King Arthur in their rematch 3½ years ago (the only time Stieglitz was victorious in their 4-match rivalry) - especially if you omit his controversial TKO10 recorded over Sergey Khomitsky. This is probably the last prize he is capable of attaining in the sport, however. Milking a few defenses over random middling Europeans rated enough for a shot (or even an undefeated Enrico Kölling or Erik Skoglund, at the upper limits) would make for a nice final chapter in the battle-weary 35-year-old's career.
Kingslayer... ugh. But it would be a high point to retire at. Claiming the European title(surprisingly it is one of the few belts that still has real value) from an able champion. And knowing Stieglitz, he will likely carry on if he can get past Amar. It´s a good crossroads fight.
This will be televised in both Germany and the Czech Republic, where Stieglitz has apparently become a star just by gracing them with his presence in his last couple of ring appearances. (and tbh, it has been a long dry spell for the bohemians lately, with no homegrown world class boxing heroes of their own since Lukáš Konečný, so no wonder they'd latch on to an outsider - particularly one that's routinely fun to watch - breathing some life into their fight scene)
Actually, you know what? If he does want to set his sights on something bigger after claiming the European title (if he does), I'd be okay with him challenging Stevenson. He's gritty enough to not crumple at the first couple of left hands, and his persistence could grind Adonis down if he can withstand enough punishment getting inside. Plus, he would by no means be the worst challenger of Superman's tepid WBC reign. Kovalev or Ward, though, make for horrible mismatches.
Just when I think I haven't seen anything so amateurishly uncoordinated as the Amar lead uppercut from outside in a while, in comes that wide telegraphed lead hook... or the slowly pushed and even-more-slowly retracted double jab leaving big fat countering lanes wide open.
Stieglitz looked okay for being above his peak weight and past his prime. Definitely won't be a force at 175, though.
Bösel and Monaghan are in a world eliminator? Wow, neither guy belongs anywhere near a world title opportunity. Brähmer or Stieglitz would smoke either of them.
Did you see Murray/Lawal? Some awful punches in that fight from both guys. Particularly Lawal who was off balance constantly and even threw himself to the floor on an occasion or two!
Well spoken! The German based Russian has had a great career so far taking into account his limited God-given talent.No doubt that his stamina is truly world-class and absolutely outstanding but I keep wondering how the hell he was able to beat quite a lot of names in his fight record who seemed to be better than him on paper. I take my hat off to him for his convincing victory over the French-Arab last week.Well done job! Nice final chapter for the German-Russian warrior!
