| |
|
|
Daniel Geale vs. Felix Sturm
Headlines
Sept. 1 Unification World Title Bout
Gary Shaw Productions, Sturm Box Promotion, Grange Old
School Boxing and UFA Sports are happy to announce a world
title unification bout featuring IBF middleweight champion
Daniel "The Real Deal" Geale (27-1, 15 KOs) and WBA Super
World champ, Felix Sturm (37-2-2, 16 KOs). The 12-round
160-pound main event will take place in Germany on Sept. 1,
2012, at a location to be announced, with television network
SAT1 broadcasting the event to millions around the world.
Said Promoter Gary Shaw, "This event is what boxing is all
about. When you get two world champions agreeing to fight
each other with no hesitation, you know the fans are going
to be witnessing an unbelievable bout. Both guys are hungry
to keep their titles and they're going to leave everything
in the ring. Words can't describe how excited I am about
this event. Geale and Sturm are true warriors who are going
to "Bring It" come fight night. It's going to be an
incredible night of boxing. The true winners will be the
fans.
"In Daniel's last fight a new Australian superstar emerged,"
Shaw continued. "Daniel's superiority is confirmation that
he is on the verge of pound-for-pound status. With the
expert guidance of Garrie Fransisco and Bill Treacy managing
Daniel's career, along with Graham Shaw steering his corner,
Geale has the right team to take him to middleweight
supremacy. It's an honor to be promoting such a great
fighter with a great team."
After a dominating performance against mandatory challenger,
Osumanu Adama (20-3, 15 KOs), Geale will look to extend on a
six-fight winning streak. He has fought all but one of his
bouts in his native Australia. In his lone start outside his
homeland, Geale traveled to Germany and captured the IBF
middleweight title against Sebastian Sylvester (34-5-1, 16
KOs). Geale wants to make a statement in this bout as he
fights in Germany for a second time.
"I'm truly thankful to be fighting in this unification bout
with Felix Sturm," Geale said. "My promoter Gary Shaw has
promised me the biggest fights and he's kept his word.
Fighting in Germany is a very difficult task, but I was
successful there once before when I captured my first world
title against Sebastian Sylvester. My goal will be to beat
Sturm in his homeland, and bring his title back to Australia
once again. I'm fighting for my country and all the kids I
train at the Grange Old School Boxing gym.
"I also want to thank my managers Garrie Fransisco and Billy
Treacy who, in conjunction with my trainer Graham Shaw, have
all worked hard to get me to the top. Right now I'm in the
best shape of my life and Graham has seen the improvements
in my ability to make adjustments in the ring. I'm fully
prepared to give the fans an exciting fight when I step in
the ring with Sturm."
Sturm, who is coming off an impressive ninth-round knockout
victory against then-once- beaten challenger Sebastian Zbik
(30-2, 10 KOs), is undefeated in his last 14 bouts. He's
best known in America for his fight with Oscar De La Hoya,
in which many fans believe he won clearly, but instead lost
on a close unanimous decision. With 14 title defenses, Sturm
is considered one of the best pure boxers in the sport, and
will seek to add another world title belt to his collection.
"Fighting in my native land of Germany is incredible and I
can't wait to show the German fans, once again, what I'm
made of," stated Sturm. "Daniel Geale is a worthy opponent,
but he's never been in the ring with a fighter like me. I
fight for the people of Germany and I'm not going to let
them down! I will be victorious on Sept. 1."
|
|
|
