Felix Sturm outwits Sebastian Zbik to retain WBA super middleweight title for 5th time – Boxing news
Felix Sturm, the current WBA Super middleweight champion, successfully defended his title for the fifth time in a row against his fellow countryman Sebastian Zbik, the former WBC middleweight champion, in a 12-round bout by collecting a ninth round retired
hurt decision in his favour.
The odds from the very beginning of the bout were in favour of Felix, who possessed a significant advantage in various aspects. Sturm, 33, was entering in his 41st bout and boasted a resume of 36 wins with 16 of them via knockout.
Sebastian, 30, on the other hand, was outclassed by Felix’s experience, footwork, agility, knockout proficiency and had no other choice but to put up a great show and throw everything he had in the bout.
Zbik was entering in his career’s 32nd bout and exhibited a resume with 30 wins and just 10 of them via knockout. In addition to the technical parameters, Felix also had the upper hand over Zbik in the form of home crowd advantage since the ring was stretched
in the city where he resides.
The critics and the fans got a bit startled when Zbik started things off in a very authoritative manner and threw several heavy duty jabs rattling the champion Felix. During the first three rounds, the pace was set by Sebastian but it did not continue for
long since from the fourth round and onwards, the game was totally Felix’s control.
Felix, who clearly understood Zbik’s brawling style in the initial three rounds, started to counter his fellow countryman’s each and every move so much so that he adopted the role of the aggressor and started battering Sebastian.
Zbik was speechless and to some extent out of ideas and kept on taking the punishment every now and then. At the end of the ninth round, Sebastian, who was examined by the bout-referee, said that he is okay to continue but his team mates threw in the towel
accepting the defeat.
As per the judges’ announcement, the bout was awarded to Felix via ninth round retired hurt decision. After the bout, during the short media interaction, the proud champion, Felix, praised Sebastian’s talent and said, “We fought a fair fight. It was a good
advertisement for boxing. Sebastian’s a great boxer, he moved very well. I had to keep my pace. It took a while and it was one of my hardest fights, but thank God it worked out.”
The unfortunate Sebastian, later on, graciously accepted the defeat and said, “I have to admit without any grudges that Felix clearly beat me.” Felix now has 37 wins in a total 41 bouts and Zbik has collected his career’s second defeat.
The ring for the bout was stretched at Lanxess-Arena, Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany and the event was co-promoted by Universum Box-Promotion and Sturm Box-Promotion.
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